The journey from Bank to South Kensington is in fare zone 1 and you’ll have to use the Central and Piccadilly tube lines, changing trains at Holborn
- From Bank take the Central Line
- Change at Holborn to the Piccadilly Line
- Leave the train at South Kensington
Number of tube stops: 10 · Journey time: Approx 29 mins
Stations on the route: Bank ➜ St. Paul’s ➜ Chancery Lane ➜ Holborn [change train] Holborn ➜ Covent Garden ➜ Leicester Square ➜ Piccadilly Circus ➜ Green Park ➜ Hyde Park Corner ➜ Knightsbridge ➜ South Kensington
London Underground tube delays
Strikes and closures on the Central and Piccadilly
First and last train times on the Central line
Tube times for the Central line
Alternative routes include Bank to Gloucester Road, Bank to Knightsbridge and Bank to Sloane Square
Stairs, lifts and escalators to the station platforms
The eastbound DLR and Northern lines at Bank tube station are wheelchair accessible, and have step-free access from the street to the train. The westbound DLR and Central lines are not wheelchair accessible
South Kensington station is not wheelchair accessible
Bank station entrance – [1] To get to the Central line booking hall you must use one flight of stairs from the Queen Victoria Street, Walbrook, Poultry south, Threadneedle Street south, Cornhill north and Mansion House Place entrances (18, 19 or 20 steps down), or two flights of stairs from the Poultry north, Princes Street west, Cornhill south, Lombard Street north and Mansion House Street entrances (15 or 16 steps down +4 steps down), or two flights of stairs from the Princes Street east and Threadneedle Street north entrances (9 steps down +11 steps down). After that you must use an escalator to the Central line platforms, or a long travalator to the W&C platforms, or one escalator and four flights of stairs to the Northern line platforms (16 steps down +8 steps down +13 steps down +21 steps down), or three escalators plus five flights of stairs to the DLR platforms (12 steps up +11 steps up +10 steps up +2x12 steps down). [2] To get to the Northern line booking hall you must use a lift from the King William Street entrance, or two flights of stairs from the Lombard Street entrance (9 steps down +16 steps down). After that you must use an escalator, a lift, plus three flights of stairs to the Central line platforms (13 steps up +8 steps up +16 steps up), or a lift and a long travalator to the W&C platforms, or a lift and one flight of stairs to the Northern line platforms (21 steps down), or two lifts, two escalators and ten flights of stairs to the DLR platforms (8x14 steps down +6 steps down +10 steps down)
Changing tube line at Holborn – You must use stairs when changing between the Central/Piccadilly line platforms
South Kensington station exit – You must use two flights of stairs down from the Circle/District line platforms to the booking hall (12 steps up +13 steps up), or use two escalators plus one flight of stairs from the Piccadilly line platforms (17 steps down to the eastbound, or 20 steps up to the westbound platform). After that you must use another two flights of stairs to the Pelham Street/Thurloe Street exits (3 steps up +13 steps up), or use three flights plus walk through a long subway to the National History Museum exit (8 steps down +16 steps up +15 steps up), or use three flights plus walk through a long subway to the Science Museum exit (8 steps down +14 steps up +10 steps up), or use three flights plus walk through a long subway to the Ismaili Centre exit (8 steps down +2x14 steps up)
The journey from South Kensington to Bank is in fare zone 1 and you’ll have to use the Piccadilly and Central tube lines, changing trains at Holborn
- From South Kensington take the Piccadilly Line
- Change at Holborn to the Central Line
- Leave the train at Bank
Number of tube stops: 10 · Journey time: Approx 28 mins
Stations on the route: South Kensington ➜ Knightsbridge ➜ Hyde Park Corner ➜ Green Park ➜ Piccadilly Circus ➜ Leicester Square ➜ Covent Garden ➜ Holborn [change train] Holborn ➜ Chancery Lane ➜ St. Paul’s ➜ Bank
London Underground tube delays
Strikes and closures on the Piccadilly and Central
First and last train times on the Piccadilly line
Tube times for the Piccadilly line
Alternative routes include South Kensington to Gloucester Road, South Kensington to Knightsbridge and South Kensington to Sloane Square
Stairs, lifts and escalators to the station platforms
South Kensington train station is not wheelchair accessible
The eastbound DLR and Northern lines at Bank station are wheelchair accessible, and have step-free access from the street to the train. The westbound DLR and Central lines are not wheelchair accessible
South Kensington station entrance – You must use two flights of stairs from the Pelham Street/Thurloe Street entrances to the booking hall (13 steps down +3 steps down), or use three flights plus walk through a long subway from the National History Museum entrance (15 steps down +16 steps down +8 steps up), or use three flights plus walk through a long subway from the Science Museum entrance (10 steps down +14 steps down +8 steps up), or use three flights plus walk through a long subway from the Ismaili Centre entrance (2x14 steps down +8 steps up). After that you must use another two flights of stairs down to the Circle/District line platforms (13 steps down +12 steps down), or use two escalators plus one flight of stairs to the Piccadilly line platforms (17 steps up to the eastbound, or 20 steps down to the westbound platform)
Changing tube line at Holborn – You must use stairs when changing between the Central/Piccadilly line platforms
Bank station exit – [1] To get to the Central line booking hall you must use an escalator from the Central line platforms, or a long travalator from the W&C platforms, or one escalator and four flights of stairs from the Northern line platforms (21 steps up +13 steps up +8 steps up +16 steps up), or three escalators plus five flights of stairs from the DLR platforms (2x12 steps down +10 steps down +11 steps down +12 steps up). After that you must use one flight of stairs to the Queen Victoria Street, Walbrook, Poultry south, Threadneedle Street south, Cornhill north and Mansion House Place exits (18, 19 or 20 steps up), or two flights of stairs to the Poultry north, Princes Street west, Cornhill south, Lombard Street north and Mansion House Street exits (4 steps up +15 or 16 steps up), or two flights of stairs to the Princes Street east and Threadneedle Street north exits (11 steps up +9 steps up). [2] To get to the Northern line booking hall you must use an escalator, a lift, plus three flights of stairs from the Central line platforms (16 steps down +8 steps down +13 steps down), or a lift and a long travalator from the W&C platforms, or a lift and one flight of stairs from the Northern line platforms (21 steps up), or two lifts, two escalators and ten flights of stairs from the DLR platforms (10 steps up +6 steps up +8x14 steps up). After that you must use a lift to the King William Street exit, or two flights of stairs to the Lombard Street exit (16 steps up +9 steps up)
Tube fare between Bank and South Kensington
This tube journey is in Oyster zone 1. The cheapest fare is £2.70 off-peak (£2.80 peak) when you pay by Oyster or contactless. There’s no return fare, you just pay the same as two single tickets
| Fare zone | Cash | Oyster & Contactless cards | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single fare | Single fare | Daily cap | |||
| Peak | Off-peak | Peak | Off-peak | ||
| Zone 1 fare | £6.70 | £2.80 | £2.70 | £8.50 | £8.50 |
| Fare Zone | Travelcards (Train, Bus & Tram) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| One day travelcard | Week travelcard | Month travelcard | ||
| Anytime | Off-peak | |||
| Zone 1-2 travelcard | n/a | n/a | £42.70 | £164 |
| Zone 1-4 travelcard | £15.90 | n/a | £61.40 | £235.80 |
| Zone 1-6 travelcard | £22.60 | £15.90 | £78 | £299 |
| Zone 1-9 travelcard | £28.50 | £17 | £111.30 | £427.40 |
| See our complete list of London Underground prices, Pensioner prices, Children’s prices, Oyster card prices, Contactless card prices and Travelcard prices Note: Tube journey prices are correct as of | ||||
Peak and off-peak journey times
For Oyster and contactless off-peak is outside the hours of 6.30 AM-9.30 AM and 4 PM-7 PM (Mon-Fri). For travelcards it’s any time after 9.30 AM (Mon-Fri). Weekends are always classed as off-peak. Note: Between the 8th March and 31st May 2024 TFL are running a trial called ‘Off-Peak Friday Fares’, where Fridays will be classed as off-peak all day.
The fare is based on what time your journey begins. It doesn’t matter what time your journey ends.
Other ways to make this journey
Travel on foot – If you wanted to walk the four mile distance it would take around 75-85 minutes
Travel by bus – Single fare: £1.75 (you may need more than one bus); Daily cap: £5.25; Weekly cap: £24.70; 1-day travelcard: £6; Weekly travelcard: £24.70 – Adult bus prices 2024 · Pensioner bus prices 2024 · Children’s bus prices 2024
Travel by taxi – The four mile ride between South Kensington train station and Bank station in a black cab should cost between £18 and £31 and take about 16-30 mins depending on the traffic
Travel by car – Car parks near Bank station and South Kensington