WATERLOO · AFTER THE LAST TRAIN
Missed the Last Train From Waterloo?
You picked the best-connected terminus.
If it's the Underground you've missed, Waterloo is in the strongest position of any London terminus: both the Northern line (via its Charing Cross branch) and the Jubilee line run all night on Fridays and Saturdays — two Night Tube lines, when most stations only get one. The catch is the Waterloo & City line, which shuts completely every weekend, and your South Western Railway train home, which has its own much earlier timetable. A fixed-fare taxi solves whichever one applies.
Times checked 14 August 2026
| Northern lineVia Charing Cross branch | FRI/SAT ONLY | all night |
| Jubilee lineFull route | FRI/SAT ONLY | all night |
| Waterloo & City"The Drain" — to Bank | WEEKDAYS ONLY | 06:00–00:30 |
| South Western RailwaySouthampton, Portsmouth, Woking | VARIES BY ROUTE | check live |
| RushXO fixed taxiMeets you at the station | ALWAYS ON | 24/7 |
FIRST, THE SHORT VERSION
Waterloo is the exception, not the rule.
Two Night Tube lines
Northern and Jubilee both serve Waterloo on Friday and Saturday nights — better coverage than Paddington, London Bridge or Victoria each get.
Except "The Drain"
The Waterloo & City line to Bank is the one Underground line that doesn't run weekends at all, any time of year.
Your mainline train is separate again
South Western Railway's last trains vary by destination — nothing to do with the Tube situation above.
CHECK BEFORE YOU WALK TO THE PLATFORM
What's still running from Waterloo, right now.
Pick the night and the time. Waterloo has the best Night Tube coverage of any terminus — two lines instead of the usual one.
The short answer: both the Northern line (Charing Cross branch) and the Jubilee line run all night on Fridays and Saturdays. Every other night, both stop around midnight and don't resume until about 05:00.
Worth knowing: the Waterloo & City line to Bank never runs on Saturdays or Sundays, at any hour — see the dedicated section below.
Set the night and time to see what's still running.
THE UNDERGROUND CONNECTION
The best Night Tube coverage of any London terminus.
Waterloo benefits from a quirk of the Northern line's route: its Charing Cross branch — the one that gets Night Tube — happens to be the branch that calls here.
| Line | Night Tube? | Normal last train (Sun–Thu) |
|---|---|---|
| Northern line | Yes — Fri & Sat, all night | ~00:00 |
| Jubilee line | Yes — Fri & Sat, all night | ~00:00 |
| Bakerloo line | Never | ~00:00 |
Waterloo gets the "right" branch of the Northern line.
The Northern line splits into two branches through central London — one via Charing Cross (calling at Waterloo), one via Bank (calling at London Bridge). Only the Charing Cross branch runs on Night Tube, which means Waterloo is covered but London Bridge, just one stop away on the other branch, is not. It's the same line — the branch is what matters.
THE ONE LINE THAT NEVER WORKS WEEKENDS
"The Drain" shuts completely, every Saturday and Sunday.
The Waterloo & City line — nicknamed "The Drain" — is a short shuttle to Bank, historically built for City commuters. It's the only Underground line with no weekend service at all.
| Day | Status |
|---|---|
| Monday–Friday | Runs ~06:00–00:30 |
| Saturday | No service, any time |
| Sunday | No service, any time |
This isn't a temporary cutback — the line has run weekdays-only for years, on the reasoning that its ridership is almost entirely City commuters. Don't plan around it on a Saturday or Sunday at any hour; the Jubilee and Northern lines above are your Underground options on those two nights instead.
IF YOU'RE TRYING TO LEAVE LONDON
South Western Railway has its own timetable entirely.
Waterloo serves the south and southwest — Surrey, Hampshire, Berkshire, Dorset. Last trains vary hugely by exact destination.
| Typical destinations | Worth knowing |
|---|---|
| Woking, Guildford, Basingstoke | Frequent inner-suburban routes, generally later last trains. |
| Southampton, Portsmouth, Bournemouth | Longer-distance routes with earlier last departures — check specifically. |
| Windsor & Eton Riverside, Reading | Branch lines that can finish notably earlier in the evening. |
This is general orientation, not a live timetable — check the National Rail journey planner for your specific destination and day. If it's already gone, a fixed-fare car takes you the whole way without a wait for the first train.
WHAT IT ACTUALLY COSTS
Every option, compared honestly.
| Option | Typical cost | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Northern / Jubilee (Fri/Sat all night) | £2.80+ | Normal off-peak fare — only on Friday and Saturday nights. |
| Night bus | £1.75 | Flat fare, Hopper transfers free within 60 minutes — every night. |
| Metered black cab | £20–£60+ | Meter runs on the highest overnight tariff every night 22:00–06:00. |
| Ride-hailing app | £15–£50+ | Prices commonly surge around Waterloo on Friday and Saturday nights. |
| RushXO fixed-fare taxi | from £52 | Agreed at booking. Doesn't move for lateness, traffic, luggage or the hour. |
Figures are typical ranges from current TfL and taxi fare guides — not a live quote for your journey. Book to confirm your exact fixed price.
RUSHXO LATE-NIGHT FARES
One flat fare across London — and beyond it.
| Destination | Saloon | Executive | MPV | 8-Seater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anywhere in Greater London (flat rate) | £52 | £61 | £63 | £69 |
Saloon seats 1–4, Executive 1–3, MPV 1–6, 8-Seater 1–7 — all with luggage. Missed your mainline train home to Surrey, Hampshire or beyond? Long-distance fares are quoted per journey — enter your destination at booking, or WhatsApp your postcode for a price in a couple of minutes.
THE PROMISE
Why a fixed transfer wins at this hour.
Meets you at the station
Waiting at the agreed pickup point, whatever the hour.
One price, set before you travel
No meter, no app surge, no night premium — the fare agreed at booking is the fare you pay.
Room for the group and the cases
An MPV or 8-seater minibus keeps everyone together at one fare.
Anywhere in Greater London
One flat fare, whether the Tube stopped or you missed your mainline train.
Beyond London too
Missed your train home to another city? We'll take you the whole way, door to door.
Dispatch never sleeps
24/7, every night of the year, including Christmas and New Year's Eve.
Licence 11588
LATE AT NIGHT AT WATERLOO
The people who approach you outside the station.
A busy terminus late at night is exactly where illegal touting happens — worth knowing the rules before someone offers you a ride.
- Never accept a ride from someone who approaches you
Touting for passengers is a criminal offence in the UK. A private hire vehicle can only legally carry you if the journey was booked in advance — a driver soliciting you outside the station isn't insured to carry you.
- Black cabs only from the marked rank
Waterloo has a signposted taxi rank. A licensed black cab is the only vehicle you can legally hail on the spot.
- Make the driver tell you who you are
If you've pre-booked, don't announce your name and destination — ask the driver who they're collecting. A real booking means they already know.
- Share the details before you set off
Send the vehicle registration and driver name to someone before you leave the station.
- You should never need cash
Card payment is standard for both black cabs and pre-booked cars. A driver insisting on cash is a reason to stop the journey somewhere public.
FAQ
Missed Last Train — your questions.
What's the fastest way home if I've just missed the last train from Waterloo?
Usually a fixed-fare taxi, though Waterloo is actually the best-connected of London's mainline termini for Night Tube — both the Northern and Jubilee lines run all night on Fridays and Saturdays. If it's your South Western Railway train home that's gone, that's a different, much earlier timetable.
Which Tube lines run all night from Waterloo?
Two: the Northern line (via its Charing Cross branch, which is the branch that calls at Waterloo) and the Jubilee line, both on Friday and Saturday nights only. That makes Waterloo one of the best-served termini for Night Tube — most others only get one line.
Is the Waterloo & City line open right now?
Check the day. The Waterloo & City line ('The Drain') runs Monday to Friday, roughly 06:00 to 00:30, and has no Saturday or Sunday service at all — it's the only Underground line that doesn't run on weekends, full stop.
What time does the Underground stop at Waterloo on a normal night?
On Sunday through Thursday, the last Northern and Jubilee line trains are typically between about 23:30 and 00:15. There's no Night Tube on those nights — always check TfL's live departure boards for tonight specifically.
I missed my last South Western Railway train — what now?
South Western Railway's last trains vary hugely by destination — some routes run past midnight, others finish much earlier. Check the National Rail journey planner for your specific route. If it's gone, a RushXO fixed fare will take you the whole way without a station change.
Is there a night bus from Waterloo?
Yes — Waterloo sits on the core London night bus network, with numerous N-prefixed routes passing through, on top of Northern and Jubilee line Night Tube on Fridays and Saturdays.
Will a taxi surge-price late at night?
A metered black cab moves to the highest overnight tariff after 10pm, and ride-hailing apps commonly surge around Waterloo on Friday and Saturday nights. A pre-booked fixed fare, agreed before you travel, doesn't move either way.
Can a taxi take a whole group?
Yes. An MPV seats up to six and an 8-seater minibus up to seven, with luggage, at one fixed fare split between the group.
Do you run 24 hours a day?
Yes — dispatch and drivers operate 24/7, every night of the year, including Christmas and New Year's Eve.
My advance train ticket from Waterloo is now useless. Can I get a refund?
It depends why you missed it. Advance tickets are valid only on the booked train, and missing it is generally treated as your risk rather than the operator's, so no automatic refund applies. Check the operator's conditions and the National Rail Conditions of Travel.
Someone offered me a taxi outside the station. Is that safe?
No — walk away. Touting for passengers is illegal in the UK, and a private hire vehicle can only legally carry you if the journey was booked in advance through a licensed operator.
Can I book from the station, or do I need to book in advance?
Both work. Booking before you travel means the car is already assigned. Booking from the station forecourt is fine too — dispatch runs 24 hours.
Is it worth just waiting for the first train?
Usually not, unless you're already close to 05:00. First Underground services resume around 05:00–05:30 on weekdays, later on Sundays.
Related pages
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