About the Piccadilly Line
The Piccadilly line is one of the most heavily used on the entire network, carrying tens of millions of passengers each year on its 71 km route from Cockfosters in north London to Heathrow Airport in the west. With 53 stations it is one of the longest and most airport-connected lines on the Underground, serving Heathrow Terminals 2, 3 and 5 and providing the only direct tube link to the airport. Key central London stations include King's Cross, Russell Square, Holborn, Covent Garden, Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus, Green Park and Hyde Park Corner - placing it at the heart of the tourist and West End experience.
History
The Piccadilly line opened on 15 December 1906, created from the merger of the Great Northern, Piccadilly and Brompton Railway with sections of the District line. Its route was extended westward to reach Heathrow Airport in stages - first to Heathrow Central (Terminals 1, 2, 3) in 1977, then to Terminal 4 in 1986 and Terminal 5 in 2008. The northern extension to Cockfosters was completed in 1933, with Charles Holden designing a celebrated series of modernist station buildings - including Arnos Grove and Southgate - that are considered among the finest examples of 20th-century public architecture in Britain.
Stations on this Line
48 stops along the route
Line Statistics
Travel Tips
- 1The Piccadilly line is the cheapest way to Heathrow from central London - significantly cheaper than the Heathrow Express
- 2Journey time from King's Cross to Heathrow T2/3 is about 50-55 minutes; to T5 around 60 minutes
- 3Covent Garden station is extremely busy - TfL recommends walking from Leicester Square (10 min) or Holborn (10 min) instead
- 4The Charles Holden stations on the Cockfosters branch (Arnos Grove, Southgate, Oakwood) are architectural highlights worth a detour
- 5At Heathrow, Terminal 4 requires leaving the main loop - always check which terminal your flight departs from
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about the Piccadilly Line in London.