About the Circle Line
The Circle line is one of London's most historic and useful routes, forming a near-circular loop through central London that connects most of the city's major mainline railway termini - Paddington, Edgware Road, King's Cross, Farringdon, Liverpool Street, Aldgate, Cannon Street, Blackfriars, Victoria and Sloane Square. Despite its name, the Circle line is not a true circle - since 2009 it has operated as a spiral, extending to Hammersmith at its western end. Its 27 stations cover 27 km and pass through some of the oldest and most historically significant parts of central London. The distinctive yellow colour makes it easy to spot on the map, and its usefulness as a cross-London connector makes it one of the most-used lines for single-journey trips.
History
The Circle line's route was completed in 1884 after years of construction by the Metropolitan Railway and the Metropolitan District Railway, who cooperated - often acrimoniously - to build a continuous inner circuit. The original steam-operated trains made conditions underground notoriously unpleasant. The line was electrified in 1905 and has been progressively modernised since. For most of its existence it operated as a true loop with trains circling endlessly, but in 2009 TfL extended the service to Hammersmith, turning it into a spiral route with trains beginning and ending at Hammersmith.
Stations on this Line
32 stops along the route
Line Statistics
Travel Tips
- 1The Circle line is ideal for visiting multiple central London landmarks without backtracking - plan your sightseeing route around its stations
- 2During peak hours the Circle line can be slower than expected - the District or Metropolitan may be quicker for long journeys
- 3Trains run clockwise and anti-clockwise - check the destination board before boarding
- 4Since 2009 the Circle line extends to Hammersmith - trains begin and terminate there, not loop endlessly
- 5King's Cross to Paddington takes about 20 minutes on the Circle line - useful for cross-terminal connections
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about the Circle Line in London.