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It’s been a lot of back and fourth, but we have some good news. After the RMT union calling off their tube strike action, and the ASLEF union also calling things off, it looks like London’s November tube strikes are no longer going ahead. The strikes were planned to kick off on Thursday (November 7) and take place on Tuesday November 12, causing severe disruption to London’s transport.
That is great news if you were planning a November trip away. When it comes to getting to London’s airports, the tube is obviously important. While not all of the capital’s airports are reachable by tube (like Heathrow), many travellers will typically use the tube in order to get to airport-bound services. Plan ahead to get to your airport train without the tube.
Worried about getting to London’s airports during November’s strikes? Here’s everything you need to know.
RECOMMENDED: How to get around London during the tube strikes.
❌ Travel disruption to know about this weekend, November 1-3.
When are the tube strikes in November?
The tube strikes planned for November 7 and 12 are no longer going ahead. You can find a breakdown of each day’s industrial action here.
How to get to Heathrow during the tube strike
On severely disrupted strike days, don’t try and reach Heathrow on the Piccadilly line. Instead, use the Elizabeth line or Heathrow Express (running from Paddington).
Find out more about the Elizabeth line during the strikes here.
How to get to Gatwick during the industrial action
Direct trains to Gatwick (the Gatwick Express from Victoria, Southern trains from Victoria, Thameslink from Blackfriars, Farringdon and St Pancras) won’t be hit by strike action.
However, you won’t be able to use the Victoria, Circle, District, Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan, Northern and Piccadilly lines to get to these non-tube lines. Buses will still be running, as will taxis.
How to get to Stansted airport
The Stansted Express is expected to be running as usual. However, you’ll need to find ways of getting to Liverpool Street and Tottenham Hale that aren’t the Central, Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan and Victoria lines. As above, you’ll be able to take buses and taxis.
What about the other London airports?
London has three other airports which could be impacted by tube closures. City will be accessible via the DLR as usual (though you’ll have to avoid the Jubilee line), Luton’s trains to Luton Airport Parkway from St Pancras will run as normal, and Southend services will still run from Liverpool Street and Stratford.
For to-the-minute updates, check the TfL website here.
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