Piccadilly Circus Tube Station
If you have been following Zedwell for a little while, you know we pride ourselves (and rightly so!) on being located only a 2- minute walk from Piccadilly Circus tube station.
Piccadilly Circus tube station is, as the name suggests, just beneath Piccadilly Circus itself, and is on the Piccadilly and the Bakerloo lines.
Its location and the fact that both Piccadilly and Bakerloo lines trains stop at Piccadilly Circus make it incredibly easy to travel anywhere in central London and beyond from here.
HISTORY
Piccadilly Circus station opened its doors on the 10th of March 1906. It was at first serviced by the Baker Street and Waterloo Railway (now Bakerloo line), whereas the Great Northern and Piccadilly and Brompton Railway (now Piccadilly line) were opened later that year.
The influx of commuters going through Piccadilly Circus increased dramatically after WW1: the yearly number of passengers went from 1.5 million in 1907 to 18 million in 1922.
This meant that extensive work had to take place to adapt the station’s layout to the higher demand making it the Piccadilly Circus we know and love to hate today. The famous statue of Eros had to be moved over to Embankment Gardens to allow the works to be carried out.
Fun fact: all the oldest tube stations had to be remodelled to accommodate escalators when these were invented in 1911!
During WW2 Piccadilly Circus was, like many other tube stations, used as a bomb shelter. The station offered refuge to up to 7,000 people every night.
GETTING AROUND
If you are planning on exploring London, Piccadilly Circus is a perfect base camp.
All the main sightseeing sites are all very easy to reach on foot or on public transport. Piccadilly Circus is also very easy to reach if you are travelling into London by train or flying from overseas.
RAILWAY STATIONS
FROM WATERLOO
Just ride a Bakerloo line train for 5 minutes et voila you have arrived. You will also be able to get a Northern line train to Leicester Square a walk to Piccadilly Circus in a couple of minutes. Or, if you are in no hurry, you can walk all the way there from Waterloo in just under 25 minutes – a great way to take in the views of the Thames!
FROM KING’S CROSS
King’s Cross is on the Piccadilly line, so you just have to make sure you get on a Westbound train which will take you over to Piccadilly in less than 10 minutes.
FROM PADDINGTON
A super quick journey from Paddington – only 10 minutes on the Bakerloo line! If you are in the mood for a long(ish) walk you can reach Piccadilly Circus in just under 45 minutes, strolling through Mayfair and Hyde Park.
FROM VICTORIA
Head northwards on a Victoria line train for two stops. Get off at Oxford Circus and change platforms. From here you will be able to get a Bakerloo line train all the way to Piccadilly Circus. All in less than 10 minutes!
AIROPORTS
FROM HEATHROW
It’s super easy and cheap to get from Heathrow to Piccadilly Circus – the Piccadilly line will take you all the way into central London in less than one hour and for less than a fiver.
FROM GATWICK
Trains to Victoria run every 15 minutes. Once you are in Victoria, you can get the Victoria line to Green Park, and walk for approximately 10 minutes; or you can change from Victoria to Bakerloo line at Oxford Circus.
FROM STANSTED
Trains to Liverpool Street station run very regularly from Stansted airport. If you’re headed to Piccadilly Circus, you should get off at Tottenham Hale (one stop before Liverpool Street) and jump on a Victoria line train. You can then either get off at Green Park and walk up to Piccadilly; or change at Oxford Circus for a Bakerloo line train.
ZEDWELL
Zedwell is quite literally a 2-minute walk from Piccadilly Circus station! Just take Exit 4 – Shaftesbury Avenue and turn into Great Windmill Street. You will see the unmistakable Zedwell sign. You have arrived at your home away from home!