London Drum

Barbican ⇄ South Kensington Station

This journey is in zone 1 and it’s a direct train on the Circle line

  1. From Barbican take the Circle Line
  2. Leave the train at South Kensington

Number of stops: 15 · Journey time: Approx 26 mins

Stations on the route: Barbican ➜ Moorgate ➜ Liverpool Street ➜ Aldgate ➜ Tower Hill ➜ Monument ➜ Cannon Street ➜ Mansion House ➜ Blackfriars ➜ Temple ➜ Embankment ➜ Westminster ➜ St. James’s Park ➜ Victoria ➜ Sloane Square ➜ South Kensington

Live status and delays

Strikes and station closures

First and last train times

Circle line timetable

Alternative routes include Barbican to Gloucester Road, Barbican to Knightsbridge and Barbican to Sloane Square

Stairs, lifts and escalators

Barbican is not wheelchair accessible

South Kensington is not wheelchair accessible

Barbican entrance – You must use two flights of stairs between the entrance and the booking hall (11 steps down +12 steps down), plus another two flights of stairs from the booking hall to the platforms (15 steps down +14 steps down to the eastbound platform, and 2x14 steps down to the westbound platform)

South Kensington 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)

This journey is in zone 1 and you’ll have to use the Circle lines, changing trains at Edgware Road

  1. From South Kensington take the Circle Line
  2. Leave the train at Barbican

Number of stops: 12 · Journey time: Approx 25 mins

Stations on the route: South Kensington ➜ Gloucester Road ➜ High Street Kensington ➜ Notting Hill Gate ➜ Bayswater ➜ Paddington ➜ Edgware Road [change train] Edgware Road ➜ Baker Street ➜ Great Portland Street ➜ Euston Square ➜ King’s Cross St. Pancras ➜ Farringdon ➜ Barbican

Live status and delays

Closures on the Circle line

First and last train times

Circle line timetable

Alternative routes include South Kensington to Gloucester Road, South Kensington to Knightsbridge and South Kensington to Sloane Square

Stairs, lifts and escalators

South Kensington is not wheelchair accessible

Barbican is not wheelchair accessible

South Kensington 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)

Barbican exit – You must use two flights of stairs from the platforms to the booking hall (14 steps up +15 steps up from the eastbound platform, and 2x14 steps up from the westbound platform), plus another two flights of stairs between the booking hall and the exit (12 steps up +11 steps up)

Cash, Oyster & Travelcard fares

The journey is in zone 1. The cheapest fare is £2.70 off-peak (£2.80 peak) when you pay by Oyster or contactless. There are no return tickets, you just pay the same as two singles

Cost of tube fare from Barbican ⇄ South Kensington Station
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
Travelcard prices from Barbican ⇄ South Kensington Station
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
Note: Ticket prices are correct as of

Peak and off-peak 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.

The fare is based on what time your journey begins. It doesn’t matter when it ends.

Alternative ways to travel

Walking – The distance is about 3¾ miles on foot, which would take about 80 minutes

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

By taxi – The 3¾ mile ride should cost you from £18 to £31 and take anything from 15 to 29 minutes

By carParking near Barbican station