Tourists visiting London said they had picked the “worst week” to travel as strikes on the London Underground disrupted services, left stations overcrowded and pushed up the cost of alternative transport.
Short video clips posted to TikTok by several visitors showed packed platforms, long queues and cramped trains, and users described paying steep taxi fares to reach destinations or airports. One user, who posts as @sarkieampim, said he was unable to find a taxi for less than about £50 and described the situation as “insane.” Another, @_madzzzzzz, posted a clip from a taxi and wrote that she had paid about $200 for a ride to Heathrow after the strike began on her first day in the city.
Several clips captured scenes of commuters and visitors jostling through stations and climbing escalators, while others showed long walks and multiple buses as tourists sought alternative routes. One user, @slha4054, posted a video of a London street with on-screen text describing tourists “ready to ride 12 buses, walk 40k steps a day” and reported trekking about an hour to reach a planned destination.
The social media posts reflect the strain the strikes have placed on both local commuters and visitors, with higher demand for taxis and buses as Tube services were curtailed. The actions involve London Underground workers protesting over pay and changes to working hours, according to accounts shared online.
The disruption has prompted a range of reactions from travelers captured in the videos. Some expressed frustration at missed plans and unexpected costs, while others posted wry or resigned commentary about the experience. One clip showed a packed station intercut with crowded trains and the caption: “Soooo lucky to be a tourist in London during the strike.” Another user, @avilasisters_, posted footage captioned, “having a holiday during tube strikes is not for the weak.”
Travel and transport hubs have historically experienced surges in demand for road transport when rail services are reduced, and the recent strike action illustrated that pattern as holidaymakers and commuters sought alternatives. The social media footage gives a real-time account of how the industrial action affected daily travel for visitors and residents alike.
Visitors planning travel to London during periods of rail disruption have increasingly turned to ride-sharing, taxis and extended walking routes, sometimes incurring substantially higher costs and longer journey times. The posts and videos circulated online on and before Sept. 11, 2025, captured the disruption from the perspective of those visiting the city and underscored the immediate economic and logistical impacts when core public-transport services are withdrawn.