Adult single bus and tram fares in London rose by 10p to £1.85 from November 1, Transport for London (TfL) has confirmed. The increase also applies to the Hopper fare, which lets passengers make unlimited journeys within one hour across the capital's buses and trams for a single charge, according to an email sent to customers.
Concession fares and price caps
Fares for passengers holding eligible concession cards have risen by 5p, with the changes taking effect from November 1. Meanwhile, price caps for tube, rail and Travelcards will remain frozen until March next year, TfL said.
A TfL spokesperson said: "London’s bus fares remain some of the lowest in the UK, and this is only the third time they’ve increased over the past decade." The rise marks the first adjustment to TfL's bus and tram fares since March 2023.
Background to the fare rise
During the summer, London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan extended the bus and tram fare freeze through to November, having originally been scheduled to end in July. At the time, TfL described this as an "emergency cost-of-living measure to support Londoners on the lowest incomes" and the seventh freeze of bus and tram prices in the last 10 years.
November's 10p increase means bus and tram fares will be 35p higher than they were 10 years ago, the organisation noted.
Fares outside London
The rest of the UK will benefit from bus fares capped at £2 next year, starting in January. Single bus fares in England, outside of London, are capped at £3 through the end of 2026, then drop back to £2 starting January 1, 2027, and will remain at £2 through December 31, 2027. Some local areas have alternative regional caps, such as the £2.50 adult single cap in the North East Combined Authority area.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said: "Good, affordable transport links are an essential. No one should be priced out of those and left behind. But for too long people have said that cheaper transport isn’t an option. I don’t accept that.
"I’ve done it before and I will do it again now: a £2 cap on bus fares for millions across the country. Lower fares will help people get to where they need to – giving them breathing space to help with the cost of living.
"As I said on my first day in office – I will build a country for everyone, everywhere. That means more connected communities, better access to opportunities, and a lighter load on people’s lives."
