Londoners are bracing for another weekend of major travel disruption as key Tube lines and rail services shut down for engineering works and upgrades. From Saturday 31 January to Sunday 1 February 2026, a series of closures and part-suspended routes will affect journeys across the capital and beyond, with knock-on delays expected on option lines and bus routes. Whether you’re heading out for a night in Soho, catching a train to see friends outside the city or just trying to get to work, planning ahead will be essential.
Below is Time Out’s full breakdown of the Tube, Overground, Elizabeth line and National Rail services affected this weekend, plus the best alternatives to keep your plans on track.
Major weekend closures across the London Underground how your journey will be affected
From the Victoria line’s deep-level tunnels to the leafy ends of the District and Piccadilly lines, engineering work is set to carve some hefty gaps into the network this weekend. Transport for London is closing key sections for track renewals and signalling upgrades, meaning fewer direct routes, longer interchanges and busier platforms as passengers funnel onto alternative lines.Expect reduced frequency on neighbouring routes, extra time in your journey plan and occasional station closures where lines intersect. Off-peak travel won’t be a guaranteed reprieve either,with some shutdowns running from the early hours of Saturday right through to first trains on Monday.
To stay ahead of the disruption,build in generous transfer time and be ready to switch between Tube,rail and bus at short notice. Many journeys that usually take one quick hop will require multiple changes via Zone 1, and some late-night services will disappear entirely on affected branches. Key pinch points will include major interchanges where lines are suspended in one direction only, prompting crowding on the remaining platforms. Use the summary below to spot whether your regular route is hit, then consider these options:
- Re-route via alternative Underground lines where parallel services exist (e.g.Victoria instead of Northern for central London crossings).
- Switch to London Overground or National Rail for orbital trips that normally rely on part-suspended Tube lines.
- Allow an extra 20-30 minutes for any journey involving replacement buses or more than one interchange.
- Travel earlier in the day if your line faces evening closures or service reductions after 22:00.
| Line | Affected stretch | When | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central | Marble Arch-White City | All weekend | Use Circle or Hammersmith & City via Paddington; expect packed trains. |
| Victoria | Warren Street-Finsbury Park | Sat late night | Last trains leave earlier; check times if returning from the West End. |
| District | Earl’s Court-Wimbledon | Sun only | Replacement buses add up to 25 minutes between South West London stops. |
| Piccadilly | Acton Town-Heathrow | All weekend | Heathrow travelers should switch to Elizabeth line or Heathrow Express. |
| Jubilee | Waterloo-London Bridge | Sun morning | Use Bakerloo and Northern as a river crossing workaround. |
Disruption on National Rail and Overground routes key lines to avoid and alternatives to consider
It’s not just the Underground feeling the strain this weekend – several National Rail and London Overground corridors are either severely reduced or completely suspended, reshaping how you get across and out of the city. Expect knock-on delays on West Coast Main Line services into Euston, intermittent closures around London Bridge and Victoria, plus engineering works affecting Overground links between Stratford, Clapham Junction and Willesden Junction. If you’re heading to airports, major events or planning a day trip, factor in longer journey times, altered stopping patterns and last-minute platform changes.
To dodge the worst of it, lean on Thameslink, Elizabeth line and core Overground orbital routes where they’re running normally, and be ready to switch between rail and bus at short notice. Some of the smartest alternatives this weekend include:
- Using Thameslink via Blackfriars or St Pancras instead of disrupted Southern and Southeastern routes into Victoria and London Bridge.
- Swapping Euston-bound services for the Elizabeth line to Paddington, then local connections, where West Coast Main Line works bite hardest.
- Riding the Overground Gospel Oak-Barking line to skirt closures in the east, with bus links filling any missing gaps.
- Combining rail with express buses for airport trips when direct mainline services are trimmed or diverted.
| Affected route | Issue | Better option |
|---|---|---|
| Euston – Milton Keynes | Reduced service, late starts | Elizabeth line to Paddington + Chiltern from Marylebone |
| Victoria suburban lines | All-day engineering works | Thameslink via Blackfriars or London Bridge |
| London Overground Stratford – Clapham Jn | Part closures, rail replacement | Jubilee / Northern lines + local buses |
| Services via London Bridge | Diverted routes, fewer trains | Thameslink core or Elizabeth line cross-city |
Essential travel advice for navigating London this weekend smart route planning and timing tips
With multiple lines partly closed between January 31 and February 1, it pays to think like a commuter rather than a tourist. Start by checking live updates on TfL and National Rail before you leave your accommodation,then map out a Plan B and Plan C for every cross-city journey. Aim to make the most of high-frequency alternatives like the Elizabeth line, Overground and key bus corridors, which frequently enough run more reliably than disrupted Tube routes at weekends. When moving between major hubs – King’s Cross, London Bridge, Paddington, Victoria – allow at least an extra 20 minutes, especially if you’ll be changing between rail and Underground.
| Time of Day | Best For | Smart Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Before 9am | Airport & long-distance trains | Leave one train earlier than you normally would |
| 11am-3pm | Sightseeing hops | Use buses to “bridge” gaps between closed stations |
| After 8pm | Theater & nightlife | Pre-book cabs for last-leg connections |
- Build journeys around interchange stations that serve several lines, so closures on one route don’t derail your plans.
- Check for weekend engineering works on suburban rail lines before committing to dinner or gig tickets far from Zone 1.
- Travel slightly off-peak – leaving 30 minutes earlier or later can mean fewer crowds and quicker platform changes.
- Keep a contactless card or mobile wallet ready; it’s faster through gates and avoids queues at ticket machines during disruption.
Getting around without the Tube and trains best walking cycling and bus options for central London
With key lines out of action, the city shrinks back to a human scale – and central London is surprisingly compact. From Oxford Circus you can walk to Soho in five minutes, Covent Garden in ten and the South Bank in under 20. Plot routes along the Thames Path, through St James’s Park or via Bloomsbury’s garden squares to dodge the worst junctions. For longer hops, Santander Cycles docks shadow most Tube stations, while protected lanes on Cycleways 3, 4 and 6 give relatively calm corridors into the West End and the City. Remember: buses, bikes and feet all work best if you travel a bit earlier or later than the rush, and keep a weather eye on live traffic apps.
Buses will be doing the heavy lifting while tracks are shut, and several high-frequency routes shadow the busiest Underground corridors. Aim for routes that cut directly through Zone 1 and accept that you may need one quick change rather than a perfect door-to-door service. Key options include:
- Walking: ideal between the West End, Trafalgar Square, the South Bank and the City – most journeys are under 25 minutes.
- Cycling: use Cycleways and riverside paths; carry lights and a decent lock,and avoid the heaviest arterials if you’re not a confident rider.
- Buses: frequent, cheap, and still running when rails are shut – but allow extra time for congestion.
| From / To | Usual Tube | Disruption-Friendly Alternative |
|---|---|---|
| King’s Cross → Oxford Circus | Victoria / Piccadilly | Bus 73 or 390; 30-35 min,or 25 min walk via Fitzrovia |
| Waterloo → Shoreditch | Northern / Overground | Cycleway 6 to the City then walk,or Bus 243 from Waterloo Bridge |
| London Bridge → Covent Garden | Northern | Bus 15 or 26 via the Strand; 20-25 min plus short walk |
| Paddington → Soho | Bakerloo | Bus 23 to Oxford Circus,or a 30 min canal-and-park walk via Hyde Park |
To Conclude
Whether you’re heading out for a big night,squeezing in some last-minute shopping or just trying to get across town,these closures don’t have to derail your plans. Build in extra time, double-check your route before you leave and keep an eye on live updates from TfL and National Rail throughout the weekend, as engineering works and service changes can shift at short notice.
We’ll be tracking any further disruptions and last-minute alterations to the network, so check back with Time Out for the latest on London’s tubes, trains and beyond. With a bit of planning, you can still make the most of your weekend in the city-rail replacement buses and all.
