If you’re feeling adventurous or the Jubilee line is down for engineering works, there are backup options. Canning Town station is the next stop east, and it connects to the DLR and the Jubilee. You can walk from there along the Thames Path in about 15 minutes—a lovely walk on a clear evening, but a soggy, regret-filled one in a drizzle. Consider it a “scenic detour” for the brave or the late-arriving.
Another quirky alternative: take the Emirates Air Line cable car from Royal Victoria (on the DLR) directly to the O2. Yes, you can literally fly across the river to your concert. It costs a few pounds, runs until around 8pm on weekdays, but it’s open later during events. The views are utterly spectacular—you’ll spot the Shard, the river boats, and the whole arena glowing below you like a giant jellyfish. It’s the ultimate flex for your Instagram story.
And if you’re coming from south London? Use Greenwich station itself, then take the Thames Clipper river bus. It feels like a mini cruise, docking right at the O2’s waterfront. You’ll avoid the tube crush entirely, and the boat has a bar. That’s not a rumour; I’ve seen people sipping rosé while the sunset paints the river gold. It’s the civilized way to arrive.
Practical Tips for a Smooth Exit
Let’s be real: the real test of any venue is how you leave. The O2’s post-show exit is a ballet of human traffic, and North Greenwich is the grand finale. Don’t rush to the station the second the encore ends. Wait ten minutes. Grab a drink, use the loo, or just watch the lights on the dome. Those early birds will be packed like sardines, while you saunter down to a platform that’s already cleared out.
If you’re taking the Jubilee line north, check if the station is exit-only after the show. Sometimes, for safety, they restrict entry to the station for a few minutes after major events. Follow the signage and the cheerful staff in hi-vis; they’ve done this hundreds of times. Also, have your Oyster card or contactless payment ready—fumbling for your phone while tired and tipsy is a classic rookie mistake.
London Underground: Every single Jubilee line stop - MyLondon
Fun fact number two: the O2 Arena can hold up to 20,000 people, and almost all of them will funnel through North Greenwich. The station has eight escalators and a massive ticket hall designed to handle this exact tidal wave of humanity. It’s like a giant lung, inhaling and exhaling crowds twice a night. The architects really thought this through, unlike, say, the queue for the toilet during halftime.
