Quickstart
Get your first TfL API responses in under 5 minutes using the same operations as the API playground.
Prerequisites
- A tool to make HTTP requests (curl, Postman, or the API playground)
- No account required for these demo operations
OpenAPI description
Download tfl-playground.json: OpenAPI 3.0.3 description of all playground operations.
1. Get line status
GET /Line/Mode/{modes}/Status: fetch status for all lines in a mode (for example tube):
curl "https://api.tfl.gov.uk/Line/Mode/tube/Status"
Optional query: detail=true for richer disruption detail when the API supports it.
2. Search for stops
GET /StopPoint/Search/{query}: find stops and stations by name:
curl "https://api.tfl.gov.uk/StopPoint/Search/waterloo"
3. Get bike point data
GET /BikePoint: list cycle hire docking stations:
curl "https://api.tfl.gov.uk/BikePoint"
4. Get air quality forecast
GET /AirQuality: current and forecast air quality for London, no parameters required:
curl "https://api.tfl.gov.uk/AirQuality"
5. Plan a journey
GET /Journey/JourneyResults/{from}/to/{to}: route options between two points using stop IDs:
curl "https://api.tfl.gov.uk/Journey/JourneyResults/1000032/to/1000123"
1000032 is King's Cross St. Pancras and 1000123 is London Waterloo. You can also use postcodes or free-text place names.
Next steps
- Line status by mode: full reference for
GET /Line/Mode/{modes}/Status - Search stops: full reference for
GET /StopPoint/Search/{query} - Bike points: full reference for
GET /BikePoint - Air quality: full reference for
GET /AirQuality - Plan a journey: full reference for journey planning
- Authentication: no credentials on this demo; includes rate limiting notes
- Error handling: HTTP codes