Holborn

Holborn station sits in one of London's most legally and academically significant districts. To the east, the Inns of Court -Lincoln's Inn and Gray's Inn, the ancient professional homes of barristers in England and Wales -occupy streets that have been devoted to law since the 14th century. To the north, Bloomsbury's university buildings and the British Museum spread across one of London's most intellectually rich neighbourhoods. And to the south-west, the Royal Courts of Justice on the Strand handles the civil division of England's highest courts. Holborn station is central to all of it.

The station is also widely recommended as an alternative to Covent Garden for anyone visiting the market and piazza. The 10-minute walk from Holborn through Drury Lane and Long Acre avoids Covent Garden station's notorious lack of lifts, and can be considerably faster than waiting for the extremely long escalators during busy periods.

Station Overview

Holborn station opened in 1900 as part of the Central London Railway. It sits in Zone 1 and serves two lines: the Central and Piccadilly lines. The station has step-free access. It is a significantly less crowded station than neighbouring Leicester Square or Covent Garden, which makes it a useful alternative for anyone exploring the area between Bloomsbury and the West End.

Lines and Connectivity

The Central line (red) connects Holborn west to Tottenham Court Road (2 minutes) and Oxford Circus (5 minutes), and east toward Chancery Lane, St Paul's and the City. For the West End, the Central line from Holborn is the fastest Underground route.

The Piccadilly line (dark blue) connects Holborn west toward Covent Garden (2 minutes, though walking is recommended) and east toward King's Cross (7 minutes) and Heathrow Airport. The Piccadilly line here provides useful connections to the areas the Central line doesn't serve.

The British Museum

The British Museum, one of the world's great institutions, is a 10-minute walk north from Holborn station along Museum Street. The museum's collection of 8 million objects spans 2 million years of human history and culture -the Rosetta Stone, the Elgin Marbles, the Lewis Chessmen, Egyptian mummies, Sutton Hoo helmet and thousands of other objects of extraordinary historical significance. Free entry to the permanent collection. Timed entry tickets for major exhibitions must be booked in advance. The museum is at its least crowded on weekday mornings before 11:00.

Sir John Soane's Museum

Sir John Soane's Museum on Lincoln's Inn Fields is one of London's most extraordinary and undervisited attractions. The architect Sir John Soane preserved his eccentric personal collection -architectural models, paintings (including Hogarth's complete series A Rake's Progress), Egyptian sarcophagi, Classical antiquities and curiosities -in his own house, leaving it to the nation in 1833 with the stipulation that it remain exactly as he left it. The museum is free and one of the most genuinely original experiences in London.

Facilities

Holborn station has an information point, a newsagent, toilets and TfL Wi-Fi. The surrounding area has a good density of cafes, sandwich bars and pubs -the area between Holborn and Bloomsbury is well served for weekday lunch options.

Accessibility

Holborn has step-free access on the Central line via lifts. The Piccadilly line does not currently have step-free access at Holborn. The British Museum and Sir John Soane's Museum are both largely accessible -check each institution's website for specific accessibility information.

Travel Tips

• Sir John Soane's Museum is free and should be on every London visitor's list. It is at its most atmospheric on the first Tuesday of the month when it opens until 21:00 by candlelight -check the museum website for dates.
• Walk to Covent Garden rather than taking the tube -the 10-minute route through Drury Lane is faster and avoids the Covent Garden station escalator queues.
• The Inns of Court (Lincoln's Inn and Gray's Inn) are accessible to the public during daylight hours -the gardens of Lincoln's Inn are particularly beautiful and rarely busy.
• The British Museum is best entered via the Museum Street entrance (north, less crowded) rather than the main Great Russell Street entrance which has the longest queues.

Nearby Attractions

British Museum -10 minutes walk north. Free permanent collection. One of the world's most significant museums.

Sir John Soane's Museum -5 minutes walk south on Lincoln's Inn Fields. Free. One of London's most original and atmospheric attractions.

Lincoln's Inn Fields -5 minutes walk south. London's largest public square with the Inns of Court buildings surrounding it. The gardens of Lincoln's Inn are free to enter on weekdays.

Royal Courts of Justice -10 minutes walk south-east on the Strand. Public gallery access to court hearings when in session; check listings online.

Timings and Best Time to Travel

Holborn Underground operates approximately 05:30 to midnight Monday to Saturday and 07:00 to 23:30 on Sunday. The Central line has Night Tube on Friday and Saturday nights. The British Museum opens 10:00-17:30 daily (Friday to 20:30). Sir John Soane's Museum opens Wednesday to Sunday 10:00-17:00 and first Tuesday evening of each month until 21:00.