London Drum

Paddington ⇄ South Kensington Station

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

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

Number of stops: 5 · Journey time: Approx 12 mins

Stations on the route: Paddington ➜ Bayswater ➜ Notting Hill Gate ➜ High Street Kensington ➜ Gloucester Road ➜ South Kensington

Live status and delays

Strikes and station closures

First and last train times

Circle line timetable

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

Stairs, lifts and escalators

The Elizabeth line at Paddington is wheelchair accessible, and has step-free access from the street to the train. The Bakerloo, Circle (coming from Hammersmith) and Hammersmith & City lines only have step-free access from the street to the platform, and there may be a step up or gap to the train. The Circle (heading towards Edgware Road) and District lines are not wheelchair accessible

South Kensington is not wheelchair accessible

Paddington entrance – There’s an escalator between the entrance and the Bakerloo line platforms (or four flights of 18 stairs). There’s a lift between the entrance and the eastbound Circle/​District platforms heading towards Edgware Road (via the National Rail concourse), and the Circle/​H&C platforms heading to/​from Hammersmith (or three flights of 10, 5 and 16 stairs)

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 it’s a direct train on the Circle line

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

Number of stops: 5 · Journey time: Approx 12 mins

Stations on the route: South Kensington ➜ Gloucester Road ➜ High Street Kensington ➜ Notting Hill Gate ➜ Bayswater ➜ Paddington

Live status and delays

Strikes and station closures

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

The Elizabeth line at Paddington is wheelchair accessible, and has step-free access from the street to the train. The Bakerloo, Circle (coming from Hammersmith) and Hammersmith & City lines only have step-free access from the street to the platform, and there may be a step up or gap to the train. The Circle (heading towards Edgware Road) and District lines are 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)

Paddington exit – There’s an escalator between the Bakerloo line platforms and the exit (or four flights of 18 stairs). There’s a lift between the eastbound Circle/​District platforms heading towards Edgware Road and the exit, and the Circle/H&C platforms heading to/from Hammersmith and the exit

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 Paddington ⇄ 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 Paddington ⇄ 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 roughly 1½ miles on foot, which would take about 28-31 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 – 1½ miles will cost around £10.60 to £18.20 and take about 8-17 minutes

By carParking near Paddington station