Transport for London fares will rise by an estimated 5.8% in March 2026. This has been announced this morning.
This means that, in spite of the National Rail fares freeze for 2026, journeys on National Rail services within the London fare zones are also likely to rise.
That, along with the potential new nightly hotel/tourist tax of possibly 5% that has been proposed will increase trip costs. The TFL increase won’t break the bank. The nightly tax would bite a little more, but wouldn’t be a budget breaker for most people.
Google the fable "How to boil a frog."
Update- central London Zone 1 fares are rising by 7.1% and the Elizabeth line fare from Heathrow to Central London is rising by 11.5% to £15.50.
The good news is that the price caps are not rising, and nor is the price of travelcards.
So with the Zone 1 to 6 fare at £16.30 you only have to make 1 more journey that day to reach the cap if travelling on the Elizabeth Line from Heathrow.
These rises also apply to the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) and the London Overground (even though it is also part of National Rail).
