This journey is in zone 1 and you’ll have to use the Piccadilly and Northern lines, changing trains at Leicester Square
- From Russell Square take the Piccadilly Line
- Change at Leicester Square to the Northern Line
- Leave the train at Waterloo
Number of stops: 6 · Journey time: Approx 22 mins
Stations on the route: Russell Square ➜ Holborn ➜ Covent Garden ➜ Leicester Square [change train] Leicester Square ➜ Charing Cross ➜ Embankment ➜ Waterloo
Live status and delays
Closures on the Piccadilly and Northern line
First and last train times
Piccadilly line timetable
Alternative routes include Russell Square to Southwark, Russell Square to Embankment and Russell Square to Lambeth North
Stairs, lifts and escalators
Russell Square is not wheelchair accessible
The Jubilee line at Waterloo is wheelchair accessible, and has step-free access from the street to the train. The Bakerloo and Northern line are not wheelchair accessible
Russell Square entrance – You must use a lift plus one flight of stairs between the entrance and the platforms (20 steps down). If you want to avoid the lift then you can use another twelve flights of stairs (15 steps down +6 steps down +18 steps down +6x17 steps down +16 steps down +5 steps down +14 steps down)
Changing trains at Leicester Square – You must use stairs when changing between the Northern/Piccadilly line platforms
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
This journey is in zone 1 and you’ll have to use the Northern and Piccadilly lines, changing trains at Leicester Square
- From Waterloo take the Northern Line
- Change at Leicester Square to the Piccadilly Line
- Leave the train at Russell Square
Number of stops: 6 · Journey time: Approx 21 mins
Stations on the route: Waterloo ➜ Embankment ➜ Charing Cross ➜ Leicester Square [change train] Leicester Square ➜ Covent Garden ➜ Holborn ➜ Russell Square
Live status and delays
Closures on the Northern and Piccadilly line
First and last train times
Northern line timetable
Alternative routes include Waterloo to Southwark, Waterloo to Embankment and Waterloo to Lambeth North
Stairs, lifts and escalators
The Jubilee line at Waterloo is wheelchair accessible, and has step-free access from the street to the train. The Bakerloo and Northern line are not wheelchair accessible
Russell Square is not wheelchair accessible
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 Leicester Square – You must use stairs when changing between the Northern/Piccadilly line platforms
Russell Square exit – You must use a lift plus one flight of stairs between the platforms and the exit (20 steps up). If you want to avoid the lift then you can use another twelve flights of stairs (14 steps up +5 steps up +16 steps up +6x17 steps up +18 steps up +6 steps up +15 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
| 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 |
| 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 car – Parking near Russell Square station