The London Underground Circle Line serves 36 stations in a loop around central London and a branch to Hammersmith, connecting major hubs like Paddington, King's Cross St. Pancras, Liverpool Street, and Victoria. It connects to many other lines and major National Rail termini.
The proposed extension of the Bakerloo line comprises 7.5 km (4.7 miles) of twin tunnels, with four new stations (Burgess Park, Old Kent Road, New Cross Gate and Lewisham), one ventilation shaft and a depot at Wearside Road, Lewisham. All stations would be fully accessible.
Based on Transport for London (TfL) data from late 2024, the Piccadilly line is considered the dirtiest due to its longer deep cleaning cycle, with full cleans occurring approximately every 43 days, compared to the cleanest, the Jubilee line, which gets cleaned every 18 days. However, other lines like the Northern and Victoria also face high dust/pollution, especially in deep tunnels, while the Central line is noted for high bacteria and heat.
The area with the roughest reputation in London is Westminster, recording the highest crime rate of 432 crimes per 1,000 people in the year ending December 2024—though this is likely skewed by massive daytime footfall from tourists, which inflates the crime-per-resident ratio.
The oldest tube station in London, and the world, is Baker Street, which opened on January 10, 1863, as part of the Metropolitan Railway, the first underground railway. It was one of the original stations serving the revolutionary "cut-and-cover" line that went from Paddington to Farringdon.
The Piccadilly line experienced significant weekend closures throughout 2025 for upgrades to introduce new air-conditioned trains, affecting sections like Cockfosters to Heathrow/Uxbridge, with major disruptions planned through late 2025 into early 2026, including a full line closure Jan 17-18, 2026, for testing and commissioning. Expect ongoing weekend works and potential Night Tube service changes into 2026 as TfL finishes the new fleet introduction.
Yes, if you're a London resident aged 60 or over, you can get free travel on the London Underground and most other public transport in London with a 60+ London Oyster photocard, which you can apply for online from Transport for London. This pass provides free travel on buses, Tube, DLR, Overground, Elizabeth line, and some National Rail services within London, though you must live in a London borough to qualify.
Singapore's Circle Line MRT will finally form a complete loop in 2026 with the opening of three long-awaited stations: Keppel (CC30), Cantonment (CC31), and Prince Edward Road (CC32). The new stretch connects HarbourFront to Marina Bay, making travel across Singapore's south more seamless.
Why is it called the Circle line? The loop was referred to as the Inner Circle in Parliamentary papers as early as 1864, but the Circle line name was not used officially until 1936. It was circular, or more accurately, elliptical, until 2009.
What is the only London tube station that contains none of the letters of the word mackerel?
The only London Underground station that contains none of the letters in the word "mackerel" (M, A, C, K, E, R, L) is St John's Wood, a well-known piece of London trivia, with its name containing only S, T, J, O, H, N, W, D, and the apostrophe (which isn't a letter).
For Heathrow Express users, exit Euston station and walk (10 minutes) to Euston Square Station, then take the London Underground (Circle line) directly to London Paddington and catch the non-stop Heathrow Express service to Heathrow. Journey times on average take around 45 minutes.
Yes, parts of the Great Central Railway (GCR) are actively being reopened and reconnected through the ambitious "Reunification" project, aiming to link its northern and southern heritage sections into an 18-mile line, with planning permission secured and construction expected to restart in 2026 once more funds are raised, allowing historic trains to run through the East Midlands and potentially connect to the national network.
What is the cheapest way to pay for the Tube in London?
You can get discounts on the London Underground (Tube) primarily through National Railcards, Oyster Photocard programs (for students, apprentices, seniors, veterans, care leavers), or by travelling off-peak. Railcards like the 16-25, 26-30, Senior, or Forces card can give 1/3 off off-peak pay-as-you-go fares when linked to an Oyster card, while specific Oyster photocard schemes offer significant savings for London residents in certain situations.
The deepest underground station in London is Hampstead on the Northern Line, with its platforms located about 58.5 meters (192 feet) below ground level, primarily because it sits at the top of a steep hill, leading to a very deep station and the longest spiral staircase on the network.
What is the only station on the London Underground with a station in its name?
In December 2015, TfL confirmed that the station would be named "Battersea Power Station". This means it is the only station on the Underground with the word "station" in its official name.
Most of London is perfectly safe for you to travel through. However for those eager to avoid crime, there are a few boroughs which have been flagged as particular 'danger hotspots'. These include Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Haringey and Lambeth.
Croydon and Hackney see the most stabbings. Knife crime jumps there, often tied to gangs. It is advised to people and tourists to not visit those areas alone after midnight. Moreover, the police department is actively engaged to deal with those knife stabbing crimes in Croydon and Hackney.
The poorest parts of London are concentrated in boroughs like Tower Hamlets, Hackney, and Newham, especially regarding income deprivation for children and older people, with pockets of poverty also in Brent, Barking & Dagenham, and parts of Westminster and Kensington & Chelsea. These areas face high rates of poverty, with some wards like Northumberland Park (Haringey) and Stonebridge (Brent) being among the most deprived.
