King's Cross to Waterloo

[ricoblade]

Hi All - What's the quickest way to get from King's Cross to Waterloo please? I have a trip in a few weeks' time where I'd like to make a "sporty" connection at Waterloo if possible.

I'm currently thinking Victoria Line via the old ticket hall at King's Cross then changing at either Euston or Warren Street onto the Northern Charing Cross branch.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Snow1964]

Easiest is old ticket hall at Kings Cross, Victoria line, cross platform at Oxford Circus to Bakerloo.

At Kings Cross escalators are at front of train, but try and walk about two thirds of platform at either KX or OC as need to be nearer back for quick exit at Waterloo.

If you can use the rush hour exit (turn right in ticket hall at Waterloo to subway under platforms), then go up stairs to platform (but this is closed evenings etc)

 

[ricoblade]

Easiest is old ticket hall at Kings Cross, Victoria line, cross platform at Oxford Circus to Bakerloo

This is where I need a "like" button, thanks for the quick reply.

 

[antharro]

Agree with the advice given, although it depends if there's a particular part of Waterloo you need to get to. For example, the walk between the Jubilee ticket hall and the Bakerloo line isn't short (especially if the walkways are out of use), so that may be a factor.

 

[Flinn Reed]

Could also consider using Thameslink from St Pancras to London Bridge, then change for Southeastern to Waterloo East? KCSP and Waterloo are both major tube stations with long corridors etc, so may save time getting to/from the platforms.

 

[sh24]

Could also consider using Thameslink from St Pancras to London Bridge, then change for Southeastern to Waterloo East? KCSP and Waterloo are both major tube stations with long corridors etc, so may save time getting to/from the platforms.

That will be far slower, not least due to frequency.

Agree - old ticket hall, Victoria to Bakerloo at Oxford Circus and get on the 4th-5th car of the Bakerloo train for speediest exit.

 

[greyman42]

If your train from Waterloo calls at Vauxhall, you can get the Victoria line to Vauxhall from Kings Cross.

 

[Hadders]

Fastest way is Victoria Line to Oxford Circus and change to the Bakerloo Line. I'd expect to do a 'sporty connection' in little more than 15 minutes, if you position yourself appropriately.

 

[yorkie]

Could also consider using Thameslink from St Pancras to London Bridge, then change for Southeastern to Waterloo East? KCSP and Waterloo are both major tube stations with long corridors etc, so may save time getting to/from the platforms.

If on a tight budget and wanting to avoid the use of LU for any particular ticketing reason, then it is worth considering.

But if time is important (as mentioned in the original post), then absolutely not.

 

[Bald Rick]

Fastest way is Victoria Line to Oxford Circus and change to the Bakerloo Line. I'd expect to do a 'sporty connection' in little more than 15 minutes, if you position yourself appropriately.

15 mins is elite level sportiness!

From exiting platform at KX, assuming walking down the escalators, a Vic Line train just pulling up as you enter the platform, an unhindered run to Oxford Circus, a Bakerloo just pulling in as you walk across to that platform, an unhindered run to Waterloo, and walking up the escalators / stairs (if you know the right platform) at Waterloo and onto the platform I reckon is 16/17 minutes. But you need to know exactly where you are going, and a lot has to go right for that time!

I usually allow 25.


To the OP - if your train from Waterloo also calls at Vauxhall, then it is quicker to stay on the Victoria line to Vauxhall and catch your service there. Again allow 25 mins platform to platform.

 

[Hadders]

15 mins is elite level sportiness!

To do it that fast everything does need to go right and you need to walk very fast!

In sport you win some and you lose some so don't rely on it always being that fast.

 

[Recessio]

Which is the Old ticket hall at King's Cross? Is it signposted?

 

[Snow1964]

Which is the Old ticket hall at King's Cross? Is it signposted?

It was the one built under the surface, reached by steps, just in front of main train shed.

Cross the concourse and go outside and look for stairs down. Not signposted until the stairs, as the signage directs you to the new bigger ticket halls (which are indirect routing and lot longer walk as they were built where space was available, not in a straight line)

 

[rebmcr]

Which is the Old ticket hall at King's Cross? Is it signposted?

The one with the semicircular gateline, grey/beige decor, and a plaque memorialising the Kings Cross fire.

The 'new' ticket hall is cavernous and has straight gatelines and white ambiance.

 

[Recessio]

The one with the semicircular gateline, grey/beige decor, and a plaque memorialising the Kings Cross fire.

The 'new' ticket hall is cavernous and has straight gatelines and white ambiance.

Perfect thanks, I know which one you mean from that description!

My commute involves going Waterloo to King's Cross, so knowing the best route through the stations from this thread has been very helpful. Thanks all

 

[DelW]

My mental rule at King's Cross underground is "if in doubt, follow the signs for Met / Circle / H&C" which always seem to get me to the southern concourse.

 

[ricoblade]

Fastest way is Victoria Line to Oxford Circus and change to the Bakerloo Line. I'd expect to do a 'sporty connection' in little more than 15 minutes, if you position yourself appropriately.

Thanks All - I made the journeys this week and all went smoothly. I timed it on the way back and it was 23 minutes from exiting the front of the train at mainline Waterloo to arriving on the mainline concourse at King's Cross. I probably had 5 minutes of waiting for tubes at Waterloo and Oxford Circus.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

It’s often the rubbish Bakerloo line frequency that can ruin this. Arriving at Oxford Circus to see the heart-sinking “four minutes.” Slow trains too.

 

[Railguy1]

It’s often the rubbish Bakerloo line frequency that can ruin this. Arriving at Oxford Circus to see the heart-sinking “four minutes.” Slow trains too.

Horses for courses…but I commute weekly on the Bakerloo line in that area and generally much prefer it to the Jubilee line because it is usually less crowded. When going north towards Baker Street from the south, interchange at Green Park can also be an absolute nightmare compared to cross platform interchange at Oxford Circus. When leaving work at Vauxhall, I will also often go for a nice walk to Embankment or Waterloo and avoid the large crowds at Westminster.

As an aside, I remember talking to a colleague about walking to Embankment (25 minutes) instead of going to my nearby station Vauxhall and he seemed baffled as the “Victoria line didn’t go to embankment”. We are pretty lucky in Central London to have so many routes to take!

 

[davews]

Did Victoria/Bakerloo last Thursday around 4pm and both trains were jam packed, not pleasant.

 

[Julia]

If you're coming into Kings Cross on a slower train from the north, and you see a 1-2 minute connection towards Moorgate as you pull into Finsbury Park, might be worth taking that and switching to the Victoria line at Highbury - gets you to Waterloo with all cross-platform changes.