Circle line
The yellow Circle line traces a 27 km spiral around central London, linking every mainline rail terminus from Paddington round to Liverpool Street and back via the South Bank — air-conditioned S7 Stock throughout.
About the Circle line
Opened in 1884, the Circle line is no longer a true circle — since 2009 it runs as a spiral, starting at Hammersmith and looping through Zone 1 before terminating at Edgware Road.
It shares track with the District, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines for almost its entire length, which is why service is roughly every 8 minutes rather than every 2.
For tourists it is the single most useful Tube line: King's Cross, Euston Square, Baker Street, Paddington, Notting Hill Gate, High Street Kensington, Victoria, Westminster, Embankment, Tower Hill and Liverpool Street all sit on the yellow loop.
Key stations on the Circle line
- King's Cross St PancrasEurostar, six Tube lines, National Rail — busiest Circle stop
- WestminsterJubilee and District lines — Houses of Parliament, Big Ben
- Tower HillDistrict line — Tower of London and Tower Bridge
- Liverpool StreetCentral, Elizabeth, Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan, National Rail
FAQs about the Circle line
Is the Circle line still a circle?
No. Since December 2009 the Circle line runs as a spiral from Hammersmith via the loop back to Edgware Road. Trains no longer continuously circle.
How often do Circle line trains run?
Every 8–10 minutes per direction. Combined with the District, H&C and Metropolitan trains sharing the track, central stations see a train every 2–3 minutes.
Is the Circle line air-conditioned?
Yes. Every Circle line train is the modern walk-through S7 Stock with full air conditioning.