Like so much of the country, London has been hit by transport strikes for months, but the fact that the busy capital relies so much on public transport means that getting from A to B can be harder than in other urban areas of Britain.

For that reason, commuters and those who simply want to get around for a night out or to visit friends in the run-up to Christmas may have let out a collective groan at the latest news of industrial action. 

No sooner had the cancellation of strike action on November 5th, 7th and 9th by the RMT union after an apparent breakthrough in the long-running rail workers dispute been announced, than the train drivers’ union ASLEF revealed it would be taking strike action on November 26th. Services such as Chiltern, London Overground, Southeastern and London North Eastern Railway will be affected.

If that wasn’t enough to prompt folk to hire a people carrier for a day trip or evening out, there is more bad news from the other modes of transport. 

The Tube has just been hit by its sixth strike of the year after 10,000 RMT members walked out in a dispute with Transport for London over pensions and job cuts, with general secretary of the union John Leach warning that there will be more to come as union members are balloted over further strike action. 

If that wasn’t enough to make journeying harder, Abellio bus drivers are set for ten days of strikes in south and west London, with Unite accusing the company of “failing to enter into meaningful pay talks” despite drivers being due for a rise in January 2023.

Whether one is sympathetic to the strikers or not, the fact is that for many there will be some serious transport disruption. That’s why planning ahead may be vital to ensure your plans for a day or evening out in the near future are not derailed or thrown under the bus.