Tube Strike Action -
Travel Guidance
Strike action is planned on the London Underground from midday Tuesday 19 May to midday Wednesday 20 May 2026. Travel to daytime sessions on Tuesday is not expected to be affected, but travel home after the evening Awards ceremony on Tuesday 20 May will be significantly disrupted. Please plan your journey accordingly.
About the Strike
Tube and Underground Services Affected
Strike action is planned from midday Tuesday 19 May to midday Wednesday 20 May 2026. This means underground services will be running normally for morning arrivals to the conference on Tuesday, but will be severely disrupted or suspended from lunchtime onwards - including throughout the evening Awards ceremony and the return journey home. Wednesday morning departures will also be affected until services resume around midday. Overground, Elizabeth line, DLR, National Rail, and bus services are expected to run as normal throughout.
Arriving on Tuesday Morning - No Disruption Expected
If you are travelling to the Kia Oval for daytime conference sessions on Tuesday 19 May, you should be able to travel via the Underground as normal. The strike is not due to begin until midday, so morning services should be unaffected.
Check the latest service status at tfl.gov.uk/status-updates before you travel.
Expected Disruption by Time of Day
| Morning | Late morning | Early afternoon | Evening | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday 19 May | ||||
| Wednesday 20 May |
Note: Elizabeth line, DLR, London Overground, and tram services will be running normally on strike days. Source: Transport for London.
Key Event Details
| Dates | Tuesday 19 - Wednesday 20 May 2026 |
| Venue | Kia Oval, Kennington Oval, London SE11 5SS |
| Nearest tube | Oval (Northern line, Kennington branch) - a 2-min walk. Check status before travelling on Tuesday afternoon or evening. |
| Also nearby | Vauxhall (Victoria line and National Rail) - approx. 15 min walk or short bus ride via routes 36, 185, or 436 |
| Parking | Limited parking near the venue. The Kia Oval is outside the Congestion Charge Zone, but ULEZ charges apply across inner London. |
Alternative Travel Options
These options are particularly relevant for the return journey on Tuesday evening, when tube services will be severely disrupted.
National Rail from Vauxhall
Vauxhall station (approx. 15 min walk from the Kia Oval) has frequent National Rail services and is also served by the Victoria line. National Rail is unaffected by the strike and provides direct connections to many London termini and destinations further afield.
London Buses
Bus services will run as normal throughout the strike. Routes serving Kennington Oval and Vauxhall include 36, 185, 436 (Vauxhall), 155, 333 (Kennington), and 3, 59, 159 (towards central London via Lambeth). Expect higher demand - allow extra journey time.
Black Cab, Uber and Rideshare
Black cabs and rideshare apps (Uber, Bolt, FREE NOW) are a practical option. Demand will be high after the Awards evening - book your return journey in advance where possible. Consider co-ordinating with colleagues heading in the same direction.
London Overground
London Overground is unaffected by the strike. Clapham High Street Overground station is approx. 25 min walk from the Oval, or reachable via bus. Connections are available to Highbury & Islington and across the network.
E-bikes and Santander Cycles
Santander Cycles docking stations are located on Kennington Road and near Vauxhall. Dockless e-bike schemes including Lime and Forest also operate in the area. Central London destinations such as Waterloo are approx. 20 minutes by bike.
Before You Travel
Journey Planning Tips
- Download the TfL Go app for live bus, DLR, Elizabeth line and Overground updates
- Use Citymapper for real-time routing that automatically avoids disrupted services - it is particularly useful on strike days
- Check tfl.gov.uk/status-updates on the morning of Tuesday 19 May and again before departing in the evening
- Allow at least an additional 45-60 minutes travel time on top of your usual journey for the return trip on Tuesday evening
- Use Google Maps or Trainline to find real-time routes avoiding the tube
- If sharing a taxi home, co-ordinate with colleagues travelling from the same area to split costs
- If staying overnight nearby, check availability now - hotels around Vauxhall, Kennington and Waterloo fill quickly on high-demand event nights
- If driving, ULEZ charges apply across inner London. Check tfl.gov.uk to confirm if your vehicle is exempt
Accommodation
Preferential Hotel Rates via Priority
We've partnered with Priority to offer preferential hotel rates near the venue. Staying close by is a great option given the strike - particularly if you are attending the evening Awards.
Visit www.PRIORITY.ltd using the event passcode:
EMAP037Or call 0845 6123 611 / +44 1473 550 620 quoting event code EMAP037
All accommodation queries must be directed to Priority directly.