Hammersmith & City line
The pink Hammersmith & City line is the oldest underground railway in the world, opened in 1864. It runs 25.5 km from Hammersmith via Paddington, King's Cross and Liverpool Street out to Barking.
About the Hammersmith & City line
Until 1990 it was operated as part of the Metropolitan line; it was given its own identity and colour to reflect its very different role as a cross-town east-west service.
For visitors it is the easiest Tube link between Paddington, King's Cross and Liverpool Street, all three of which are major Elizabeth line and National Rail interchanges.
Trains share track with Circle, District and Metropolitan lines for much of the route, which is why a station like King's Cross sees a sub-surface train every 2–3 minutes despite each line only running every 8–10 minutes.
Key stations on the Hammersmith & City line
- PaddingtonElizabeth line, Bakerloo, District, Circle, Heathrow Express
- King's Cross St PancrasSix-line interchange and Eurostar
- Liverpool StreetCentral, Elizabeth, Circle, Metropolitan, National Rail
- StratfordConnection to Central, Jubilee, DLR, Elizabeth and Overground
FAQs about the Hammersmith & City line
How old is the Hammersmith & City line?
The route opened in 1864 as part of the Metropolitan Railway, making it the oldest stretch of underground railway in the world.
How often do Hammersmith & City trains run?
Every 8–10 minutes. Because it shares track with the Circle, District and Metropolitan lines, central stations see a sub-surface train every 2–3 minutes.
Is the Hammersmith & City line air-conditioned?
Yes. The entire fleet is S7 Stock with full air conditioning.