The Open Guide to London: the free London guide

Many journeys by train involve a transfer across London between stations thanks to our London-centric rail network. Any ticket between two stations marked "+", "ROUTE LONDON" or something similar will allow you to use the tube as part of your cross-London journey.

Some helpful information for anyone arriving at each terminus...

Paddington Station

• The Circle Line platforms are the easiest to get to with luggage (although not wonderful).
  • Use the Circle to transfer to Euston (using Euston Square Station), King's Cross or St. Pancras, Liverpool St and Fenchurch St (using Tower Hill).
  • Victoria is much more quickly reached by Bakerloo Line and Victoria Line, with a cross platform interchange at Oxford Station.
  • Charing Cross and Waterloo Station can be reached direct by Bakerloo Line; London Bridge Station involves a simple cross platform interchange at Baker Street Station to the Jubilee Line.
  • Be warned that the Circle Line suffers from bad reliability and therefore the platforms at Paddington can get very crowded whilst you wait for your train. If there are problems on the Circle, go for the Bakerloo instead - a change at Oxford Circus will get you to Euston, King's Cross, St Pancras or Liverpool St.

Marylebone Station

• Only the Bakerloo Line serves Marylebone. Use the station here to get to anywhere on the Bakerloo, London Bridge (cross platform interchange at Baker Street station) or Victoria (cross platform at Oxford Circus station). Otherwise use the Circle Line (or associated lines) from Baker Street Station.

Euston Station

• There are essentially two Underground stations serving Euston - the deep tube station within the complex (Northern Line and Victoria Line) and the separate but nearby subsurface Euston Square Station.
  • King's Cross and St Pancras stations are actually a relatively short walk away even with luggage. For heavy luggage consider a bus from right outside (although national rail tickets aren't valid on these).
  • All other stations can be reached without changing from one of the two stations. Be careful if you use the Northern Line - there are two branches with separate platforms (Bank branch for London Bridge Station and Charing Cross branch for its namesake and for Waterloo station.

King's Cross St. Pancras Station

• As opposed to Euston, these are two (actually three, including Thameslink) separate stations combined into one large complex by the tube station.
  • Euston Station is a short walk away.
  • Most stations can be reached directly; the notable exceptions are Charing Cross station and Waterloo station (Northern Line but a different branch so don't use it!). The best route here is the Victoria Line to Oxford Circus station where there is a cross platform interchange to the Bakerloo Line. Ignore directions via Leicester Square station unless there's a good reason - the interchange is more difficult.

Liverpool Street Station

• Served by the subsurface and Central lines. The Circle Line (and associated lines) serve a large number of termini.
  • London Bridge station is probably best reached with a change at Bank station although this is quite a long walk. If your train stops at Stratford station on the way into Liverpool St, get off here and use the Jubilee Line. Alternatively, there are a large number of bus services including numbers 47 and 48 to London Bridge that travel along [Bishopsgate]?.
  • Waterloo Station can be reached with a change at Bank station to the Waterloo and City Line, although this doesn't run on Sundays (change at Tottenham Court Road station instead). For Charing Cross station you can take the Circle to Embankment station or change at Tottenham Court Road station.

Fenchurch Street Station

• Served only by a short walk to nearby Tower Hill station on the Circle Line and District Line.
  • For Charing Cross station use Embankment station.
  • For Waterloo station don't change at Bank - the walk from the Circle to Waterloo and City platforms is the longest you can do. Change at Embankment to the Northern Line (or just get off and walk from there across the [Hungerford Footbridge]? which will give you some great views).

London Bridge Station

• Served by Jubilee Line and Northern Line (Bank branch).
  • For Waterloo Station, it's best to use an overground train to Waterloo East Station - the descent to and from the Jubilee Line will take far longer.
  • Similarly you can use Thameslink to get to King's Cross St. Pancras station(s) - although the frequency is about every 15 minutes so unless a Thameslink is due very soon, use the Northern Line.
  • Paddington station and Marylebone station can be reached by the Jubilee Line changing cross-platform at Baker Street station.
  • Euston station can be reached by Northern Line.
  • For Liverpool Street station change at Bank station but be prepared for a walk. Alternatively, catch a bus: a large number of them cross London Bridge and go past or into Liverpool Street.
  • For Victoria station change at Westminster station - there are lifts for those with heavy luggage.

Waterloo Station

• Served by the Northern Line (Charing Cross branch), Bakerloo Line, Waterloo and City Line and Jubilee Line.
• Information about connecting to other stations is generally already above - just note these important points:
  • Transfers to London Bridge station are best made overground from Waterloo East Station since the Jubilee Line is very deep here.
  • King's Cross St. Pancras station cannot be reached directly - take the Bakerloo Line and change cross-platform at Oxford Circus station (don't go via Leicester Square station because it's a harder interchange).
  • Victoria Station is best reached with a change at Westminster Station where there are lifts. If you don't fancy trekking down to the Jubilee Line, take [Bus Route 211]?.

Victoria Station

• All the information on how to get between here and other termini should now be above!

General Notes

• Make sure you allow plenty of time. If you are a fast walker and the tube is running OK, your journey will generally take no longer than 30 minutes; however things can frequently go wrong and you may need to take an alternative route so always allow an hour.
• Don't forget when transferring to Waterloo International for Eurostar to arrive at least 30 minutes before your departure time for check-in.
• Pay careful attention to signs at King's Cross St. Pancras Station - it can be confusing.
• As mentioned before, the Circle Line can be very unreliable. On journeys not totally mirrored by the District Line, Metropolitan Line or Hammersmith and City Line, be prepared for a wait or consider an alternative route.
• Other transfer possibilities: Some tube lines intersect rail lines before they reach their termini (e.g. [Vauxhall station]?, Elephant and Castle station, Stratford station, [Queen's Park station]? and most of the northern Victoria Line stations). On non-intercity journeys, if your train stops at any of these stations, you have an extra possibility which may make your journey easier.
• Buses provide direct although usually slower journeys between most termini. If you find it hard to manage stairs or long walks, a bus may be a sounder option. Try the TfL Journey Planner specifying buses. Two bus routes in particular link stations together.
  • [Bus Route 205]? stops at all bus stops but runs on a route connecting Paddington, Marylebone, Euston, King's Cross & St Pancras and Liverpool Street.
  • [Bus Route 705]? is an express route (limited stop) and runs from Paddington to Victoria, Waterloo, London Bridge, Fenchurch Street and Liverpool Street.