London's bus and tram fares remain frozen at £1.75, as the Mayor of London weighs whether to extend the freeze beyond its current end date. The measure, funded from City Hall budgets rather than core Transport for London (TfL) fare income, has been described as an emergency cost-of-living measure to protect Londoners on the lowest incomes.
Under the freeze, passengers continue to benefit from the Hopper Fare, which allows unlimited bus and tram journeys within one hour for £1.75. It marks the seventh time the Mayor has frozen bus and tram fares since 2016.
What has changed and what has not
Only fares on the Tube and TfL rail services increased from 1 March 2026, rising by around six per cent. Bus and tram fares were held flat as part of the cost-of-living support package. Tube and rail Travelcards and daily caps were also frozen until March 2027, meaning pay-as-you-go passengers reach their daily cap sooner.
Had bus fares risen in line with inflation since 2016, they would stand at roughly £2.35 today. The current £1.75 fare is only 25p higher than when the freeze policy began nearly a decade ago.
The decision ahead
Before the current freeze ends, the Mayor must decide whether to extend it again or introduce changes to bus and tram fares. City Hall has framed continued support as a priority while cost-of-living pressures persist, though any extension depends on available budget, given the Government's £2.2bn multi-year funding deal for TfL assumes fares rising by inflation plus one per cent.
Who benefits most
The freeze particularly helps lower-income Londoners, who are more likely to rely on buses than the Tube. Concessions — including Zip photocards, the 18+ Student photocard, the 18-25 Care Leavers pass and the 60+ Oyster London photocard — remain unchanged, providing free or discounted travel for millions.
Fares and policy details are set by the Mayor of London and Transport for London and may change. Readers should check the official TfL website for the latest confirmed fares before travelling.