London Waterloo to Kings Cross on a Friday evening

[Drsatan]

Hello all,

In a couple of weeks time, I will need to travel across London from London Waterloo to Kings Cross, arriving in time for the 1948 Grand Central service to Bradford Interchange. I'll travel on the Bakerloo to Oxford Circus and then change to the Victoria line there. How busy is the tube likely to be, seeing as most central london office workers are now largely WFH?

 

[ANDREW_D_WEBB]

Getting busier, especially the Victoria Line, but generally able to get a seat and have not seen it “crush loaded” since Covid.

 

[philosopher]

Hello all,

In a couple of weeks time, I will need to travel across London from London Waterloo to Kings Cross, arriving in time for the 1948 Grand Central service to Bradford Interchange. I'll travel on the Bakerloo to Oxford Circus and then change to the Victoria line there. How busy is the tube likely to be, seeing as most central london office workers are now largely WFH?

Bakerloo line from Waterloo to Oxford Circus you would be very unlucky not to get a seat. In fact even pre Covid you would probably get a seat for this section as trains only start two stops up the line.

 

[Lifelong]

Bakerloo line from Waterloo to Oxford Circus you would be very unlucky not to get a seat. In fact even pre Covid you would probably get a seat for this section as trains only start two stops up the line.

Hello all,

In a couple of weeks time, I will need to travel across London from London Waterloo to Kings Cross, arriving in time for the 1948 Grand Central service to Bradford Interchange. I'll travel on the Bakerloo to Oxford Circus and then change to the Victoria line there. How busy is the tube likely to be, seeing as most central london office workers are now largely WFH?

If you are concerned about taking the tube because busy, it’s 15/20 minutes on a Boris Bike, on relatively quiet/separated routes...

 

[Snow1964]

A lot depends on the time of day

In the peaks at Waterloo, there are stairs from platforms during peaks direct to the Underground passageway, but if you have luggage easier to use the escalators by platform 16 entrance on concourse.

In the ticket hall there are 3 sets of escalators on right, (3 shafts, 8 escalators) but the far pair which go direct to Bakerloo are not easy to spot and in evening peak used to be both upwards, (although Covid might have changed that).

Assuming you use middle 3 escalators turn left at bottom for Bakerloo (it will take you to near front of train), but if you need to wait, walk towards other end (want to aim for about car 5 of 7 on train).

At Oxford Circus just cross the platform (if you were right at back wouldn’t be able to do this as connecting passageways to Central Line block cross platform route). Then want back of Victoria line train

At Kings Cross need to be at back of Victoria line train (there are some newer exits and passageways further forward, but these are much longer). I have done it in under 25 minutes from exiting train at Waterloo, to Kings Cross concourse, but I suggest you allow at least 45 minutes

 

[Kite159]

If the weather goes hot again, then assuming there are no issues with the Sub surface lines, I would suggest using the Jubilee to Baker Street and changing to a Met/Circle line service to Kings Cross. Solely to avoid the Bakerloo as it does get very hot down there (dead-end tunnel I believe).

Either that or walk across to Waterloo East for a South Eastern service to London Bridge, changing over to a Thameslink service to St Pancras. Both take longer than Bakerloo/Victoria but if you are not in a hurry

 

[AlbertBeale]

I agree that the Bakerloo won't be busy then; I find the Vic unpredictable in terms of passenger density these days.

I'd suggest 15/20 minutes is a bit optimistic for one of the not-very-speedy hire bikes. Even on my own less sluggish bike, and knowing the way to wiggle through the back streets to take a relatively straight-line route from Waterloo Bridge to Kings Cross, I doubt I'd make it station-station in 15 minutes. (Maybe it's me that's sluggish...) And the bike docks aren't right by Kings Cross station - the quickest is probably the one tucked in one of the little side streets opposite the station, if you know where it is...

If you don't mind a slower journey than the tube, there's always a bus. (Well, two actually - a change is needed now, somewhere between Aldwych and Euston, depending, since the very useful through journeys on the 59 were cut back to Euston. But even with the change, it can be done in 30 minutes ... though it isn't always...) It's annoying that KX/StP to and from Waterloo is the one major station to station link in London which has neither a direct bus nor a direct underground link.

If you do use the Bakerloo/Vic route - probably the safest if you have any time pressures at all - can I concur with the earlier post which said to make sure you get off at the rear end of the Vic on arrival at KX Underground. That way leads straight up into the open air in front of KX station; following the signs they want you to follow, via the new passageways, means a five-minute (at least) diversion before you get to your KX mainline platform.

 

[Gloster]

At Oxford Circus you may need to go across to the intermediate passage and then zig-zag a bit as both halves of the cross-passages do not all line up. It’ll be quite obvious as soon as you are in the intermediate passage.

 

[Vespa]

If you're carrying a case Bakerloo would be a good option as there's usually plenty of room, other lines are getting busy and depending on the time of the you may have difficulty fitting a case in.

Your thread title "Waterloo Station Friday night", makes me think of the song Waterloo Sunset

 

[Wolfie]

Perhaps harder with social distancing but when l was doing that Oxford Circus change twice a day every working day the route right at the back of the north bound/front of the south bound was my option of choice.

 

[paul1609]

Hello all,

In a couple of weeks time, I will need to travel across London from London Waterloo to Kings Cross, arriving in time for the 1948 Grand Central service to Bradford Interchange. I'll travel on the Bakerloo to Oxford Circus and then change to the Victoria line there. How busy is the tube likely to be, seeing as most central london office workers are now largely WFH?

Depending on your circumstances its about 15 mins walk from Waterloo Main Line to the Southbank entrance of Blackfriars station. (Just over half a mile). Frequent long Thameslink trains to St Pancras walk across the road to Kings Cross 10 mins.

 

[Wolfie]

Depending on your circumstances its about 15 mins walk from Waterloo Main Line to the Southbank entrance of Blackfriars station. (Just over half a mile). Frequent long Thameslink trains to St Pancras walk across the road to Kings Cross 10 mins.

Or indeed a train Waterloo East to London Bridge...

 

[A0wen]

Wouldn't Jubilee to Green Park and then Victoria Line to Kings Cross be quicker ?

It's only 2 stops on the Jubilee to Green Park compared to 4 on the Bakerloo to Oxford Circus.

 

[deltic]

Bakerloo line likely to be fairly dead - Victoria line can be busy - increasing number of people are now out and about for leisure purposes - on Saturday it was full and standing around lunch time.

 

[Wolfie]

Wouldn't Jubilee to Green Park and then Victoria Line to Kings Cross be quicker ?

It's only 2 stops on the Jubilee to Green Park compared to 4 on the Bakerloo to Oxford Circus.

Oxford Circus change is cross-platform. Change at Green Park is dire....

 

[paul1609]

Or indeed a train Waterloo East to London Bridge...

Not really worth it in my opinion by the time youve walked to Waterloo East platform then the platform change at London Bridge then the reduced frequency London Bridge its much quicker 99% of the time to walk to Blackfriars.

 

[Wolfie]

Not really worth it in my opinion by the time youve walked to Waterloo East platform then the platform change at London Bridge then the reduced frequency London Bridge its much quicker 99% of the time to walk to Blackfriars.

A fair point. Going via London Bridge might be good for those with luggage or mobility issues though.

 

[AlbertBeale]

Oxford Circus change is cross-platform. Change at Green Park is dire....

Also, isn't it a much slower access to Jubilee at Waterloo, compared to going down to the Bakerloo? But in any case - yes, the massive difference in the interchange means the route via Ox Circ wins hands down.

 

[Hadders]

Bakerloo to Oxford Circus then Victoria Line to Kings Cross is the fastest route.

It’s cross platform, level interchange at Oxford Circus.

Also, the Victoria Line is very frequent (every 90 seconds) so if the first train feels too busy you won’t have to wait long for another.

I use the Victoria Line frequently for work purposes and it can get very busy at certain times but the far end of the train is normally ok.

 

[Wolfie]

Bakerloo to Oxford Circus then Victoria Line to Kings Cross is the fastest route.

It’s cross platform, level interchange at Oxford Circus.

Also, the Victoria Line is very frequent (every 90 seconds) so if the first train feels too busy you won’t have to wait long for another.

I use the Victoria Line frequently for work purposes and it can get very busy at certain times but the far end of the train is normally ok.

Agreed. Depends what you mean by "the far end". If you mean the front Northbound, rear Southbound l agree again.

 

[mmh]

Also, isn't it a much slower access to Jubilee at Waterloo, compared to going down to the Bakerloo? But in any case - yes, the massive difference in the interchange means the route via Ox Circ wins hands down.

Yes, so much so there are travelators to connect to the Jubilee at Waterloo from the concourse Underground entrance.

 

[83A]

I always walk across the bridge from Waterloo and pick up the Circle at Embankment.

 

[Hadders]

Agreed. Depends what you mean by "the far end". If you mean the front Northbound, rear Southbound l agree again.

I normally travel in the rear carriage northbound for a fast exit at Kings across. Southbound can vary depending on my destination.

I always walk across the bridge from Waterloo and pick up the Circle at Embankment.

That’s a very long way to Kings Cross!

 

[Dibbo4025]

Yes, so much so there are travelators to connect to the Jubilee at Waterloo from the concourse Underground entrance.

Depends, if you come on on the lower platforms, definitely 1-10 and perhaps even a few more the jubilee is the quickest line to get to via the other entrance

 

[Dave W]

Hands down quickest is Bakerloo > Victoria. The infrequent peak returns I’ve had since Christmas have been busy but not crush loaded on the Vic. Most people put a bag on the seat next to them to avoid being joined closely. Already been said it’s getting busier.

Anecdotally, mask usage has been pretty good in the evening peaks. It’s after 2000 I’ve seen rule breaking en masse.

[Edited to remove me being rude! Apologies]

 

[AlbertBeale]

I always walk across the bridge from Waterloo and pick up the Circle at Embankment.

For non-locals - that means the pedestrian bridge alongside the Waterloo East to Charing Cross tracks; not Waterloo Bridge itself.

Indeed, not a very quick route; but it can be pleasanter.

 

[davews]

I have used the Bakerloo/Oxford Circus/Victoria route since University days. It wins hands down, but remember to take the far front exit at KX or you end up in the tunnel nightmare. As for trains from Waterloo I always found Jubilee line busiest by far, and of course you have a longish walk to get there if you arrive at the Windsor line platforms.

 

[Wolfie]

For non-locals - that means the pedestrian bridge alongside the Waterloo East to Charing Cross tracks; not Waterloo Bridge itself.

Indeed, not a very quick route; but it can be pleasanter.

Hungerford bridge is pleasant in summer. Attracts its fair share of dodgies though.

 

[2192]

Or Northern line Waterloo to Euston, then walk to King's Cross, if you have minimal luggage.

 

[westv]

I have used the Bakerloo/Oxford Circus/Victoria route since University days. It wins hands down, but remember to take the far front exit at KX or you end up in the tunnel nightmare. As for trains from Waterloo I always found Jubilee line busiest by far, and of course you have a longish walk to get there if you arrive at the Windsor line platforms.

I used the same route every Friday for six months back in 2018. I found, when getting the Bakerloo at Waterloo it was best to get on right at the front as it avoided most of the people getting on at the "tourist" stops. Probably not such an issue at the moment though I'm guessing.
Did you mean the far rear of the Vic train when arriving at Kings X?