About the Bakerloo Line
The Bakerloo line runs 23.2 km through the heart of north-west London, connecting Harrow & Wealdstone in the north to Elephant & Castle in the south. One of the original deep-level tube lines, it was opened in 1906 by the Baker Street and Waterloo Railway - a name that was quickly shortened to 'Bakerloo' by the Evening News, making it the first London line to be named after a newspaper headline. The line passes through some of central London's most visited neighbourhoods, including Marylebone, Baker Street, Paddington, Oxford Circus and Waterloo, and shares tracks with the London Overground north of Queen's Park. Its chocolate-brown livery is one of the most recognisable on the entire Underground map.
History
The Baker Street and Waterloo Railway opened on 10 March 1906, running between Baker Street and Lambeth North. It was extended to Elephant & Castle within a year and northward extensions followed, eventually reaching Watford via the DC lines by 1917. The route north of Queen's Park - shared with Overground services - was built by the London and North Western Railway. Plans for further southern extensions toward Lewisham have been discussed periodically for decades but remain unbuilt. The line's distinctive brown colour on the tube map was introduced in 1933.
Stations on this Line
25 stops along the route
Line Statistics
Travel Tips
- 1The Bakerloo is busiest between Paddington and Oxford Circus - avoid peak hours if possible
- 2At Queen's Park trains split: some continue to Harrow & Wealdstone, others terminate - check the front of the train
- 3For Wembley Stadium events, the Bakerloo to Wembley Central is one option but Jubilee to Wembley Park is usually faster
- 4Oxford Circus to Waterloo takes just 4 minutes on the Bakerloo - handy for the South Bank
- 5The Bakerloo has no step-free stations between Paddington and Elephant & Castle - plan ahead if accessibility is needed
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about the Bakerloo Line in London.