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London Transport Zones

London is divided into 1–9 zones*, but most of it fits into zones 1–6. Central London is zone 1, zone 2 is the ring around zone 1, zone 3 is the ring around 2 and so on.

*zones 7,8 and 9 cover a small area just outside North West London including Watford, Croxley Green, Rickmansworth, Amersham or Chalfont & Latimer.

It’s important to be aware of London’s transport zones and to find out what zone a station is in. Ticket prices for One Day, Weekly or Monthly Travelcards or the money deducted from a Pay as you go Oyster card or contactless card can vary considerably according to how many zones you travel through.

The zones do not apply to bus travel . You can travel by bus all over London (zones 1–6) with any Travelcard.

First time visitor to London? See our guide to London’s transport tickets

London zone map

You can see the zones on a tube map, coloured in either white or grey.

• View a standard PDF version of the tube map
• If you stay in a part of London that is not on the tube network, see the National Rail services map (pdf) to find the zone for your closest train station.

What London transport zones do I need?

Find the closest underground or train station to your accommodation. Then find the zone of the station you want to travel to. If you’re visiting London for sightseeing or to shop this will probably be zone 1.

When you know the zones you need to pay for, what you do depends on the type of ticket/pass you buy:

Weekly or monthly Travelcards

You buy a Travelcard that covers all the zones between where you stay and where you want to visit/your regular final destination. For example:

• if you stay in Shepherd’s Bush (zone 2) and plan to visit central London (zone 1), you need a zone 1-2 Travelcard.
• If you stay in Wimbledon (zone 3) and travel to/from central London, you need a zone 1-3 Travelcard.

Pay as you go Oyster card

If you use a Pay as you go Oyster card , top-up your card with enough money to either pay for a single journey for the zones you travel through or add enough money to cover the cost of the ‘daily cap’ if you want unlimited travel for the day.

Contactless

With a contactless card, you do not have to worry about the zones as the system will calculate the fare for you the next day. Remember to always touch in and out on the tube or local trains (with the same card!) to ensure you are charged the correct amount.

How to pay for transport outside your normal transport zone

There may be occasions when you need to travel outside the zones on your weekly or monthly Travelcard.

The procedure is slightly different if you have a Travelcard loaded on an Oyster card, or a paper Travelcard:

Travelcards on an Oyster card

If you already have a weekly Travelcard for certain zones and want to visit a place outside that zone, top-up your Oyster card with some Pay as you go money to cover the cost of travelling between the last zone on your Travelcard and the zone you want to visit.

For example, if you have a zone 1-2 weekly Travelcard and you want to visit Richmond in zone 4, you need to add extra money to your Oyster to cover the fare for zones 3 and 4.

See Oyster single fares to find a fare. You can add extra money to your Oyster card at a tube station ticket machine.

Paper Travelcards

If you have a paper version of the Travelcard, you need to buy an extension ticket from the underground station ticket machine.

Stations in two zones

Some stations are on the border of two zones. These stations have a white box around their name on the tube map. Tickets to these stations are slightly different.

For example:

• Earl’s Court tube station is in zone 1/2. If you stay in Earl’s Court and take the tube to any other station in zone 1 (central London), you pay the zone 1 single fare with a pay as you go Oyster or contactless card.
• If you travel from Earl’s Court to Heathrow (zone 6), the single fare is charged from zone 2 to zone 6, not from zone 1-6.
• ABBA Arena is in zone 2/3. From zone 1, you pay the zone 1-2 fare. If you are staying in outer London and are travelling to the stadium without travelling through central London (zone 1), you pay the the fare to zone 3.

How to save money on travel to central London from zones 2-6

A major benefit of the Travelcard is that it’s valid on the buses for the whole of London, regardless of the zones you buy.

If you stay in zones 2-6 and want to travel to zone 1 (central London) a good money-saving tip is to buy a weekly or monthly Travelcard excluding zone 1 , but including zone 2. You can then take the tube/train to the zone 2 station close to zone 1 and then use the bus to travel to and around zone 1.

This only works with a weekly or monthly Travelcard, but you will save a money.

• If you stay in zone 5, a zone 1-5 weekly Travelcard is  £73.00 .
• A zone 2-5 weekly Travelcard is £42.50 , saving you £30.50 a week
• A zone 1-5 monthly Travelcard is  £280.40
• A zone 2-5 monthly Travelcard is  £163.20 a saving of £111.70 a month

Popular places to visit outside central London (Zone 1)

Tourist attractions.

Chiswick House – zone 2 (Turnham Green) Cutty Sark – zone 2 Dulwich Picture Gallery – zone 2 Ham House – zone 4 Hampton Court Palace – zone 6 Kenwood House – zone 2 (Archway) Kew Gardens – zone 3 National Maritime Museum – zone 2 Osterley House – zone 4 RAF Museum Hendon – zone 4 William Morris Gallery – zone 3

Westfield London (Shepherd’s Bush/White City) – zone 2 Westfield Stratford – zone 2/3 Camden Market – zone 2

Sport and music venues

The O2 – zone 2/3 Twickenham Rugby Stadium – zone 5 Wembley Stadium – zone 4 Emirates Stadium – zone 2 ABBA Arena – zone 2/3 (See stations in two zones above)

Greenwich – zone 2 Richmond – zone 4 Wimbledon – zone 3

Related pages

• One Day & Weekly Travelcards including zone 1
• Weekly & monthly Travelcards excluding zone 1
• Oyster cards
• Contactless cards
• Bus tickets & passes

Last updated: 23 February 2024

Transport tickets & passes

• Guide to London's transport tickets
• One day & weekly Travelcards
• Zone 2–6 weekly Travelcards
• Bus tickets & passes
• Oyster card
• Oyster single tickets
• Oyster card refunds
• Child tickets & passes
• Local train tickets

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Your Ultimate Guide To London Zones 1-9

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Get in the zone!

London is a vast city that spans 607 square miles (or 1,572 km). Irrespective of its size, the city maintains a reliable public transportation network that connects each of the 32 London boroughs. There are several ways to get about, including the tube overground, river buses, a tram system, and even a cable car. It is expected that first-time visitors to the city could feel a little overwhelmed, but don't worry; reading the blog till the end will help you. Going forward, we're going to explore the different London zones 1 to 9, which will give you an idea of how to navigate your way through! 

What are London Zones?

At resent, the London zones 1 to 9 are the most well-known. London travel zones are separated for transportation, with Zone 1 being the city centre and Zone 9 being the city's outskirts. Transport for London (TfL) uses the technology to determine a customer's journey distance and charge appropriately. Since most of London's major attractions and the city centre are located in Zone 1, most visitors won't need to venture outside. For those travelling far, it's crucial to consider how many London zones you'll pass through because this will influence the ticket you need. If you plan to travel around London as a student and are wondering what to do, our blog on student life in london can help you with a lot of insights!

What are the 9 London Zones?

Rail transportation in London is divided into London zones 1 to 9, which are being managed by London Transport. Six fare London zones are given to each station on the London Underground zones, London Overground, National Rail, TfL Rail, and Docklands Light Railway. The central core region is covered by Zone 1 , while fare zones 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 are basically concentric circles around Zone 1. Zone 7,8 , and 9 , which extend into Buckinghamshire, Essex and Hertfordshire to include all stations served by TfL services and some Southeastern and Greater Anglia services that are outside Greater London. However, these zones do not form complete rings around London. To purchase tickets faster, zones were created to lower pricing. In addition to navigating within the city, it's important to consider transportation options for journeys beyond the city limits, such as London airport transfers . There are various platforms providing reliable and convenient transfer services, ensuring a smooth transition to or from major airports like London’s Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, and City Airport. Here’s a breakdown of the London zones 1 to 9 and their locations for better understanding:

Zone 1: London City Centre

The heartbeat of the city, Zone 1 encompasses iconic landmarks like Big Ben and the Tower of London, offering a blend of historical richness and modern vibrancy.

Zone 2: Notting Hill, Camden Town, London Zoo

Zone 2 is a cultural hub with the trendy streets of Notting Hill, the alternative charm of Camden Town, and the zoological wonders of London Zoo, along with two prominent football stadiums for sports enthusiasts.

Zone 3: Kew Gardens, Wimbledon and London City Airport

Embracing natural beauty, Zone 3 features the lush landscapes of Kew Gardens, the renowned Wimbledon tennis championships, and the convenience of London City Airport for quick getaways.

Zone 4: Wembley, RAF museum, Richmond Park

Zone 4 boasts the iconic Wembley Stadium, the fascinating RAF museum, and the tranquil expanses of Richmond Park, making it a diverse blend of sports, history, and nature.

Zone 5: Twickenham, England Rugby Union

A haven for rugby enthusiasts, Zone 5 is home to Twickenham Stadium, the world's largest dedicated rugby union venue, and serves as the heart of England Rugby.

Zone 6: End of the line for Central, District, Thameslink, Heathrow Express, Elizabeth, Metropolitan, Overground and Piccadilly

As the gateway to various transport networks, Zone 6 marks the termination point for multiple train lines, providing essential connectivity and convenience.

Zone 7: Zones A - Croxley, Rickmansworth and Watford and B - Chorleywood

Zone 7 encompasses charming towns like Croxley, Rickmansworth, and Watford in Zone A, and the picturesque surroundings of Chorleywood in Zone B, offering a mix of suburban tranquillity and urban accessibility.

Zone 8: Zone C - Chalfont & Latimer

Zone 8 features the serene locales of Chalfont & Latimer, providing a peaceful escape from the bustling city life.

Zone 9: Zone D - Amersham and Chesham

The outermost reaches of London, Zone 9's Amersham and Chesham offer a more rural atmosphere, showcasing historic charm and scenic beauty.

What are the types of London transport in London zones?

London is a massive city with various modes of transport, wherein everyone can travel on a budget and in comfort. The city provides London transport through buses, underground tubes, DLR, also known as Dockland Light Railways, Cable cars provided by Emirates, river buses, overground trains and the most efficient bicycles. With these many options, you can comfortably and conveniently travel within the zones in London, and also explore the city and visit the top restaurants in London . 

1. The Underground

First ride : 5 am Last ride : 12 am

The London Underground Zones 1 to 9 is the oldest underground rail network and one of the best London travel zones in the world. Locals call it the "Tube" because parts of the network's tunnels resemble round tubes running through the ground. Underground stations are marked with a red and blue roundel around the city. To know more, we have a detailed blog about how to use the London underground . The Underground transport is a hallmark of public transit in London. Take a look at our webstory on public transportation in London if you're a visual learner!

2. The Overground

First ride : 5:30 am Last ride : 12:30 am

The overground, which should not be confused with the "Tube," runs above street level and connects the city centre to the larger metropolitan area using zones in London. To improve connectivity between the zones in London, it was introduced in 2007. North and West London railways had experienced serious degradation over the years. To build a complete orbital network to serve the Capital, London Overground sought to merge these older networks into new lines in east and south London, and now is one of the best London travel zones.

3. Docklands Light Railway

Unlike the rest of London's transport system, the DLR is one of the completely driverless London zones. The DLR connects with London's cable car, the Emirates Air Line, and serves the docklands neighbourhood of London zones, located directly east and southeast of Central London. Use the Light Rail to scout out the best living areas. For more information, read our blog on the 10 best neighbourhoods in London .

4. London Buses

In addition to being a great way to view the city, buses in London travel zones have one key advantage over all other forms of London transport: they are not constrained by the "zone" system. Why does this matter? There is a set rate of £1.65 for each trip, regardless of how far or where you are going. Additionally, they benefit from the hopper fare, which allows unlimited bus rides within an hour for a fixed fee of £1.65.

5. Emirates Air Line (Cable Car)

First ride : 8 am Last ride : 8 pm

Don't be deceived by its misleading name; the UK's only urban cable car system will only take you 90 metres above London (295 feet). Enjoy stunning panoramic vistas of London zones 1-6 as it moves from Greenwich to Royal Victoria Dock—more magnificent than helpful. You can also use an Oyster travel card contactless card to make payments through the TfL system, just like you would if you were travelling by bus or train.

6. Boris Bikes

First ride : all-day Last ride : all-day

London 1-6 zones Santander Cycles, often known as 'Boris Bikes' locally, operates a public bicycle rental programme in zones in London 1-6 with more than 12,000 bicycles and 800 docking stations. Cycling around the city is a terrific (and environmentally responsible) way to explore. In the last ten years, the number of cyclists on London's roads has more than doubled.

7. River Bus

First ride : 5:30 am Last ride : 11:30 pm

The imprecisely called 'River Bus' runs 6 routes along the River Thames between Putney in the west and Woolwich in the east, departing from 22 piers. Since departures only occur every 20 minutes, we advise scheduling your trip in advance to prevent delays in travelling in London zones 1-8. The river bus is an excellent way to go around the city and enjoy fantastic views of London's riverfront and witness the scenic beauty.

Transiting in style so why not live in style in our accommodation?

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What are the London zone fares?

While travelling in London, the fare you will pay depends on the zone you are travelling in. The fare is calculated according to the London zones you pass by while reaching your destination, considers your mode of transport, and covers underground buses and trains. There are also several ways to pay for your travel between London Zones 1 to 9, keep reading to know all about the different ways you can pay!

How to pay for London transport in London zones

Even though London's transport system is among the best in the world, a newcomer to the city could find it a little challenging to navigate. Oyster card , debit or credit card, and Apple or Contactless Pay. It is extremely important to keep in mind that every person requires their means of payment; otherwise, you can be charged more than you are in general.

1. Apple Pay

Apple Pay is one of the most preferred options to pay for public London transport in London zones 1 to 9 and London zones 1 to 9. Except for using your phone, this payment option is much the same as the contactless. You can tap the yellow card reader with your phone just like you would for a physical card if you have your credit or debit card set up in your Apple Pay or Google Pay wallet.

2. Oyster Cards

These convenient tiny cards make navigating the city easy when it comes to figuring out how to pay for public transport in London zones 1 to 6 or London zones 1 to 9. You can purchase them at the airport, several train stations, and many convenience stores in the city. You can top up your oyster card as many times as necessary, and they cost five pounds each. The London oyster card price is around £7 , which is the price of purchasing the card. If you use a Pay as You Go Oyster card, top it up with enough cash to either pay for a single ride across the zones you travel through or add enough cash to cover the cost of the "daily cap" if you want unrestricted travel for the day. The cost of a Zone 1–5 weekly Travelcard is £65.70 if you stay in Zone 5. A weekly Travelcard for Zones 2–5 costs £38.20 , saving you £27.50 each week. To find out more information about oyster cards, head to our blog on the ultimate guide to oyster cards .

3. Contactless Payment

Contactless payment is available for those with a credit or debit card that accepts contactless payments. Check for the "contactless" icon on the card's front (shown above) or inquire with your bank or card provider if you're unclear if your card has it.If you do have it, this is undoubtedly the simplest and most practical method for paying for London transport zones. The fare is automatically generated based on the distance you have travelled if you tap your debit/credit card on the yellow card reader at the ticket booth. To make sure that you are paying the correct fare and you are not overcharged, you should always tap it at the beginning and end of your tube ride. You simply need to tap in once on buses to begin your trip, making travelling in London zones easy for you.

4. Foreign contactless card

You may pay for transport in London with a contactless debit or credit card if you have one. If you don't have or don't want an Oyster card, it's perfect. Or if the pay-as-you-go credit on your Oyster card runs out. You tap in and out at the ticket barriers at the tube or railway station or press the yellow card reader when you board a bus to use your card like an Oyster card. The primary distinction is that the fare is deducted from your debit card or credit card the next day; you no longer need to load money onto your Oyster card.

How to save money on travel to central London zones 2-6

The London Travel card has the primary advantage of being accepted on buses across all of London, regardless of which London zones you want it for. Purchasing a weekly or monthly Travelcard that excludes London Zone 1 but includes Zone 2 is a smart money-saving move if you live in Zones 2–6 and need to travel to Zone 1 (the centre of London). Take the bus to and around Zone 1 after taking the train or tube to the Zone 2 station closest to Zone 1. You will only save some money if you use a weekly or monthly Travelcard . Have a look at these prices for better understanding:

Zone 1-5 weekly Travelcard is £69.60

Zone 2-5 weekly Travelcard is £40.50

Zone 1-5 monthly Travelcard is £267.30

Zone 2-5 monthly Travelcard is £155.60

Zone 6-9 weekly Travelcard is £64.40

Zone 6-9 monthly Travelcard is £247.30

Fares for stations in two zones

Zones 1 through 9 are the nine fare zones that make up the London public transport system. Zone 1 covers the city's centre, and the remaining zones are distributed outside. A station is said to straddle the boundary between two adjacent zones when it is located on their border. This is especially true for public transportation systems like the London Underground Zones 1 to 9 (Tube) and others where the fare you pay varies according to the zones you go through.

Stations on the border of two zones are frequently marked on the tube map with a unique graphic clue to help passengers understand their location. To be more precise, the names of certain stations on the map might have a white box around them. Because these stations are situated on the border between two fare zones, they have a particular status that makes them easy to identify for travellers. It is advised that passengers may have particular ticketing concerns when travelling to or from these border stations. This can entail different rates, ticket options, or fee computations when compared to trips that take place wholly inside one zone. 

Popular places to visit outside London Zone 1

Zone 1 is a London zone which covers most of central London. However, the areas outside of Zone 1, too, are filled with tons of tourist attractions, culture, and eateries for you to explore during your stay in the capital of England. Here are some of our favourites:

1. Horniman Museum : near Forest Hill station 2. Greenwich : near Cutty Sark station 3. Highgate Cemetery : near Archway station 4. Battersea Park : near Battersea Park station 5. Oxleas Wood & Sever nDroog Castle: near Eltham station 6. Brockwell Lido : near Herne Hill station 7. Broadway Market : near London Fields station 8. London Wetland Centre : near Barnes station 9. Bruce Castle Museum : near Bruce Grove station 10. Crystal Palace Park : near Crystal Palace station

You are all set to venture around London through the London zones 1-9! We hope our London zones guide will help you navigate the city easily and comfortably as a new traveller in the country. Remember to follow all the laws of the country, and don't forget to tap in and tap out to avoid any penalties on your travel cards. If you're a student planning to study in the UK, finding suitable accommodation might be a concern. Explore the amazing student accommodation options in the UK and start your journey today!

Frequently Asked Questions

How many london zones are there in the city, is an oyster card cheaper than a travelcard to travel through the zones in london, in which of the london zones 1 to 9 does the london city centre lie, how much does it approximately cost to travel in london zones 1 to 6 or london zones 1 to 9, 5. what are some popular tourist attractions in london travel zones outside of zone 1.

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Covid-19 travel amber list: a guide to rules in top holiday destinations

These five popular destinations for Britons may be on the UK’s amber list but they’re opening the door to holidaymakers. We gauge the current restrictions and entry requirements in France, Greece, Italy, Spain and Croatia

Like so many changes to the UK’s Covid rules over the past 14 months, the new traffic light system for international travel came into force this week amid confusion, frustration and dismay. After a five-month foreign holiday ban, British holidaymakers were legally allowed to travel for leisure to destinations on the green list from 17 May, though in practice only three of the 12 “green” countries and territories were free of entry restrictions: Portugal, Madeira and Gibraltar.

Travellers to Portugal are still required to present a negative PCR test result on arrival, among other paperwork, as Guardian Travel writer Kevin Rushby discovered when he travelled to Faro on assignment this week.

Travel companies and airlines have spent the week pressurising the government to add more European countries to the green list . On Thursday, easyJet CEO Johan Lundgren accused the government of sowing confusion and said it was clearly out of step with the rest of Europe: this week the EU updated its recommendations to advise that fully vaccinated travellers will be allowed to enter EU countries, though there is some doubt over whether that will apply to travellers from the UK . The government spent the week reiterating that people should not visit amber list countries.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) currently advises against all but essential travel to the popular amber-listed countries listed below (with a few exceptions), but it is not illegal to travel them. Travellers returning from amber countries must take a Covid-19 test before their arrival in England and are required to quarantine for 10 days on their return, taking a test on or before days two and eight. Airlines continue to fly to them and travel companies are selling holidays to key summer destinations from June, in the hope that the FCDO advice will change and the green list will be extended, despite health secretary Matt Hancock warning that the government was not likely to add to it any time soon. Meanwhile, health advisers and scientists have publicly disagreed with the government’s approach, warning against any overseas travel this summer.

In the meantime, European countries are lifting national restrictions and preparing to welcome visitors back, in the hope that the battered tourism industry can begin to recover. The five popular holiday destinations listed here are all on the amber list – it is not illegal to travel to them, but the government says travel should be for “essential” purposes only – and you have to quarantine at home on your return. We look at what restrictions remain in place in each country and when they hope to open to visitors. Isabel Choat

Vaccination rate 1st dose: 34%. 2nd dose: 16% Daily cases 119 per million

What’s happening? Spain is no longer in the high-risk category. Death rates have fallen sharply, as has pressure on intensive care units. On 19 May, 6,080 new cases were recorded, 400 fewer than the previous week, with 66 deaths, compared with 108 the previous week.

The country is returning to something like normality, after the six-month state of emergency was lifted on 10 May. Since then, Covid restrictions have been in the hands of regional governments and there is considerable variation, although the 11/12pm–6am curfew has been lifted everywhere except Navarra and the Valencia region, where it may remain in force into next month.

Masks are obligatory indoors and out, except for sporting activities, which includes jogging and cycling. Legally, masks have to be worn on the beach, but the measure is largely ignored and rarely enforced. The health department said earlier this week that masks would soon cease to be mandatory outdoors.

Bars and restaurants are open indoors and out until 11pm or 1am, depending on the region, except in the Balearic Isles, where you can only eat and drink in outdoor areas. In Madrid and Andalucía there are no restrictions on how many people can meet together; in the Canary Islands the limit is 15, in Valencia 10 and in Catalonia and the Balearics six.

The pandemic has had a devastating impact on the Spanish economy, especially on the Mediterranean, which is heavily dependent on tourism. Large resorts such as Benidorm are virtual ghost towns, and in Barcelona 70% of hotels remain closed, while 30-40% of bars and restaurants have gone out of business.

The UK accounts for more than 20% of Spain’s tourist industry, with visitors spending £1.7m an hour, according to government statistics.

When can I go? As of this week the Spanish government says Britons are welcome to visit (from 24 May), and do not need proof of a negative PCR test or of vaccination.

The FCDO advises against all but essential travel to Spain, excluding the Canary islands. Travel companies such as Tui are selling holidays to Spain from June, in the hope that the FCDO will lift its non-essential ban and that Spain will move onto the green list. It is reported that this week alone there have been 69 flights to the popular tourist area of Alicante. However, there are also reports of visitors from the UK being refused entry. Stephen Burgen

Vaccination rate 1st dose: 28.5%. 2nd dose: 16% Daily cases 192 per million

What’s happening? Under an accelerated vaccination drive, residents on Aegean islands, including frontline workers in the tourist industry, are being given the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine. More than 100,000 jabs are being administered daily, with epidemiologists hoping to achieve herd immunity by the summer.

Greece has fared better than most other countries in Europe, registering a total of 383,558 confirmed cases and 11,587 deaths linked to the virus, although fatality rates are thought to be higher due to limited testing.

Curbs enforced when Greece went into a second “hard lockdown” in November began to be eased earlier this month.

Although masks are still required in public, they’re not essential in outdoor restaurants, tavernas and bars allowed to reopen, on condition that music that would encourage people to huddle isn’t played and tables are placed at a safe distance from one another.

Travel between regions has been permitted, with ferries once again plying routes to islands. The relaxation of restrictions also applies to the mainland. Museums and shops have reopened, along with archaeological sites, while popular open-air cinemas are due to open their doors with a viewing capacity of 75% as of Friday.

Although gatherings remain limited as part of efforts to rein in transmission rates, an obligatory SMS system notifying authorities of movements has been dropped and a night-time curfew narrowed from 12:30am–5am.

Hugely dependent on tourism, the Greek economy was hammered by the pandemic last year. Arrivals dropped by almost 80% compared with the record 33.1 million tourists who visited the country in 2019. Revenues that normally account for over 20% of GDP fell from €18bn to €4bn in 2020.

By prolonging the season, industry figures hope to recoup the losses with up to 50% of pre-pandemic arrivals this year. Optimism has been buoyed by operators such as TUI predicting that Greece and Spain will be favourite destinations this summer, along with the news of a record number of direct Athens-US flights. “This year our ambition is for autumn to be the strong three-month period and not the traditional July-August slot,” says Yiannis Retsos at SETE, the Greek Tourism Confederation.

When can I go? After dropping quarantine restrictions for EU nationals and five other countries, including the UK, in April, Greece formally reopened to all tourists on 15 May. Visitors are required to complete a passenger locator form and are granted entry if they can prove they’ve been fully vaccinated or possess a negative Covid-19 test. Athens has championed the creation of a vaccine passport and is counting on rapid testing and warmer weather to ensure safe travel. Charter flights have begun landing on islands such as Mykonos and Crete, with the first plane carrying 180 UK holidaymakers arriving in Rhodes on Wednesday despite Greece still being on London’s amber list. Passengers were quoted as saying they were prepared to quarantine back home rather than lose out on a holiday on their favourite island. The FCDO advises against all but essential travel to Greece , except the islands of Rhodes, Kos, Corfu, Crete and Zakynthos. Helena Smith

Vaccination rate 1st dose: 31%. 2nd dose: 14% Daily cases 204 per million

What’s happening? France is in “Phase 2” of a staggered end to restrictions. There are no domestic travel restrictions, but there is a nationwide curfew from 9pm–6am. Anyone out during curfew hours should have a sworn attestation justifying their reason. Restaurants, bars and cafes reopened for outdoor drinking and dining on 19 May, with a maximum of six people allowed per table (a maximum of 10 people are allowed together in public spaces). There is no limit on gatherings in private homes, but health officials strongly advise a maximum of six adults. All shops, museums, theatres and cinemas are open and outdoor sporting activities are allowed. Indoor gyms and discos remain closed. Masks must be worn in all indoor public spaces and outside in larger towns and cities. Health minister Olivier Véran has suggested that an end to compulsory mask wearing is in sight, but has not indicated when. From 9 June, restaurants, bars and cafes will be able to open inside and outside and the curfew will run from 11pm–6am.

Economically, French industries have seen a jump in demand to the highest level in two years. Businesses hit by the lockdown closures, including non-essential shops and service industries, as well as those in tourism, are struggling. The government hopes the estimated €160bn savings accumulated by the French over the past year will boost the economy once consumers start spending again.

France’s tourist sector lost €61bn last year – a drop of 41%. To compensate, the French government has given the tourist industry a bailout package of around €16bn and pledged that financial support will continue for as long as it is needed.

When can I go? Travellers from the UK – as well as from EU countries – can enter France with a negative PCR test done 72 hours before leaving. UK arrivals do not need to justify an essential reason to enter France, but do need to complete a “sworn declaration” that has legal weight stating they are not suffering from symptoms associated with coronavirus and have not been in contact with confirmed cases in the preceding fortnight. Arrivals from the UK must also self-isolate for seven days on arrival, before taking another PCR test. They should only leave self-isolation with a negative test result. Clément Beaune, European Affairs minister, has said PCR tests will be free to tourists visiting France after the end of June. Kim Willsher

Vaccination rate 1st dose: 33%. 2nd dose: 15% Daily cases: 98 per million

What’s happening? Italy began a gradual easing of lockdown measures on 26 April, with all but one (Aosta Valley) of the country’s 20 regions currently in the low-risk “yellow zone”. People can travel freely between yellow zone regions, where bars and restaurants can currently serve customers for lunch and dinner at outside tables. All shops, theatres, cinemas and museums are open in the yellow zone. Covid-19 deaths, infections and hospitalisations have fallen in recent weeks as Italy ramped up its vaccination campaign. All Italian regions are expected to be in either the yellow zone or lowest (white) zone by the end of the first week of June.

Italy has also shortened its nightly curfew, which now begins at 11pm and ends at 5am. The curfew will be pushed back until midnight from 7 June and scrapped altogether on 21 June. From 1 June, indoor dining will be allowed at restaurants until 6pm. Face masks are, for now, still obligatory outside. In yellow zones, people can invite up to four people into their homes, and there are no restrictions on numbers gathering outside.

Mountain lifts will reopen on 22 May. Tourism is crucial to Italy’s economy, accounting for 14% of GDP. Over half a million jobs have been lost in the hospitality industry since the pandemic began, according to a report this week. However, despite the late start to the season in 2020, many places, especially small towns and islands, enjoyed a busy summer. The research institute Demoskopika also painted an optimistic picture for this summer, estimating that at least 39 million foreign and domestic tourists would take trips in Italy, up 12% on last year.

When can I go? On 16 May, Italy dropped Covid-19 quarantine measures for tourists arriving from EU and Schengen area countries, as well as the UK and Israel. The quarantine has also been removed for visitors travelling from the US, Canada, Japan and the United Arab Emirates on board Covid-tested flights. All tourists will need to provide evidence of a negative result from a test taken 48 hours prior to travelling, regardless of whether they have been vaccinated or not.

Italy implemented its travel rules before the June launch of the EU’s vaccine passport, to try to salvage its tourism industry. Italian prime minister Mario Draghi said in early May: “The pandemic forced us to close, but Italy is ready to welcome back the world. I have no doubts that tourism to and within Italy will re-emerge stronger than before.”

The FCDO currently advises against all but essential travel to Italy. Angela Giuffrida

Vaccination rate 1st dose: 27%. 2nd dose: 8% Daily cases 171 per million

What’s happening? The semi-lockdown of winter 2020-21 (when cafes, restaurants and entertainment venues were closed) came to an end in March. Since then a set of strict but manageable restrictions has been in place. Partying and festival-going may well be off the agenda, but there is nothing to prevent you from enjoying a holiday.

Masks must be worn in indoor areas, in busy outdoor areas (such as markets and bus stops) and on all public transport. Shops, museums, galleries and the outdoor terraces of cafes and restaurants are open (although there’s no alcohol after 10pm); cultural events are taking place, providing they have an audience of no more than 25. You can eat inside hotel restaurants if you are resident in the hotel. Masks do not have to be worn on cafe-restaurant terraces or on beaches, although you are expected to observe standard distancing rules wherever you are. There are tentative plans to open up clubs and concert venues to the vaccinated, although how this might work in practice remains under discussion. Further relaxations are possible before summer, but precise stages are yet to be decided.

Croatia’s vaccination programme got off to a sluggish start, but with over 36,000 doses now being administered each day (in a population of just over four million) the jab coverage will change dramatically over the next two months.

Tourism accounts for 11.5% of the Croatian economy, but international arrivals were down 55% in 2020, and 2021 will be a make-or-break year for small businesses. With flights from UK airports to the Adriatic coast slowly being restored, many Croats are hoping that vaccinated Brits will come to their rescue this summer.

When can I go? While Croatia will sign up to any new EU measures regarding fully vaccinated visitors, it already has its own, slightly more flexible, rules in place. Arrivals in Croatia need to show either a vaccination certificate showing that the final dose was taken more than 14 days ago, or a negative PCR or antigen test taken 24 hours before arrival. Travellers who arrive without these things can still enter the country, although they will be required to either quarantine for 10 days or pay for a test and remain in self-isolation until the results come through. One important catch: visitors from outside the EU will have to show that they have paid for their accommodation in advance.

The Foreign Office advises against all but essential travel to Croatia. Jonathan Bousfield

This article was corrected on 2 June 2021. An earlier version said all visitors to Italy would need to provide evidence of having been fully vaccinated with an EU-approved vaccine, or of having recovered from the virus, or of having tested negative 48 hours before travelling. In fact, all tourists are required to have had a negative test result regardless of their vaccination status or Covid history.

• Europe holidays
• Coronavirus
• Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
• Spain holidays
• Greece holidays
• France holidays
• Croatia holidays

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Delve Into the World of Pest Control

London Zones And Traveling

How to pay for transport outside your normal transport zone.

There are a number of circumstances where you might need to travel outside your normal Transport for London (TfL) travel zone. Often this could be for local business reasons; for example, if there’s an out-of-hours meeting which you can’t avoid. Or it might be to visit a job or client. It gave its name to Dover Harbour, as may be seen on coins of this port with the legend Dovor Flavium  while. Daily newspapers include the independent Metro, paid-for local newspaper Kent on Sunday, and freesheet City Life.

How To Save Money On Travel To Central London From Zones 2-6

The London Travelcard is offering a great deal on travelling around London if your journey originates outside central London, My City of London ( mycityoflondon.co.uk ). I have created this tool for you to calculate the exact cost saving you would make by using the travel card instead of an Oyster card or paper ticket. If you typically set off from outside of zone 1, you're working with an Oyster card and paper tickets then the travelcard can save you a lot of money.

The same goes for people who take regular tube rides from different zones. Central London is big. Very big. London’s Travelcard isn’t valid in central London, so it’s confusing to know how much you need to buy for your trips in and out of the centre. I walk through the zones in central London and show you which ticket you need to buy for a day-trip outside of central London. It could save you £3.

60 or, if you’re like me and take an occasional trip to Westfield, a great deal more. If you have a Travelcard that covers the whole of London (i. e. zones 1-6) rather than the borders of London, it’s far more useful on buses.  Now if you live close to zone 3, then this might not apply to you. But what a lot of tourists don’t know is that if you can get a Travelcard or Oyster card for any London zone (2-6), then this will work on many bus routes throughout central London free of charge.

One of my favourite ways to save money on travel is to purchase an adult-rate Travelcard for London. It allows you unlimited travel every day on the bus services in central London at a fixed price, ie. no matter where you go, how often you travel or for how long, it's still the same, flatfare. If you're not familiar with the London Bus system, it's one of the slickest in the world, allowing you to whiz from a huge number of destinations to another for free.

London Zone Map

This is a map of the London zones. It shows you which zone every station in London is in. Find something interesting? Type the station name into the search box and see which zone it's in. You can also click on any station to see more information about it. If you don't see a particular station on the map, that means it's located outside of the London fare zones. If you'll be in London for a while, you might want to check out the zones on the London Tube map.

Here's a zone map. Click the links below to see that area.  Zone 1 (Central London) --- £19. 20 Zone 2 (Zone 1 + part of zone 2) --- £12. 10 Zone 3 (most of zone 2) --- £7. 30. London is divided into six zones on the tube map. Each zone has a different colour and number. They are Central, Bakerloo, Circle, District, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan. London zone map.  You can see the zone on the tube map.

The zones are marked in either white or grey. Scroll around or type in a station name in the search box to see the zone. To see the zone you are in, just look at the tube map. The zones are marked in either white or grey. Scroll around or type in a station name in the search box to see the zone. If you have a Travelcard zone 1-2 this is all fine, but what if your destination are in zones 2-6?.

Paper Travelcards

The paper version of the Travelcard is designed for train and bus travel only. You need to buy an extension ticket from the underground station ticket machine if you want to travel within London by Underground, DLR or Overground. This extends your paper Travelcard automatically for a further hour so you can continue to make journeys on these services. The tickets sold in London for zones 1-4 are not valid in zones 5 and 6.

Pay As You Go Oyster Card

Pay as you go (or PAYG) is a type of fare payment for transport services that allows passengers to pay for individual journeys, without the need to buy a ticket or use a season ticket. The Oyster card system used in London are an example of a pay as you go system. In 2009/2010, over 45 million journeys were made on the pay as you go option which accounted for 31% of all time travelled with London Underground.

If your route originated within Greater London, it's cheaper to buy a Ticket for Zones 1-6 that covers the journey and any onward travel in full. You will have to pay a minimum of £8. 60 for this, although it is available as a season ticket; four weekly, monthly or annual tickets at a reduced rate. If your route began outside of London, you are better off purchasing an Oyster card and paying as you go.

To view fares and see the daily capping charge, visit TfL's Oyster and contactless info page. The amount needed to cover your zones depends on how far you travel in one day. It is the same cost as a paper ticket for each single journey. If you have not got a PAYG Oyster card, or not sure how much to top-up your card with, you should first make sure that your card is topped up enough to cover the whole of your journey.

You can pay as you go on Oyster between any two zones using pay as you go (if you are making multiple journeys within a certain single zone. If you need to travel between zones 5-6, you will need an extension ticket, available from the ticket machines on the underground platforms. I'm writing this post to show you how to save £££'s on day to day travel costs in Central London if you are based in zones 2-6.

Stations In Two Zones

Stations sitting on the border of two zones tend to have a white box around their name on the tube map. The reason for this is that different ticket prices apply to different parts of the station. For example, if you are travelling to Farringdon Station and using a rail card, you would pay reduced fares from only the first part of the station. If you travelled to King’s Cross St Pancras with a rail card, you would pay reduced fares from only the mid section of the station.

It’s quite likely that you have a zone 1-6 Travelcard. This travelcard allows you to travel to stations in zones 1-6. However on the tube map if a station is on the border of two zones it will have a white name box around it. This means that you need a ticket from each of the zones which correspond to each border, two tickets in total. You've probably seen these stations on the tube map and wondered what's so special about them.

Most of the time, these are just ordinary stations like any other, but there are a few exceptions. You can buy tickets to two different zones from these stations, and you don't need an Oyster card or ticket. The White Zone is a new area added to the tube map in order to simplify payments so that you can travel simply and easily (the above text has been taken from TFL's page). In the center of London, there are eleven stations that cross two zones, and they have a white box around their names on the tube map.

Travelcards On An Oyster Card

I live in Zone 6 on a weekly Travelcard, which meant I could travel anywhere in Zones 1-6. The thing is, I rarely get out of zone 6, and in fact, have spent the majority of my life here. It was an awesome for a student with little money to only pay for one travel card (the weekly travel card) that covered four zones (1-6). This meant that if I wanted to explore the rest of the city it would be more cost effective for me to purchase a PAYG card for one single journey, rather than buying a daily or a monthly travelcard.

The pay as you go fare is the same cost as a one day Travelcard for zones 1-6, so you can't use pay as you go to cover the entire cost of travelling outside your zone. But if your last zone covers Greater London, and you want to travel to another nearby zone, you could top up your Oyster card with pay as you go to cover your journey on Tube, DLR or rail services.

If you already have a weekly Travelcard for zones 1-6 and want to travel outside these zones, top-up the required amount on your Oyster card with some Pay as you go money to cover the cost of travelling between the last zone on your Travelcard and your destination. If you already have a weekly Travelcard for certain zones and want to visit a place outside that zone, top-up your Oyster card with some Pay as you go money to cover the cost of travelling between the last zone on your Travelcard and the zone you want to visit.

What you need: an Oyster card, a weekly Travelcard for zones 1-6 – don’t worry if you don’t have one yet, just top-up with pay as you go cash – and Pay as you go money. If you already have a weekly Travelcard for zones 1 to 3 and want to visit zone 5, top-up your Oyster card with £7. 00 of Pay as you go money. These are. There are two kinds of zones on the tube, named and numbered zones.

Weekly Or Monthly Travelcards

If you live in zone 4 and want to visit zone 1, you’ll need a large Travelcard for zones 1-6 or a day Travelcard. Huh? Don’t panic – it’s not as confusing as it first sounds. Once you understand the zones, it’s really quite simple. There are four different zones in total, each with their own unique colour. Each zone has its own price when bought individually. Zone 1, 2 and 3 are the inner London zones (green, yellow and red respectively) and zone 4 is the rest of the city (violet).

For my regular travel routes I didn’t use anything that required me to zone hop frequently as I discovered some of the Travel. If you live in zone 1 and want to visit zone 2 and 3, you should buy a weekly or monthly Travelcard covering zones 1-2-3. So don't accidentally buy a Travelcard only covering zones 1-2 (even though it is cheaper). The fine for traveling without a valid Travelcard is £20. This would obviously wipe out any savings you may have made.

Read about the different types of Travelcards at TFL. There are two types of travelcard lines those with a white cross and those with a yellow cross (like in the picture above). All Travelcards with a white cross only cover zones 1 to 3. The ones with a yellow cross cover zones 1 to 5. In both cases, these travelcards are valid throughout the Capital Transport region, which means they are also valid on trains and trams.

You need a Travelcard zone 1-2 (orange) if you live in zone 3 and you want to visit zones 1, 2 and 3. If you're in zone 3 you'll have to get a Travelcard zone 4+ (purple). If you're in zone 4 and want to visit zones 4-6, then your best option is getting a Travelcard for zones 4+ (purple). If you're staying in zone 2 and want to visit a museum in zone 1 an off-peak day Travelcard is insufficient, you need a Travelcard that is valid for zones 1,2 and 3.

Please don't assume that a Travelcard for zones 1 & 2 will cover your journey, as it may not. Again, check here. Theoretically, it should be cheaper to buy a weekly Travelcard that covers zones 1-6 as appose to a monthly Travelcard that covers all of zones 1-8. When you look at the TfL website this is partly true. Tickets to these stations cost slightly more. The free Brighton & Hove Independent and the i paper are also distributed widely within the city.

What London Transport Zones Do I Need?

Transport for London provides a useful website called find the closest underground or train station. You can enter your accommodation address or postcode and based on the location of underground stations this will show you the zones that you require. For example my accommodation is located in zone 3 and to travel to zone 1 I would need a ticket valid for zones 1-3. The same applies to the opposite journey. If I wanted to travel from zone 1 to zone 3 I would need a ticket valid for zones 1-4, since zone 4 is not reached by any ofLondons underground lines.

What zones do I need? In London there is a transport system called the London Underground or better know as the Tube. It offers fast and safe transport around London. The zones are numbered and they match up with the areas on a map of London. The type of zones you need to travel depends on where your accommodation is in relation to the stations and tourist attractions that you want to visit. For a good overview of the London transport Zones search this page.

This can be helpful for thinking about where you want to stay inLondon. London accommodation is very expensive, but it doesn’t have to cost a lot to spend time here. Hotels and hostels outside of the main zones will often be cheaper. What London transport zones do I need?  Find the closest underground or train station to your accommodation. Then find the zone of the station you want to travel to. If youre visiting London for sightseeing or to shop this will probably be zone 1.

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• International travel, immigration and repatriation during COVID-19
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Travel to England from another country – COVID-19 rules

Check if there are any COVID-19 rules in place for travel to England from abroad.

Applies to England

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Travel to England rules

When you travel to England, you:

• do not need to complete a UK passenger locator form before you travel
• do not need to take any COVID-19 tests before you travel or after you arrive
• do not need to quarantine when you arrive

This applies whether you are vaccinated or not.

It includes people who are transiting through England.

Other countries may have rules about what you need to do to leave the country to travel to England. You should check travel advice for the country you are travelling from.

How to stay safe while in the UK and on public transport

Check separate public health guidance on how to stay safe and help prevent the spread of COVID-19 while you are in the UK .

Travel provider and transport hub rules

Your travel provider, or the transport hub you travel through, may have COVID-19 rules in place. For example, they may require or advise you to wear a face covering.

You should follow any COVID-19 rules and guidance from:

• your travel provider – airline, ferry, coach or train company
• the transport venue – airport, port, coach or railway station

Travel abroad from the UK

Other countries may still have COVID-19 rules that you must follow to travel there from the UK .

Check the ‘Entry requirements’ section of foreign travel advice for all countries you will visit or travel through .

You do not need to take any COVID-19 tests to travel to England from mainland China.

Updated rules for people travelling from mainland China announced.

New rules for travel from China come into force today.

More information about COVID-19 testing requirements for travel from mainland China to England.

From 5 January, people flying from mainland China to England will be asked to take a COVID-19 pre-departure test.

When you arrive in England from abroad you do not need to take any COVID-19 tests or fill in a UK passenger locator form.

If you will arrive in England after 4am, Friday 18 March, you do not need to take any COVID-19 tests or fill in a UK passenger locator form.

If you began your journey in Russia, you do not need to complete a passenger locator form, or take a COVID-19 test before travel to England or on arrival.

If you began your journey in Ukraine, you do not need to complete a passenger locator form, or take a COVID-19 test before travel to England or on arrival.

From 9am Monday 28 February, you can fill in the UK passenger locator form up to 3 days before you arrive in England.

From 24 February, there is no legal requirement to self-isolate if you get a positive day 2 test result.

You do not need to take any COVID-19 travel tests or self-isolate on arrival in England if you qualify as fully vaccinated.

The testing and quarantine rules for international travel to England will change 11 February 2022.

You can now choose a lateral flow test or a PCR test as your post arrival test.

From 4am 7 January you do not have to quarantine on arrival in England if you qualify as fully vaccinated for travel to England.

Changes to rules for fully vaccinated people travelling to England from 4am 7 January 2022.

People who qualify as fully vaccinated for travel to England can now end self-isolation after 7 days with 2 negative lateral flow tests.

Further information about quarantine rules for children aged 4 and under.

People aged 12 years and over must COVID-19 test before they travel to England from abroad.

From 4am, Tuesday 7 December all people aged 12 years and over must also take a PCR or LFD COVID-19 test before they travel to England from abroad.

People who qualify as fully vaccinated must quarantine and take a PCR test before the end of day 2 after they arrive in England. Lateral flow tests will not be accepted.

From 4am 30 November 2021, fully vaccinated people must self-isolate and take a PCR test before the end of day 2 after they arrive in England. They may leave self-isolation if their PCR result is negative. Lateral flow tests will not be accepted.

South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia and Zimbabwe will move onto the red list at 12.00 midday Friday 26 November. A temporary flight ban will be in place and all travellers who have been in these countries must quarantine and take tests.

Travel to England rules for children no longer depend on their place of residence.

Clarification about unclear or inconclusive test results.

From 4am 22 November 2021, all children aged 17 and under will not have to quarantine on arrival in England.

People who qualify as fully vaccinated for travel to England can book a lateral flow test for use from 24 October instead of a PCR test.

From 22 October, if you qualify as fully vaccinated for travel to England, you will be able to book an antigen lateral flow device (LFD) test instead of a PCR for your ‘on arrival’ test.

Rule changes for international travel to England for people who qualify as fully vaccinated.

Changes to amber list rules on quarantine and testing.

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All the stations 'outside fare zones' on the London Underground map and what that means

No, it doesn’t mean you don’t have to pay fares!

• 11:00, 27 FEB 2022

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One of the most recent additions to the London Underground map and its sister London Tube and Rail network map is the phrase ‘outside fare zones’. It appears around National Rail stations beyond Greater London which are not in Travelcard zones 1-9. Previously Transport for London (TfL) used the phrase ‘special fares apply’ to describe these stations but the new phrase makes the boundary clearer.

You cannot use Oyster cards at most stations ‘outside fare zones’ and each one tends to have a unique set of fares. At these stations, paper tickets can often remain cheaper than contactless if you have a railcard or want to travel on child or super off-peak fares as these cannot be applied to contactless cards .

MyLondon explains the specific rules at each ‘outside fare zones’ stations so that you can make the quickest and most affordable journey when travelling to and from the capital.

READ MORE : The towns and cities just outside of London that get a 24 hour train service

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We will keep you informed about the latest news that affects your daily commute to work, as well as at the weekend.

We'll also let you know in advance if there are any roadworks, railworks or closures you should know about, or if there are any problems on the city's tube network.

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Watford Junction

Watford Junction is in a hidden fare zone all on its own. As the Hertfordshire town has three other stations with TfL services (Watford, Croxley and Watford High Street) and most people travelling into London from the station use London Northwestern Railway instead, fares are set at a special rate.

You can use Oyster, contactless cards or paper tickets here but you cannot use Avanti West Coast or Caledonian Sleeper services between Euston and Watford Junction regardless of ticket type as those services only stop at Watford Junction to take people to and from destinations in the North and Scotland. It is for this reason that these services do not appear on any TfL maps.

Note that at Watford High Street station, the next station south on the London Overground, off-peak fare capping starts from 9.10am instead of the usual 9.30am if travelling into London meaning you can get a cheaper ‘head start’ by starting your journey there. (The initial single journey will still be charged the peak fare though).

St Albans City, Harpenden, Luton Airport Parkway, Brookmans Park, Welham Green, Hatfield and Welwyn Garden City

At these stations, you cannot use Oyster - only contactless or paper tickets. This means if you have a railcard, need a child ticket or are looking to travel using a Thameslink/Great Northern super off-peak/GroupSave ticket, it could be cheaper for you to go to a ticket machine or manned counter and purchase a paper ticket from there instead.

Super off-peak, where cheaper tickets are available, applies to any train arriving in Central London after 10am on weekdays, any train departing Central London between 10am and 4.30pm or after 7pm on weekdays and any train all day on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. With a Super Off-Peak ticket you can travel to the almost 2000 year old historic market and cathedral city of St Albans , home to England’s oldest pub and newest forest .

Radlett, Potters Bar, Cuffley, Bayford, Hertford North, Broxbourne, Rye House, St Margarets, Ware and Hertford East

These stations also have super off-peak as stated above, but you can use Oyster too, meaning they get the best of both worlds! You can add a Travelcard season ticket to your Oyster card for travel beyond Zone 9, to and from Broxbourne, Rye House, St. Margarets, Ware and Hertford East.

It is generally cheaper to travel between Hertford North and Zone 1 than Hertford East and Zone 1 if you are travelling with Oyster or contactless.

Brentwood, Shenfield, Iver, Langley, Slough, Burnham, Taplow, Maidenhead, Twyford and Reading

These stations are served by TfL Rail (soon to be the Elizabeth line ) although the fares are set by Greater Anglia or Great Western Railway, whose trains also serve these stations. At all stations you can use contactless or paper tickets. At Brentwood and Shenfield, you can use Oyster but at stations between Iver and Reading you cannot. In both circumstances, if you have a railcard or are looking to buy a GroupSave ticket it could be cheaper for you to buy a paper ticket.

At Twyford (9.10am), Maidenhead (9.18am) and Slough (9.20am), off-peak capping starts a few minutes earlier than the usual 9.30am window, although if you touch in with your contactless card before 9.30am your initial journey will still be charged a peak fare.

Ockendon, Chafford Hundred Lakeside, Purfleet and Grays

These stations are in a hidden zone of their own roughly equivalent to Watford Junction’s fares, making them a sort of ‘de-facto Zone 10’. You can use contactless, Oyster or paper tickets here. On weekends and bank holidays, c2c (the train operator at these stations) offers super-off peak tickets all day, meaning it can often be cheaper to buy a paper ticket if travelling to or from them.

The many TfL red London bus services that operate in this area have completely normal, standard fares in line with the rest of London, such as the Hopper fare (£1.65 from March).

Merstham, Redhill, Earlswood, Salfords, Horley and Gatwick Airport

You can use contactless, Oyster or paper tickets here. These stations also have super off-peak although times vary so you should check journey planners to see if they are available for when you are travelling . If you are travelling between Victoria and Gatwick Airport, do check whether or not you are taking a Gatwick Express train as if you are, the fare is significantly more expensive regardless of ticket type. Thameslink is almost always the cheapest option and you can travel in first class at the rear of each train for added comfort even with a standard paper ticket, contactless or Oyster.

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NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

UK travellers warned over ‘unrest’ in popular holiday spot

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The UK Foreign Office has warned those travelling to Tunisia , in the wake of Iranian military activity against Israel .

UK tourists have been issued with a serious warning against travelling to the North African holiday spot, due to ‘unrest’ facing parts of the country.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) this week updated its travel advice for Tunisia , urging anyone with a trip booked to ‘Monitor this travel advice and other media as the situation is changing fast.’

According to Jamel Bouzid, the tourist office’s deputy director general, up to 425,000 UK arrivals are expected in the country over the coming year, but an increasingly turbulent political climate could disrupt plans.

In a previous statement, the authority explained: ‘Since July 1, the city of Sfax has witnessed several days of civil unrest, including reports of injuries, arrests, and one death, related to heightened tensions between residents and migrants from sub-Saharan Africa.

‘Further disturbances could occur with little or no warning and impact other Black people perceived to be of sub-Saharan African origin. Terrorists are still very likely to try to carry out further attacks in Tunisia, including against UK and Western interests.’

It continued: ‘Security forces remain on a high state of alert in Tunis and other places,’ and warned: ‘You should be vigilant at all times.’

Brits were advised to exercise caution when visiting Tunisia, particularly around religious sites and festivals, crowded areas, government installations, transportation networks, businesses with Western interests, and areas where foreign nationals and tourists are known to gather.

Protests have typically taken place on weekends or around prominent national anniversary dates, but could erupt at other times too.

If you are caught up in a disturbance, the advice states: ‘Avoid all protests, and move away from gathered crowds. Keep up to date with developments through the media and follow the instructions given by the Tunisian authorities as well as your hotel and tour operator, if you have one.’

Where is safe to travel in Tunisia right now?

The FCDO advises against all travel to

• the Chaambi Mountains National Park and the designated military operations zones of Mount Salloum, Mount Sammamma and Mount Mghila
• the militarised zone south of the towns of El Borma and Dhehiba
• within 20km of the rest of the Libya border area north of Dhehiba
• the town of Ben Guerdane and immediate surrounding area

In addition and for security reasons, the FCDO advises against all but essential travel to:

• within 75km of the Libyan border, including Remada, El Borma and the town of Zarzis
• the governorate of Kasserine, including the town of Sbeitla
• within 10km of the border with Algeria south of Kasserine governorate
• within 30km of the border in El Kef and Jendouba governorates south of the town of Jendouba, including the archaeological site of Chemtou
• areas north and west of the town of Ghardimaou in Jendouba governorate, including El Feidja National Park
• within 10km of Mount Mghila
• Mount Orbata

The FCDO recommends travellers follow and contact them on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram, and sign up for email notifications when advice is updated.

‘Read FCDO advice on how to deal with a crisis overseas,’ it said. ‘Before you travel, check the “Entry requirements” section for Tunisia’s current entry restrictions and requirements.’

The organisation highlighted that these rules ‘may change with little warning,’ so tourists should monitor FCDO channels and stay in contact with travel providers.

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‘It is more important than ever to get travel insurance and check it provides sufficient cover,’ it added. 

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Middle East latest: Netanyahu vows to 'increase pressure' on Hamas; Iran 'displayed power' in attack on Israel, Supreme Leader claims

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has spoken for the first time since his country attacked Israel. It follows news of Palestinians being killed in Rafah and the West Bank, and the IDF launching strikes in Lebanon.

Sunday 21 April 2024 17:50, UK

• Israel-Hamas war

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• Iran 'displayed power' in attack on Israel, Supreme Leader insists - despite failure
• Sean Bell: New details hint at impact of Israeli strike on Iran
• 13 children from same family killed in strike on Rafah, hospital says
• IDF sanctions a 'dangerous precedent', senior Israeli politician warns
• At least 14 Palestinians killed in West Bank raid, authorities say
• Israel says it has attacked 'terrorist targets' in Lebanon
• US Congress approves aid package for Israel 
• Analysis: Iran isn't biggest threat to the coalition right now
• Live reporting by Bhvishya Patel and (earlier)  Narbeh Minassian

Israel war cabinet member Benny Gantz has spoken with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and asked him to reconsider the decision to sanction the IDF's Netzah Yehuda battalion, the American news website Axios reports, citing Mr Gantz's office.

For context : This weekend a report from Axios claimed the US was expected to announce sanctions within days on the IDF battalion for human rights violations in the occupied West Bank.  

Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu has already responded, warning it is "forbidden" to sanction the IDF.

The Axios report adds it would be the first time the US has imposed sanctions on an Israeli military unit.

Israel and Iran have been at war for decades but they have been fighting in the shadows.

Analysts believe both countries are now trying to ease tensions following a series of escalatory attacks between them.

Here, our international affairs editor Dominic Waghorn   explains how we got here and what could be next.

We have been reporting today on Israeli strikes on the southern Gaza city of Rafah overnight which killed 22 people, including 18 children, according to health officials.

Now, the IDF has responded to the overnight strikes.

"At the given times, the IDF struck several military targets of the terrorist organisations in Gaza including military compounds, launch posts and armed terrorists," it said in a statement.

For context : Israel has carried out near-daily air raids on Rafah, where more than half of Gaza's population of 2.3 million have sought refuge from fighting elsewhere.

It has also vowed to expand its ground offensive to the city on the border with Egypt despite international calls for restraint, including from the US.

Israel will "increase the political and military pressure on Hamas in the coming days", Benjamin Netanyahu has said.

Speaking before the Jewish holiday of Passover that starts tomorrow, the Israeli leader said all proposals for the release of hostages had been "outright rejected by Hamas".

"In the coming days we will increase the military and political pressure on Hamas because this is the only way to free our hostages and achieve our victory," he said.

He also responded to reports of imminent US sanctions on the IDF religious battalion Netzah Yehuda saying: "If anyone thinks they can impose sanctions on a unit in the IDF I will fight it with all my might."

The balance between the right to protest and the rights of everyone else had been completely lost, a charity that protects British Jews from antisemitism has said. 

We have been reporting this weekend on a Met Police officer who was recorded preventing a Jewish man from crossing a road by a pro-Palestinian march because he is "openly Jewish".

The force has since apologised.

Responding to the incident in a statement on X, the Community Security Trust (CST) noted that since 7 October it had seen a "record increase in anti-Jewish hate crime against a backdrop of constant anti-Israel hate demonstrations".

It said CST was working with the police to protect the Jewish community but despite "all the good work" there had been "mistakes".

"This latest case fits that profile, with the context and detail lost in the heat of controversy. An individual officer tried to do the right thing but ended up making things worse in a very difficult moment," the charity said.

The broader question, the CST said, was "how much longer these costly and disruptive protests will be allowed to continue".

"It feels like any balance between the right to protest and the rights of everyone else had been completely lost, with extremists the only ones to benefit, Jews the first to suffer and the police often caught in the middle," it added.

The Israeli military says its soldiers shot two Palestinians who tried to attack them in the West Bank this morning. 

We reported earlier today the IDF claimed two Palestinians tried to stab and shoot its soldiers near the city of Hebron (see our 9.13am post). 

One was reported dead, but now the Palestinian health ministry says both have been killed.

The Israeli military said: "One of the terrorists attempted to stab IDF soldiers that were in the area, who responded with live fire and neutralised him." 

The force added: "At the same time, the other terrorist opened fire at the soldiers, who responded with live fire and neutralised him too."

The official Palestinian news agency WAFA, quoting local sources, said ambulance crews were prevented from reaching the two men.

Palestinian security sources told WAFA the two men, aged 18 and 19, died and that they were still unable to collect their bodies.

A Tory peer has called for the Gaza conflict to end "immediately" as he criticised Israel for an alleged attack on Rafah that killed at least 22 people.

Israel has been carrying out air raids on the southern Gazan city almost daily, with the latest round reportedly killing 17 children of the same extended family overnight (see our 1.46pm post).

Lord Ahmad, a minister at the foreign office, said on X: "Appalled by the Israeli strike on a residential apartment in the densely populated Rafah in Gaza, which resulted in more children being killed.  

"We must stop this fighting immediately and bring an end to this conflict."

It comes just one day after nine people were reportedly killed in another airstrike on the city, including six children, according to Palestinian authorities.

Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are seeking safety in Rafah, having fled attacks elsewhere in the Gaza Strip.

The IDF says it is unaware of any US sanctions against one of its battalions, after a report claimed Washington is planning such a step against a unit for alleged human rights violations in the West Bank (see our 8.14am post).

The military said that its Netzah Yehuda battalion - which is reportedly the target of potential sanctions - is an active combat unit that operates according to the "principles of international law".

"Following publications about sanctions against the battalion, the IDF is not aware of the issue," military spokesperson Daniel Hagari said. 

"If a decision is made on the matter it will be reviewed. 

"The IDF works and will continue to work to investigate any unusual event in a practical manner and according to law."

We reported this morning the Board of Deputies of British Jews has called for an urgent meeting with Met Police chief Sir Mark Rowley, following an officer's handling of an antisemitism campaigner near a pro-Palestinian march (see our 10.14am post).

The group has now said it will meet with Sir Mark later this week, along with the Jewish Leadership Council and antisemitism charity CST.

The Campaign Against Antisemitism, whose chief executive Gideon Falter was the campaigner called "openly Jewish" by a police officer last weekend, has told Sky News it has not been invited to the meeting.

Mr Falter had earlier called for Sir Mark to resign, as did former home secretary Suella Braverman.

In a video of the incident, an officer appears to prevent Mr Falter from crossing the road and tells him: "You are quite openly Jewish. 

"This is a pro-Palestinian march. I am not accusing you of anything, but I am worried about the reaction to your presence."

A government source said Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is "appalled" at what happened.

The Met Police has apologised.

The number of people killed in Israeli strikes on the southern Gaza city of Rafah overnight has risen to 22, Palestinian health officials say.

One of the strikes killed 17 children and two women of the same extended family, according to hospital records. Earlier, these records showed 13 children of the same family had died (see our 10.38am post).

First responders are still searching the rubble, The Associated Press reports.

Another strike killed a married couple and their three-year-old child, according to the nearby Kuwaiti Hospital, which says the woman was pregnant and doctors managed to save the baby.

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