About the Hammersmith & City Line
The Hammersmith & City line runs east-west across north-central London, connecting Hammersmith in the west with Barking in the east. Its 29 stations and 25.5 km of track pass through Shepherd's Bush, Paddington, Baker Street, King's Cross, Farringdon, Liverpool Street, Whitechapel and Stratford - offering useful connections across a broad arc of inner London. The pink livery on the Underground map makes it one of the most distinctive lines visually, though it shares much of its infrastructure and rolling stock with the Metropolitan and Circle lines. Despite its quieter reputation, the Hammersmith & City carries millions of passengers each year and provides vital links for east London communities.
History
The Hammersmith & City line originated with the Great Western Railway's branch from Paddington to Hammersmith, which opened in 1864. It was operated jointly with the Metropolitan Railway and later extended eastward. For most of its history the route was operated as part of the Metropolitan line, only gaining its own separate identity and pink livery on the tube map in 1990. The eastern extension to Barking, incorporating former surface railway lines, was completed in 1936.
Stations on this Line
29 stops along the route
Line Statistics
Travel Tips
- 1The Hammersmith & City is quieter than the parallel Central line through the same east-west corridor - useful for a more relaxed journey
- 2Shepherd's Bush Market station sits beside the actual market - exit here for fabric, food and global goods
- 3The line is useful for reaching Whitechapel, Stratford and Barking from central London without changing lines
- 4At Hammersmith the line terminates - change to the District or Piccadilly line for onward travel
- 5King's Cross and Liverpool Street are both served directly, making the line useful for north and east London connections
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about the Hammersmith & City Line in London.