Lost and Found Transport For London

Have you lost an item on London’s public transport service ? Here’s how to report your lost property with TFL.

About Transport for London (TfL)

Transport for London (TfL) is the integrated transport authority responsible for London’s public transport network, including the London Underground (Tube), buses, Overground, Elizabeth line, DLR (Docklands Light Railway), trams, river buses, and the regulation of taxis and private hire vehicles.

Serving over 1.3 billion passenger journeys annually across one of the world’s most extensive and complex urban transport systems, TfL operates 24-hour services on weekends, connects all corners of Greater London, and provides essential mobility for residents, commuters, and millions of international visitors exploring the UK capital.

With such enormous passenger volume across multiple transport modes, personal items are frequently left behind, and TfL maintains a centralized Lost Property Office to help reunite Londoners and visitors with their belongings.

Good to know :

Lost items found on TFL public transprt (buses, tube, overground, taxis and minicabs, trams, river buses…) are stored for three months. If not claimed within that time, personal data will be removed and securely destroyed. The items will then be either donated to charity, recycled, or auctioned.

What Should You Do If You’ve Lost Something on TfL Services ?

Losing an item on London’s public transport can be stressful, particularly if you’re unfamiliar with the city or traveling with luggage. TfL operates a centralized Lost Property Office that handles items found across all transport modes. Whether your item was left on the Tube, a London bus, an Overground train, or in a black cab, here’s what you need to know.

Have you lost something on London transport ? From the Northern line to the Number 38 bus, personal belongings are left behind regularly across TfL’s vast network.

How to report a lost item on TfL services ?

If you’ve lost an item somewhere on London’s transport network, the following information will help you report your loss effectively. Transport for London operates a professional lost property service handling hundreds of thousands of items annually.

You can also complete and send in the Lost Item Report Form on our platform so that our team can assist you in reporting your lost item(s).

Items lost on TfL transport

If your item was lost on any TfL service (London Underground, buses, Overground, Elizabeth line, DLR, trams, river buses, or licensed black cabs), contact the TfL Lost Property Office.

TfL Lost Property Office

Address : West Ham Bus Garage, Stephenson St, London E16 4SA

TfL Lost Property opening hours : Monday to Friday 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM (excluding Bank Holidays)

Please note the weekday-only service with no weekend hours. Items lost on Friday evening through Sunday must wait until Monday morning to be reported.

You can also report lost items online through TfL’s website at tfl.gov.uk/lost-property, which is often the most efficient method and available 24/7, including outside office hours and on weekends.

Historical Note : TfL’s lost property service was historically operated from Baker Street station, but operations now run from the West Ham Bus Garage facility in East London, providing more space and better organization for the hundreds of thousands of items handled annually.

Common Places Where Items Are Lost on TfL Services

Travelers and commuters often misplace items in these locations across London’s transport network :

Lost Property on the Tube and London Underground :

• Left on seats or slipped between cushions
• Forgotten in overhead luggage racks on some trains
• Left in station ticket halls or on platforms
• Dropped on escalators or in lifts
• Piccadilly, Northern, Central, Circle, and District lines particularly busy
• Items slip under seats on trains with facing seating
• Mind the gap – items can fall onto tracks

Lost Property on London Buses :

• Upper deck seats where items slide to floor
• Near exit doors where belongings are set down
• Luggage racks on some bus routes
• Night buses after evening out
• Heritage Routemaster buses

Overground and Elizabeth Line :

• Seats and luggage areas
• Station platforms during rush hour
• Major interchanges like Stratford, Liverpool Street, Paddington

Black Cab and London Taxi Lost Property :

• Back seat of traditional black cabs
• Boot (trunk) where luggage is stored
• Payment area where items are set down while paying
• Licensed taxis regulated by TfL

DLR Lost Property :

• Seats and standing areas on Docklands Light Railway
• Bank, Canary Wharf, and other major DLR stations

Trams and River Buses :

• Wimbledon, Croydon tram network
• Thames Clippers and river services – outdoor deck seating and indoor cabin areas

Providing accurate details about which service, line, route number, and approximate time significantly improves recovery chances across TfL’s extensive network.

Tips to Efficiently Report a Lost Item on TfL

To report a lost item on Transport for London services, you should :

• Specify which transport mode (Tube, bus, Overground, taxi, DLR, tram, etc.)
• Provide the line name or bus route number if known
• Note the direction of travel and approximate time
• For London Underground : which station you boarded and alighted
• For buses : route number and approximate location
• For black cabs : note cab number if possible, or pickup/drop-off locations
• Give detailed description including color, brand, and distinguishing features
• Share your contact details (email and phone number)
• If you used contactless or Oyster card, mention this as it can help trace your journey

TfL’s online reporting system at tfl.gov.uk/lost-property asks for these details systematically and is available 24/7, making it the recommended method for reporting losses outside office hours.

How Long Does TfL Keep Found Property ?

Items are held for three months from the date they are found. If not claimed within that time, personal data will be removed and securely destroyed. The items will then be either donated to charity, recycled, or auctioned.

This three-month retention period is standard across all TfL services including the Tube, buses, Overground, and licensed taxis. High-value items, important documents, and mobility aids receive careful cataloging and storage.

The TfL Lost Property Office Location

The TfL Lost Property Office is located at West Ham Bus Garage in East London, accessible via the Jubilee and Hammersmith & City lines to West Ham station, or via the DLR to West Ham. The office operates Monday to Friday 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM, excluding Bank Holidays.

This centralized facility replaced the historic Baker Street Lost Property Office, providing modern facilities better suited to handling the volume of items found across London’s transport network.

Where to Claim Your Lost Property

If your item is found, TfL will contact you with instructions on how to retrieve it. You’ll need valid photo ID when collecting.

Items must be collected in person from the TfL Lost Property Office at West Ham Bus Garage during operating hours (Monday-Friday 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM). The office is located in East London at Stephenson Street, E16 4SA, accessible via Tube, DLR, and bus services.

TfL Lost Property Fee : There is a small collection fee that varies based on the type of item. Payment is required when collecting your property. Contact the office for current fee information.

For items found after you’ve left London or the UK, TfL may be able to arrange courier delivery, though fees apply and can be substantial for international shipping. Consider item value versus recovery costs.

Most Commonly Lost Items on TfL

Based on TfL statistics, the most frequently lost items across the London Underground, buses, and other services include :

• Mobile phones and tablets
• Oyster cards and contactless payment cards
• Wallets and purses
• Keys (house keys, car keys)
• Bags and backpacks
• Umbrellas (London weather means many carried)
• Books and e-readers
• Laptops and electronic devices
• Clothing items (jackets, scarves, gloves)
• Headphones and earbuds
• Water bottles
• Shopping bags from Oxford Street, Covent Garden, Westfield

Interestingly, TfL’s Lost Property Office also handles more unusual items including musical instruments, sports equipment, wheelchairs, walking aids, and even wedding dresses.

Contactless and Oyster Card Journey Data

If you paid for your journey using contactless payment or Oyster card, TfL can use this data to help identify which service you used. This significantly improves chances of locating your item, as it confirms your exact journey route and timing.

When reporting a loss, mention if you used contactless or Oyster and provide the card number if possible (last 4 digits visible on Oyster cards). This helps TfL trace your journey across the network.

What Happens to Unclaimed Items

After the three-month retention period, unclaimed items from the London Underground, buses, and other TfL services are disposed of responsibly :

Personal Data : Any personal information is securely destroyed to protect privacy.

Donated to Charity : Items in good condition, including clothing, bags, and accessories, are donated to charities supporting Londoners in need.

Recycled : Items unsuitable for donation are recycled where possible to minimize environmental impact.

Auctioned : Some valuable items may be sold at auction, with proceeds supporting TfL operations. London Underground lost property auctions occasionally take place for unclaimed valuables.

This responsible approach ensures items don’t simply go to waste while protecting passenger privacy.

Special Circumstances

Mobility Aids and Medical Devices : TfL treats these with particular urgency. Walking sticks, wheelchairs, crutches, and hearing aids are prioritized for reuniting with owners.

Valuable Items : High-value electronics, jewelry, and important documents receive secure storage and careful handling.

Perishable Items : Food and perishable goods are disposed of quickly for hygiene reasons.

Dangerous Items : Any item considered potentially dangerous is handled by appropriate authorities.

Lost vs. Stolen

If you believe your item was stolen rather than simply lost, report it to British Transport Police or Metropolitan Police, not just TfL Lost Property. TfL’s CCTV coverage may assist police investigations.

For lost items on the Tube, buses, or other TfL services, the Lost Property Office is your resource. For stolen items, a police report is necessary for insurance and investigation purposes. You can also report lost property to the Metropolitan Police for their records.

International Visitors

For tourists and international visitors to London :

• English language is used for all reporting
• Translation services may be needed for non-English speakers
• International phone numbers can be provided for contact
• Passport loss should also be reported to your embassy/consulate
• Collection in person required – arrange this before leaving UK if possible
• International courier services expensive – consider item value
• Items frequently lost on Piccadilly line to/from Heathrow Airport

Can You Recover Your Item After Leaving London ?

Yes, but with limitations. TfL may arrange courier delivery for items found after you’ve left London or the UK. Fees apply and international shipping can be expensive.

UK domestic courier services are more affordable and reliable. International shipping requires customs documentation and significant costs. Consider item value, replacement cost, and sentimental value versus courier expenses.

For valuable items like laptops or irreplaceable belongings, international recovery is often worthwhile. For items easily replaced, cost may exceed value.

Bank Holidays and Office Closures

The TfL Lost Property Office is closed on Bank Holidays. UK Bank Holidays include New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Early May Bank Holiday, Spring Bank Holiday, Summer Bank Holiday, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day.

Plan reporting accordingly if your loss occurs on or near Bank Holidays. The online reporting system at tfl.gov.uk/lost-property remains available during closures for 24/7 submissions.

TfL’s Scale and Complexity

London’s transport network is one of the world’s largest and most complex :

• 272 London Underground stations across 11 Tube lines
• Over 600 bus routes serving Greater London
• Overground network across Greater London
• Elizabeth line connecting east and west
• DLR serving Docklands and East London
• Tram network in South London
• River bus services on the Thames
• Over 21,000 licensed black cabs and taxis

This scale means the Transport for London Lost Property Office handles thousands of items weekly from across the network. Providing detailed information about your journey helps staff search across this vast system spanning the Underground, buses, Overground, DLR, trams, and licensed taxis.

Statistics and Success Rates

TfL’s Lost Property Office handles over 300,000 items annually from across the London transport network. Approximately 30-35% of items reported lost are successfully reunited with their owners. Items reported within 24 hours have significantly higher recovery rates than those reported days or weeks later.

The most successfully recovered items are those with unique identifying features, serial numbers, or distinctive characteristics that make matching with reports straightforward.

Contact Information Summary

Address : TfL Lost Property Office, West Ham Bus Garage, Stephenson St, London E16 4SA

Opening Hours : Monday to Friday 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM (excluding Bank Holidays)

In Person : Collection by appointment at West Ham office during opening hours

Transport for London’s centralized Lost Property Office, extensive cataloging system, and three-month retention period provide comprehensive support for recovering items lost across the capital’s transport network. Whether you’ve lost something on the London Underground, on a bus, in a black cab, or on the DLR, the TfL lost property service handles items from all modes with professional efficiency. The online reporting system, contactless journey tracking, and dedicated staff make TfL’s lost property service one of the most organized in the world. Quick reporting with detailed journey information and distinctive item descriptions maximize your chances of being reunited with your belongings in one of the world’s busiest cities.

If you have lost one or several item(s), you will find information on how to contact a lost and found property service on this page.
 

Contact information following the loss of an item

Name : TFL Lost Property Office
Address : West Ham Bus Garage
Stephenson St
London E16 4SA
Phone number : +44 343 222 1234
Opening hours : Monday - Friday 08:30-16:00 (excluding Bank Holidays)
Website : https://tfl.gov.uk/help-and-contact/lost-property

List of the main items found

• Lost Personal Items : Keys, ID, Passport, Wallet, Documents, Badge, Licence (...)
• Lost Electronics : Phone, Tablet, Device charger, Camera, Laptop, Headphones (...)
• Lost Accessories : Purse, Bag, Backpack, Sunglasses, Eyeglasses, Jewellery (...)
• Lost Clothing : Gloves, Cap, Hat, Scarf, Sweater, Coat, Vest (...)

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