London Underground passengers are facing another round of disruption later this month as Tube drivers prepare to walk out across several days in an ongoing dispute over working conditions.
The strikes are expected to affect large parts of the network, with Transport for London warning that disruption could continue well beyond the official strike hours themselves. The action is being led by members of the RMT union and follows earlier disruption in April.
The dispute centres around proposed changes to working patterns, including plans linked to a compressed four-day working week for some drivers. TfL says the changes would be voluntary, but the union argues they could lead to longer shifts and increased fatigue. Here’s what you need to know about the upcoming action.
Several major Tube lines are expected to face disruption.
TfL says disruption is expected across the network during the strike periods, although some lines are likely to be hit harder than others. Current guidance suggests there may be no service at all on parts of the Circle, Piccadilly, Metropolitan, and Central lines during some stages of the walkouts. Other lines are expected to run reduced or heavily disrupted services, with trains finishing earlier than normal on strike days and starting later the following mornings.
Travellers are being warned disruption could last longer than the strike itself.
One thing TfL keeps stressing is that problems won’t suddenly end the moment the strike officially finishes. Services often take hours to return fully to normal because trains and staff need to be repositioned across the network. That means commuters may still face delays and overcrowding well into the evenings and mornings surrounding the strike periods, even outside the official walkout times.
Alternative transport is expected to become extremely busy.
With parts of the Underground disrupted, Londoners are expected to rely more heavily on buses, the Elizabeth line, Overground services, the DLR, cycling, taxis, and walking routes. TfL says those services will continue running, but passengers should still expect much busier conditions than normal, especially during rush hour and in central London.
The strikes also clash with a busy period in the capital.
The latest action overlaps with Chelsea Flower Show week, which usually brings huge numbers of extra visitors into central London. That could make already busy stations and routes even more crowded than usual. Travel experts are advising people to check routes carefully before travelling and allow significantly more time for journeys where possible.
There are also more strikes planned beyond May.
At the moment, additional Tube strikes are already scheduled for June if an agreement between TfL and the RMT is not reached beforehand. However, there are ongoing reports that informal talks between both sides may still continue. That means there remains a possibility some planned action could still be suspended if negotiations improve, although no official cancellations have been announced so far.
The full list of planned Tube strike dates you need to know
May 2026
Tuesday 19 May to Wednesday 20 May
Strike begins at 12pm on Tuesday and ends at 12pm on Wednesday.
Thursday 21 May to Friday 22 May
Strike begins at 12pm on Thursday and ends at 12pm on Friday.
June 2026
Tuesday 16 June to Wednesday 17 June
Strike begins at 12pm on Tuesday and ends at 12pm on Wednesday.
Thursday 18 June to Friday 19 June
Strike begins at 12pm on Thursday and ends at 12pm on Friday.
TfL says disruption is likely to continue into the afternoons and evenings after each strike officially ends.
