--- site: London Drum url: https://londondrum.com/transport/train-journey.php?from=kings-cross-st-pancras&to=waterloo canonical: https://londondrum.com/transport/train-journey.php?from=kings-cross-st-pancras&to=waterloo title: "King's Cross St Pancras ⇄ Waterloo by Tube · Train Times, Fares & Stairs" description: "How to get to/from King's Cross St Pancras and Waterloo on the London Underground. Our step-by-step guide includes the best route, journey time and cheapest train fares" author: London Drum updated: 2026-11-14 clipped: 2026-11-14 --- # How to get from King's Cross St Pancras ⇄ Waterloo on the London Underground ## How do I get from King's Cross St Pancras to Waterloo? This journey goes through zone 1 and you'll have to use the Piccadilly and Northern lines, changing trains at Leicester Square. 1. From [King's Cross St. Pancras](https://londondrum.com/transport/trains.php?station=kings-cross-st-pancras) take the Piccadilly line 2. Change trains at Leicester Square to the Northern line 3. Leave the train at [Waterloo](https://londondrum.com/transport/trains.php?station=waterloo) ### How long does it take from King's Cross St Pancras to Waterloo? This journey will take approximately 24 minutes. ### How many stops is King's Cross St Pancras to Waterloo? The train will stop at 7 stations. ### Is it a direct train from King's Cross St Pancras to Waterloo? No. You have to change train at Leicester Square. ### Which stations are on the route? King's Cross St. Pancras → Russell Square → Holborn → Covent Garden → Leicester Square [change train] → Charing Cross → Embankment → Waterloo ### What zone is the journey from King's Cross St Pancras to Waterloo? This journey travels through fare zone 1. ### Can I walk from King's Cross St Pancras to Waterloo? Not really. The distance is about two miles on foot, which would take you 38-42 minutes. ## What time is the first and last tube from King's Cross St Pancras? [Closures on the Piccadilly and Northern line](https://londondrum.com/transport/strikes-and-station-closures.php) ## Piccadilly line timetable Tube timetable for Piccadilly line trains at King's Cross St. Pancras station Alternative routes include [King's Cross St. Pancras to Southwark](https://londondrum.com/transport/train-journey.php?from=kings-cross-st-pancras&to=southwark), [King's Cross St. Pancras to Embankment](https://londondrum.com/transport/train-journey.php?from=embankment&to=kings-cross-st-pancras) and [King's Cross St. Pancras to Lambeth North](https://londondrum.com/transport/train-journey.php?from=kings-cross-st-pancras&to=lambeth-north) ## Stairs, lifts and escalators [King's Cross St. Pancras station](https://londondrum.com/transport/trains.php?station=kings-cross-st-pancras) is wheelchair accessible, and has step-free access from the street to the train. The Jubilee line at [Waterloo station](https://londondrum.com/transport/trains.php?station=waterloo) is wheelchair accessible, and has step-free access from the street to the train. The Bakerloo and Northern line are _not_ wheelchair accessible **King's Cross St. Pancras entrance** - There's a lift between the King's Cross forecourt entrance and the booking hall. There are four flights of stairs between the Pancras Road entrance and the Metropolitan line booking hall (16 steps down +3 steps down +2x11 steps down) or one flight of stairs to the Northern/Piccadilly/Victoria line booking hall (7 steps down). There are four flights of stairs between the Belgrove Street and Crestfield Street entrances and the Metropolitan line booking hall (19 steps down +5 steps down +2x11 steps down) or one flight of stairs to the Northern/Piccadilly/Victoria line booking hall (7 steps down). After that there's a lift down to the platforms. If you want to avoid the lift then you can get an escalator to the Piccadilly line platforms, an escalator (or 3x17 steps down +11 steps down) to the Victoria line platforms, or two escalators (or one escalator and 3x17 steps down +11 steps down) to the Northern line platforms **Changing trains at Leicester Square** - You must use stairs when changing between the Northern/Piccadilly line platforms ![Waterloo train station](https://londondrum.com/i/tra/waterloo-station.webp) **Waterloo exit** - There's a lift from the Jubilee line platforms to the booking hall (or two escalators), and a lift from the W&C platforms (or two escalators and one flight of 6 stairs), and a lift from the Bakerloo southbound platform (or one escalator and a flight of 9 stairs), and an escalator (or 5x17 steps up +3 steps down) plus one flight of 11 stairs from the Bakerloo northbound platform, and one escalator (or 11 steps up +5x17 steps up +3 steps up) plus one flight of 20 stairs from the Northern platforms. After that there's another two flights of stairs to the York Road northside exit (2x13 steps down), or four flights of stairs to the Waterloo Road exit (6 steps down +2x13 steps down +10 steps down), but the York Road southside exit is on the level ## How do I get from Waterloo to King's Cross St Pancras? This route passes through fare zone 1 and you'll have to use the Bakerloo and Victoria lines, changing trains at Oxford Circus. 1. From [Waterloo](https://londondrum.com/transport/trains.php?station=waterloo) take the Bakerloo line 2. Change trains at Oxford Circus to the Victoria line 3. Leave the train at [King's Cross St. Pancras](https://londondrum.com/transport/trains.php?station=kings-cross-st-pancras) ### How long does it take from Waterloo to King's Cross St Pancras? This journey will take approximately 24 minutes. ### How many stops is Waterloo to King's Cross St Pancras? The train will stop at 7 stations. ### Is it a direct train from Waterloo to King's Cross St Pancras? No. You have to change train at Oxford Circus. ### Which stations are on the route? Waterloo → Embankment → Charing Cross → Piccadilly Circus → Oxford Circus [change train] → Warren Street → Euston → King's Cross St. Pancras ### What zone is the journey from Waterloo to King's Cross St Pancras? This journey travels through fare zone 1. ### Can I walk from Waterloo to King's Cross St Pancras? Not really. The distance is about two miles on foot, which would take you 38-42 minutes. ## Stairs, lifts and escalators The Jubilee line at [Waterloo station](https://londondrum.com/transport/trains.php?station=waterloo) is wheelchair accessible, and has step-free access from the street to the train. The Bakerloo and Northern line are _not_ wheelchair accessible. [King's Cross St. Pancras station](https://londondrum.com/transport/trains.php?station=kings-cross-st-pancras) is _not_ wheelchair accessible ![King's Cross St Pancras train station](https://londondrum.com/i/tra/waterloo-station.webp) **Waterloo entrance** - The York Road southside entrance and the booking hall are on the level, but you must use two flights of stairs from the York Road northside entrance (2x13 steps up), or four flights of stairs from the Waterloo Road entrance (10 steps up +2x13 steps up +6 steps up). After that there's a lift down to the Jubilee line platforms (or two escalators), and a lift to the W&C platforms (or two escalators and one flight of 6 stairs), or a lift to the Bakerloo southbound platform (or one escalator and a flight of 9 stairs), or an escalator (or 3 steps down +5x17 steps down) plus one flight of 11 stairs to the Bakerloo northbound platform, or one escalator (or 3 steps down +5x17 steps down +11 steps down) plus one flight of 20 stairs to the Northern platforms **Changing trains at Oxford Circus** - Changing between the Bakerloo northbound and Victoria northbound platforms, or the Bakerloo southbound and Victoria southbound platforms, is on the level, but you must use one flights of 20 stairs for all other platform changes **King's Cross St. Pancras exit** - There's a lift from the platforms to the booking hall. If you want to avoid the lift then you can get an escalator from the Piccadilly line platforms, an escalator (or 11 steps up +3x17 steps up) from the Victoria line platforms, or two escalators (or one escalator and 11 steps up +3x17 steps up) from the Northern line platforms. After that there's a lift to the King's Cross forecourt exit. There are four flights of stairs from the Metropolitan line booking hall to the Pancras Road exit (2x11 steps up +3 steps up +16 steps up) or one flight of stairs from the Northern/Piccadilly/Victoria line booking hall (7 steps up). There are four flights of stairs from the Metropolitan line booking hall and the Belgrove Street and Crestfield Street exits (2x11 steps up +5 steps up +19 steps up) or one flight of stairs from the Northern/Piccadilly/Victoria line booking hall (7 steps up) ## How much is the tube from King's Cross St Pancras ⇄ Waterloo? This tube journey is in zone 1. Here are the cash, contactless and Oyster fares that you have to pay when travelling this route on the London Underground. The cheapest single ticket is £3 off-peak (£3.10 peak) when you use [Oyster](https://londondrum.com/transport/oyster-cards.php) or [contactless](https://londondrum.com/transport/contactless-cards.php).
London Train Fares for zone 1 in 2026 – Complete table of single fares for Cash, Oyster/Contactless (peak/off-peak), and Daily Caps (peak/off-peak)
ZoneCashOyster & Contactless
SingleSingleDaily cap
PeakOff-peakPeakOff-peak
Zone 173.1038.908.90
London Travelcard prices for zone 1 in 2026 – Complete table for One Day (anytime/off-peak), Weekly, and Monthly Travelcards
ZoneTravelcards (Bus, Tram & Train)
One dayWeeklyMonthly
AnytimeOff-peak
Zone 1-2n/an/a44.70171.70
Zone 1-416.60n/a64.20246.60
Zone 1-623.6016.6081.60313.40
Zone 1-929.8017.80116.40447
All prices in GBP · Source TFL · Last updated April 2026
## Peak and off-peak times For [Oyster](https://londondrum.com/transport/oyster-cards.php) and [contactless](https://londondrum.com/transport/contactless-cards.php) off-peak is outside the hours of 6.30 AM-9.30 AM and 4 PM-7 PM (Mon-Fri). For [travelcards](https://londondrum.com/transport/travelcards.php) it's any time after 9.30 AM (Mon-Fri). Weekends are always classed as off-peak. The fare is based on what time your journey begins. It doesn't matter when it ends. ## Other ways to travel between King's Cross and Waterloo **By bus** - A single ticket is £1.75 (you may need more than one bus). The daily cap is £5.25 and a 1-day travelcard is £6 - [Bus fares](https://londondrum.com/transport/adult-bus-fares.php) **By taxi** - A two mile journey should cost between and take about 10-20 minutes **By car** - [Parking near King's Cross St. Pancras station](https://londondrum.com/transport/car-parks.php?l=kings-cross) By London Drum. Last updated 14 November 2026.