Commuters abandoned stalled buses to walk through the rain to their destinations as a result of the second industrial stoppage in as many weeks.
Despite increased bicycle and pedestrian traffic, many commuters turned to their cars, creating traffic chaos on the capital's roads.
The handful of tube trains which ran despite the strike did little to ease the burden on the roads and mainline trains. Around 11 trains were running on parts of the Northern, Victoria and Piccadilly Lines instead of the usual 500.
Main line suburban trains were packed from an early hour, and some train companies added extra stops to help commuters. Getting on a bus, particularly at the main London train termini, proved so chaotic that in some places stewards were employed to manage queues for overcrowded buses.
Business organisation London First said today's strike would cost the capital's economy more than £65m.
The 24-hour walkout by members of Aslef and the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) follows a similar stoppage last week. Aslef's general secretary Mick Rix, and the RMT leader, Bob Crow, joined pickets at East Finchley and Golders Green tube stations. They said the strike over pay was solidly supported, and warned of further industrial action.
A joint meeting of the union executives is expected to be held next week and could sanction further walkouts in two weeks' time. The management of London Underground has offered a 3% pay deal, which unions have rejected.
London Underground's customer services director, Mike Brown, declared himself pleased with the number of tube services running last night and this morning.
"We are delighted that some of our train operators have turned up for work despite very heavy picketing at depots," he said.
London Underground said services ran late into the evening last night, even though the strike began at 8pm. Services are not expected to return to normal until tomorrow morning.
Both union leaders again called on London Underground to accept mediation in the increasingly bitter dispute over pay.
Mr Crow said: "Why won't London Underground go to mediation? They must have a very weak case."
He also urged members of the public to write to the government asking why it will not intervene. Mr Crow and Mr Rix said a single phone call from the transport secretary, Alistair Darling, ordering London Underground to go to mediation would have been enough to call off the strike.
London Underground maintained it had already attended three negotiating sessions at the conciliation service Acas.
