TfL's New Weekend Hopper Fare Explained: How to Travel Across London All Day for Just £1.75
If you're planning a weekend in London this summer, there's some good news you can now explore the city for just £1.75 a day on buses and trams.
Transport for London (TfL) has launched a brand-new Weekend Hopper trial, making weekend travel cheaper than ever. Instead of paying every time your one-hour Hopper expires, you'll now pay one single £1.75 fare and enjoy unlimited bus and tram journeys for the rest of that Saturday or Sunday. The offer runs as a summer trial from 25 July to 31 August 2026 (including the August Bank Holiday Monday).
Whether you're visiting London for the first time, travelling on a budget or simply looking for a fun day out, this new fare could save you money while helping you discover parts of the city you might otherwise miss.
Here's everything you need to know.
What Is the TfL Weekend Hopper?
The Weekend Hopper is a temporary extension of London's popular Hopper fare.
Normally, the Hopper lets you make unlimited bus and tram journeys within one hour for £1.75 when you use the same contactless card, phone or Oyster card. Once that hour ends, another journey costs another £1.75.
With the Weekend Hopper, that one-hour limit disappears but only on eligible days.
During the trial:
Pay £1.75 once on Saturday and travel on buses and trams all day.
Pay £1.75 once on Sunday and travel on buses and trams all day.
The August Bank Holiday Monday is also included.
In other words, if you stay on buses and trams, you can keep hopping on and off for the rest of the day without paying another fare.
When Does the Weekend Hopper Run?
The trial runs from:
📅 25 July 2026 – 31 August 2026
It applies on:
Every Saturday
Every Sunday
Bank Holiday Monday (31 August 2026)
The offer is currently a summer trial, introduced to encourage people to explore London by bus and tram during the school holidays. TfL will review the results before deciding whether something similar could return in the future.
Which Transport Is Included?
The Weekend Hopper works on:
✅ London buses
✅ London trams
It does not apply to:
London Underground (Tube)
Elizabeth line
DLR
London Overground
National Rail services
River Bus
IFS Cloud Cable Car
If you use one of these services during your day, you'll pay the normal fare for that mode. The Weekend Hopper benefit only covers buses and trams.
How Do You Use It?
The best part is that you don't need to buy a special ticket.
Simply:
Use the same contactless bank card, phone, smartwatch or Oyster card.
Touch in as normal on your first bus or tram.
Continue using the same payment method for every bus or tram journey that day.
The discount is applied automatically, so there's nothing extra to activate or register.
How Much Can You Save?
Under the standard Hopper fare, travelling throughout the day could mean paying multiple £1.75 fares once each one-hour window ends.
With the Weekend Hopper, you'll still pay just £1.75 no matter how many buses or trams you take that day.
For example:
Morning bus to Borough Market.
Bus to Camden.
Bus to Notting Hill.
Bus to Greenwich.
Evening bus to Covent Garden.
Late bus back to your hotel.
Normally, those journeys could involve several separate fares depending on timing. During the Weekend Hopper trial, they're all covered by one £1.75 payment, provided you stay on buses and trams.
Why Buses Are One of the Best Ways to See London
Many visitors automatically head underground.
But buses often offer a far better sightseeing experience.
From the top deck, you'll pass famous landmarks, historic streets and neighbourhoods that you'd completely miss on the Tube.
Some of London's most scenic bus routes include:
Route 11 – Westminster, Big Ben, St Paul's Cathedral and Liverpool Street.
Route 24 – Camden, Trafalgar Square and Westminster.
Route 26 – Waterloo, St Paul's Cathedral and Hackney.
Route 88 – Camden, Westminster and Clapham.
Route 139 – Waterloo, Trafalgar Square and Oxford Street.
If you're not in a rush, travelling by bus can become part of the sightseeing rather than simply a way to get around.
A Perfect £1.75 Weekend Adventure
To make the most of the Weekend Hopper, you could spend an entire day exploring different parts of London by bus.
For example:
Morning
Start at Notting Hill, wander through Portobello Road Market and enjoy breakfast at a local café.
Late Morning
Take a bus to Kensington Gardens for a walk past Kensington Palace.
Lunch
Ride to South Bank and enjoy lunch overlooking the Thames.
Afternoon
Continue to Covent Garden, browse independent shops and watch the street performers.
Evening
Finish at Tower Bridge or Greenwich for sunset before taking the bus back.
The entire day's bus travel costs just £1.75 during the trial.
Is It Worth Using?
Absolutely if your plans mainly involve buses or trams.
The Weekend Hopper is particularly useful for:
First-time visitors exploring central London.
Families trying to reduce transport costs.
Budget-conscious travellers.
Londoners planning a day out across several neighbourhoods.
Anyone who enjoys sightseeing from the top deck of a London bus.
If your itinerary relies heavily on the Tube, the savings will naturally be more limited because Underground journeys are charged separately.
A Few Tips Before You Travel
Always use the same contactless card, phone or Oyster card throughout the day.
Plan your sightseeing around bus-friendly neighbourhoods to maximise the value.
Download the TfL Go app or use Citymapper to check live bus arrivals.
Remember that the offer is temporary, running only from 25 July to 31 August 2026 unless TfL announces an extension.
Final Thoughts
London is often seen as an expensive city, but the new Weekend Hopper shows that exploring the capital doesn't have to cost a fortune.
For just £1.75, you can spend an entire Saturday or Sunday travelling across London by bus and tram, discovering famous landmarks, hidden neighbourhoods and local favourites without worrying about paying for every journey.
Whether you're hopping between markets, museums, parks or riverside walks, it's one of the best-value travel offers London has introduced in years.
If you're visiting during the trial period, it's well worth planning at least one day around London's buses you'll save money, see more of the city and experience London from a completely different perspective.
Discover More London Travel Tips
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