Provided are a tunnel lining drainage structure and a drainage method. According to the drainage structure, multiple vertical drainage pipes (2) are arranged on the surface of a tunnel primary support (1) in an annular mode, and the vertical drainage pipes (2) are communicated with an annular drainage pipe (5) respectively. The drainage method comprises the steps that 1), the vertical drainage pipes (2) are arranged on the surface of the primary support (1) in an annular mode, and expansion joints (9) are retained; 2), the vertical drainage pipes (2) are connected to the annular drainage pipes (5), the annular drainage pipe (5) is connected with horizontal drainage pipes (6), the horizontal drainage pipes (6) are connected to side ditches (7), and the side ditches (7) are connected to a center ditch (8); 3), expansion joint embedded parts (10) are buried in advance, and expansion joint waterproof rubber strips (11) penetrate through the expansion joint embedded parts (10). The drainage structure solves the problems that the annular drainage pipes (5) and the horizontal drainage pipes (6) are easily blocked in a present tunnel lining waterproof and drainage system.