Top Metro Stations in London and Nearby Attractions

If you are getting ready to visit this cosmopolitan city, the best way to experience it to the fullest is to travel on the London Underground.

Discover here which are the most important stops and which tourist attractions you can enjoy just a few steps from each of them.

Don’t worry if, at first glance, the map of the stations seems confusing with so many colored lines. It’s not as complicated as it appears.

To help you travel with more confidence, we have prepared a detailed guide to the most important stations close to the city’s iconic places.

By the end, you will learn how to interpret the route diagram of this efficient transportation system, know how to navigate the London Underground, and plan your routes to make the most of this fascinating city.

How Many Lines and Stations Does the London Underground Have?

Created in 1863, the London Underground is the oldest in the world with 157 years of operation. It has a network of 12 lines distributed across 9 zones of the city and more than 300 stations.

The best way to navigate this mass transit system is to use the diagram or map. Pay attention and you will notice that the zones are arranged like a radio, with zones 1 and 2 closest to the city center and zone 9 the farthest.

This zoning system is the basis for the fare system on the London Underground, which allows for different prices depending on the distance traveled.

Therefore, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the diagram conventions. This will help you navigate better when traveling on the London Underground and ensure you top up your travel card according to the journey you plan to make.

Which Stops Lead to the City’s Most Attractive Places?

Before telling you which stops are near the most touristy and iconic places in the city, you should know that not all attractions are outside this transport system.

Several of its stations have been used in scenes from James Bond movies and Sherlock Holmes. So don’t be surprised if a station reminds you of your favorite scenes.

The fascinating thing about visiting London by underground is that the most iconic places and important monuments are located in zones 1 and 2.

Let’s see which stations will make your trip a wonderful experience.

Westminster Station for a Historical Tour

In the same area of the city, you will find the Palace of Westminster, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, and Westminster Cathedral.

Big Ben, a four-faced clock considered one of the largest and tallest in the world, is located northeast of the Palace of Westminster, which in turn houses Parliament.

To reach Big Ben and also enjoy the majestic Westminster Bridge, you can get off at the station with the same name.

The District line (green) and the Circle line (yellow) both serve this stop.

You will be amazed as soon as you leave the station, you will be at the foot of the iconic clock tower, a symbol of British culture, and just steps away from the palaces and cathedrals mentioned.

If you wish to walk a bit, you can get off at Embankment station and enjoy a 15-minute walk along the River Thames while admiring the giant wheel London Eye on your way to the majestic Big Ben.

Hyde Park Station for Enjoying Nature

If you get off at this station, you will be just steps away from the gigantic Hyde Park, which spans over 140 hectares. It is considered a true green lung within the city. It is also located very close to the Kensington Gardens.

In this park, you can walk peacefully and enjoy outdoor activities like cycling, skating, rowing on the Serpentine Lake that runs through the park, or simply relaxing on the grass.

Additionally, on Sundays, you can visit the Speakers’ Corner, a space within Hyde Park where anyone can test their oratory skills as long as the topic does not violate the law.

Stop at Waterloo to Ride the Giant London Eye

If you want to enjoy a spectacular view by the Thames River and see Big Ben from above, you can get off at Waterloo Station.

You can reach this station using the Northern line (black), the Jubilee line (gray), or the Bakerloo line (brown).

This attraction is also known as the Millennium Wheel. A valuable tip if you don’t want to wait in a long queue to enjoy this majestic wheel is to buy your tickets in advance.

You should know that to reach the London Eye, you can also use the stop at Westminster Station if you prefer to walk a bit and enjoy the city.

Stop at Tower Hill for the Tower Bridge

Another iconic place you can reach using the London Underground is the Tower Bridge, a bascule bridge over the Thames that is very close to the fortified palace known as the Tower of London.

The Tower Hill station is served by the yellow line and the green line.

From this point, if you like to walk, you can also go to Big Ben and enjoy other historic places in a journey of about an hour.

Get Off at Charing Cross for Trafalgar Square

If you want to visit a place filled with history, your itinerary must include this square. Trafalgar Square symbolizes the victories of the British army over its Spanish and French counterparts.

To reach Charing Cross Station, you can use the black line or the brown line of the London Underground.

From Trafalgar Square, you can walk about fifteen minutes to reach Big Ben, passing Downing Street, famous for being the residence of the British Prime Minister.

Piccadilly Circus Station for Shopping

Since we know that shopping and entertainment are a must in your visit to London, we recommend getting off at Piccadilly Circus. The navy blue line and the brown line both serve this stop.

From this station at Piccadilly Circus, you can reach well-known places like the Covent Garden shopping center, Leicester Square, and the M&M store, just to name a few.

Other nearby streets that you will enjoy shopping on are Regent Street and Oxford Street.

Stop at Camden Town for the Market

If you are looking for a market full of fabulous souvenirs and delicious cuisine, take the black line (Northern) and get off at this station.

From Camden Town station, you can reach a street full of history and a charming market.

Get Off at Notting Hill Gate for the Portobello Market

For market lovers, this is the station that will take you to Portobello, a place where you will find collectible items. Don’t miss the chance to find real treasures.

To reach the Notting Hill Gate station, take the red line, the green line, or the yellow line.

Stop at South Kensington for the Natural History Museum

In London, one of the best activities to do with family is to visit the Natural History Museum. To get there, get off at South Kensington station on the blue, yellow, or green lines.

This museum is known for its halls dedicated to recreating the lives of dinosaurs and large mammal species. Additionally, in winter, you can enjoy an incredible ice rink outside.

Russell Square Station for the British Museum

Your trip must include a visit to this iconic museum. Get off the London Underground at Russell Square station, served by the navy blue line.

Once inside the museum, include in your tour the Egyptian mummies, the Nereid Monument, the Rosetta Stone, the two-headed serpent, and the Easter Island moai. You will love them!

Metro Stops in London According to Important Destinations

Below you will find a table summarizing the stations near the tourist spots of this tour, with the name of the nearest station and the London Underground lines with their respective colors, which you can use to better orient yourself and reach your destination.

Tourist Destination	Station	Lines	Color
Big Ben and Westminster Abbey	Westminster	District	Green
		Circle Line	Yellow
Hyde Park and Buckingham Palace	Hyde Park Corner	Piccadilly	Blue
London Eye	Waterloo	Jubilee	Gray
		Northern	Black
		Bakerloo	Brown
London Bridge and Tower of London	Tower Hill	Circle	Yellow
Trafalgar Square	Charing Cross	Bakerloo	Brown
Piccadilly Circus	Piccadilly Circus	Bakerloo	Brown
Camden Town	Camden Town	Northern	Black
Portobello Market	Notting Hill Gate	Circle	Yellow
		District	Green
Natural History Museum	South Kensington	Piccadilly	Blue
		Circle	Yellow
		District	Green
British Museum	Russell Square	Piccadilly	Blue

Locate the Most Important Metro Stops in London on the Map

We have marked the official London Underground map to help you identify the main stops mentioned in this tour.

As you can see, it is now a bit easier to interpret the diagrams.

If you pay attention, you will notice that several lines can coincide at the same station, but their routes vary.

And of course, depending on where you are going, you will sometimes need to make transfers.

Source: Online Tube Map – December 2019

Apps That Will Help You Navigate the London Underground

Given that we are in the age of information and technology, you will be pleased to know that you can have the London Underground map on your smartphone through an app.

Keep in mind that you will not have internet connection inside the underground system, so you should download the maps to your device to plan your route in advance and identify the stops and transfers.

The following apps will be your allies for navigating the London Underground with confidence and making the most of your trips:

• Oyster TFL: The official app of this transport system, available for iOS and Android
• Citymapper: Integrates other transport systems such as buses, bike rentals, trains, taxis, and even Uber. Like the previous app, it can also be downloaded from the iOS and Android stores.
• Google Maps: You just need to download the maps of London to use the app in offline mode. If you don’t have this app pre-installed on your smartphone, you can download it from the following links for iOS and Android.

Schedules and Cards for Traveling on the London Underground

The transport system operates from Monday to Saturday from 5:00 am to 12:00 pm, while on Sundays the hours are from 7:00 am to 11:30 pm.

Peak hours are considered to be between 8:00 am and 9:30 am and between 5:00 pm and 6:30 pm, so keep this in mind when planning your trips if you want to avoid large crowds and congestion.

It is recommended to use prepaid cards and purchase them in advance to save time and avoid queues, especially during peak hours.

Additionally, these cards offer discounts and special rates. You can choose from the following:

• Oyster card or Travelcard: Both work on a prepaid system and offer economical rates.
• London Pass: This card is designed especially for tourists in the city, giving you access to public transport and the airports of Heathrow and London City Airport.
• Travelcard-londres: Also a prepaid card that you can recharge according to the number of trips you need. You can use it on the light rail and buses.

Essential Tips for Traveling on the London Underground

It is important to consider the following tips to enjoy all your trips on the London Underground:

• On escalators and in corridors, always stay on the right and leave the left side free. This side is for people in a hurry. If you stand still on the left side, you risk annoying other travelers, and they will let you know.
• If you can identify your spatial location within the transport system, your movement will be much easier. To do this, identify the cardinal points on the signs you will find in each station and identify your destination station on them. You will see that with this help it is much easier to interpret the maps.
• To better orient yourself, look at the screens in each station. They provide information on how long it will take for the next trains to arrive and their destinations.
• When you are on the platform, make sure not to cross the yellow line.
• Note that routes have branches and some trains stop at the same stations while others do not stop at all stations.
• Additionally, trains usually have lines inside corresponding to the color of their route. This will be very helpful if you already know which line you need to reach your destination.
• When your train arrives, stand to the side of the doors to allow people who are getting off at that station to exit before you board.
• Inside each car, you will see the diagram of the lines, and through the speakers and screens, the next stop is always announced.

Checklist for Traveling to London

Before traveling to London, review and follow this checklist to make sure you don’t leave anything to chance:

• Research reliable places to exchange your country’s currency for pounds.
• Know the route to reach your destination from the airports.
• Download city maps to your smartphone or request a printed one at any station.
• Choose rechargeable cards, as they can save you up to 50% on your journeys.
• Enjoy the city’s free attractions, take advantage of discount coupons to save on restaurants and guided tours.
• Ask for the dates and times of the markets so you don’t miss the fabulous offers and don’t return without your souvenirs.
• Book the tours of your interest in advance and with trusted agencies.
• Find the best place to stay, compare prices through specialized apps, and save money.

Now you just need to set the date for your trip. London is a fabulous city, but don’t forget to bring a good coat and an umbrella so that nothing can stop you.

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