Underground
The Underground station is outside and below ground at the front of the railway station.. There are very many ways to get to it, and, while there are many steps on the routes, some lifts are provided for people with luggage etc in some places.
It is one of the, if not the busiest stations on the system, and there are always loads of people getting in the way. Also, there are many different entrances and routes to platforms, some not very direct.
The station has the following lines:
- Circle, Metropolitan and Hammersmith lines (above) – if you have come out of the front part of the station, through those narrow doors, these platforms are down even more steps. Ticket machines are on the right and gates a little further along. These lines will take you to Hammersmith, Liverpool Street, Paddington, Baker Street and points north, Hammersmith, Victoria, Earl’s Court, Sloane Square and so many places. Look carefully for the right platform and the destination on the front of the train
- Northern line – less help probably, north to Euston, Camden and beyond, south to Bank and London Bridge
- Victoria line – towards Oxford Circus, Green Park, Victoria and places south
- Piccadilly line – Russell Square (big hotel area), Holborn, Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus and onward towards Heathrow. This always seems the most popular line. The southbound platform is always packed with people and suitcases.
The last three are separate from the first. You need to go down escalators, along corridors and possibly even more corridors. In the picture above, these lines are at the very back of the hall on the left.
Our personal choice is the Piccadilly line. Although it’s a more frequent and faster service on the Victoria, it always seems more pleasant on the Piccadilly and there is space for suitcases. Of course, you may not have a choice.
It’s worth saying that there are few places you can’t get to directly from here.