How to travel between Euston and other central London stations

These guides on how to travel between Euston station and the other London stations are focused on, or at least include, the easiest routes - so that the simpler alternatives when travelling with heavy luggage or with young children etc can be followed.

Euston station is served by the Northern and Victoria Lines, as the Circle, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan Lines use a separate Underground station named Euston Square, which is located outside the main station.

The entrance to Euston's underground station has been temporarily relocated and it is now just outside the station.
So once you have ascended to the main concourse, walk across it to the front of the station building, exiting by the first set of doors that you come to.

At weekends the Underground lines and both the cross-city Elizabeth line and Thameslink trains can be impacted by construction work, those affecting the Underground and Elizabeth line trains can be looked up here, while those impacting the Thameslink trains, can be found here.

All of the ticket gates at central London stations have 'readers' which enable contactless payment.

Regardless of whether you are resident in the UK, or are visiting, there are three methods of using Contactless:

1. A payment app on a mobile device, including your bank's contactless payment app, or the likes of Google Pay, Apple Pay, or Samsung Pay.
2. A debit / credit card as long as it has the contactless symbol
3. An Oyster card (you touch in and out as you do when using Contactless).

Good to know about using Contactless

• The system works by touching in and out.
• When using bank cards, take care to use the same card when touching out at the end of a journey, as you did when touching in at the start.
• You have to pay with Contactless on the regular red buses, you cannot pay with cash.
• When travelling by the Underground or Elizabeth line, you can save 10 - 20p per journey by paying with a banking app / card instead of an Oyster card.
• Making a Contactless payment is cheaper than buying a ticket from a station counter or machine - the price difference is usually at least 50%!

More info is available on the general London by train guide.

The main access down to the Underground station ticket hall is by escalator, but there are also lifts/elevators down to this level.
You'll find them on the right on the main concourse, by the entrance to the mainline ticket office.
What can be confusing is that there is a sign on this side of the concourse, by the ticket hall, which points to the way to going right for the Underground station, but if you follow it you will have to take the lift.
So the quicker route is to ignore it and exit the station, turning left on the plaza in order to access the escalator down into the Underground station's ticket hall.

There also lifts down from the Underground's ticket hall to the Victoria Line trains and the City branch of the Northern line - but not to the Charing Cross branch of the Northern line.

Heading down the escalator

Whether you will be taking the Northern or Victoria Line, there is only one set of escalators which leads down to the trains from the ticket hall in the Underground station.
However at the foot of this escalator, you need to take different routes to the THREE parts of the station that the trains to central London leave from - and they are:

• The Northern Line via Charing Cross - platform (track) 2
• The Northern Line via Bank - platform (track) 6
• The Victoria Line – southbound trains call at Oxford Circus, Green Park and Victoria

So you need to pay particular attention to the signs when you the step off of the escalator which leads down from the ticket hall.
Though once you're in the space at the foot of the escalator, the Northern line via Charing Cross is to the left, but you need to go right for the Northern line via Bank and the Victoria Line.
From here another escalator leads down to the Victoria line and the Northern line via Bank, but a short flight of stairs leads to the Northern line via Charing Cross - so this line does not have step-free access.

Euston Square underground station is is a 3 - 5 min walk away from the main station and the route isn’t particularly obvious.

When you’re on the main concourse use the exit doors on the right hand side of the concourse, those that are over the by the ticket office.
On the other side of the doors you will see a roofed step-free path, which leads down towards the car drop-off area, which will then be over to the right.

The fenced in path through the construction area will bend around to the right and lead to a road junction/intersection.

If you won't mind using stairs to access the trains which use Euston Square station, go straight ahead and walk along the north side of Euston Road

Entering Euston Square station from the north side of Euston Road

The entrance to Euston Square station, will be on the left, before you reach the next road junction.
Though look out for it, as it’s a contender for London’s most anonymous Underground station entrance.

As can be seen above, you will have reached Euston Square when you can see an underground sign on a pole above a staircase, which leads down from the street.
The staircase will take you down to a ticket hall which provides access to both the trains heading east or west.

Though the only access to the eastbound platform at Euston Square is by another staircase within the station.

Entering Euston Square station from the south side of Euston Road

Euston Square has its main entrance on the south side of Euston Road and it offers step-free access to westbound trains, so making use of it makes the going easier, if you will be travelling with heavy luggage etc
To reach it, when you get to the road junction at the end of the footpath, you will need to cross Euston Road and walk by the grand building, which houses The Wellecome Collection museum.

You will need to turn the corner into Gower Street to access the glass box, which houses stairs and a lift / elevator down to the lobby level, which gives access to both the eastbound and westbound trains.
So if you will be heading east, you can eliminate the need to take one of the two staircases, which provide the access between street level and eastbound trains.
However, if you will be going west, you can take another lift / elevator down to the westbound platform.

The southbound Northern line trains ‘via Charing Cross’ leave from platform (track) 2 in Euston Underground station.
Note that when heading to Euston, the suggestion is to connect into the Northern line at London Bridge, but as no seat reservations are available on the trains which depart from Charing Cross, it's best to head there in order to board a train.
All trains from Charing Cross will call at London Bridge, but by the time they arrive there, spare seats will be harder to find.

A one-stop hop on the Underground is a comparatively expensive means of heading to King’s Cross station from Euston; if you’re willing to pay the tube fare, you may as well take a taxi.

If you do take the Underground, a southbound Northern Line train via Bank is a better option than taking the northbound Victoria line.
This is because the transfer from the Northern line to the mainline trains at King’s Cross, St Pancras underground station is easier than from the Victoria line; though if possible board the towards the front of the train.

Or take the bus; from bus stop D in the bus station at Euston, it's only a two stop ride on routes/lines 30 and 73 and 205 to King’s Cross.

Or walk as it will only take 12-20 minutes.

• Head to the left hand side of the station concourse and then access Euston Road, which is the main street in front of the station, it's on the other side of the bus station and a small green area.
• When you reach Euston Road turn to the left and four blocks over you will see the entrance to The British Library on the left.
• Keep going straight ahead walking in front of St Pancras station.
• On the next block, over to the left behind a branch of Pret a Manger, you'll see the entrance to King's Cross pictured above.

The easiest option for a Euston to Liverpool Street transfer is to head to Euston Square station and board any eastbound train, though the only access to these trains is by using stairs.
Though on arrival Liverpool Street the platform that the Underground train will arrive at is adjacent to its ticket hall.

Though a new and typically faster route from Euston to Liverpool Street, which also avoids the open-air transfer to Euston Square in bad weather a is to take a southbound Northern line train to Tottenham Court Road and then connect there for an eastbound Elizabeth line train.
Though a short flight of stairs to the southbound Northern Line platform is the final stage of accessing the trains at Euston.
Then at Tottenham Court Road station a lift (elevator) goes to the Elizabeth line.
At Liverpool Street, lifts (elevators) and escalators go up to the Underground ticket hall.
If you have luggage etc, when exiting through the Underground ticket hall to the main concourse, look out for the lift (elevator) which is on the right-hand side of the staircase.

Avoid taking the Northern line to Bank and making the connection to the Central line at that station.

Or if time is on your side you can take a bus; route 205, which will be heading to Bow.
It leaves from stop D in the bus station at Euston it then arrives at a bus stop just across the street from one of the main entrances into Liverpool Street; escalators and a lift (elevator) is available down to the main concourse.

Taking a southbound Northern line train on the route via Bank is the only logical way to go, it's a six station journey to London Bridge, but it will typically take less than 15 minutes.

There are no two routes from Euston to Paddington

If you don't have heavy luggage:

If you don't have luggage etc, so walking across city streets won't be so much of an issue, the easiest option for a Euston to Paddington transfer is to head to Euston Square station.
The main entrance to Euston Square station is on the other side of Euston Road and it houses a lift (elevator) down to the westbound platform.
From there any westbound Circle or Hammersmith and City line train will go to Paddington; the train will be heading to Hammersmith, avoid boarding a Metropolitan train - particularly as it won't look any different.

Though the Underground station at Paddington used by the Circle or Hammersmith and City lines is some distance from the main concourse, where most of the station facilities at Paddington are located.

Also the short-cut route from Circle and Hammersmith & City lines to all of the main line departures from Paddington, involves walking down staircases, one of which is pictured above.

To access the lifts (elevators) and escalators, which provide the access to the main concourse, you need to head to the other side of the taxi rank, but that route from here is very much the long way round.

If you do have heavy luggage:
The first stage of the alternative route is to take a southbound Northern line train on the route 'via Charing Cross' to Tottenham Court Road.
Though a short flight of stairs leads to the southbound Northern Line platform - then at Tottenham Court Road station a lift (elevator) goes to the westbound Elizabeth line.
At Paddington both lifts (elevators) and escalators are available for the transfer up from the Elizabeth line.

Also take this route if you'll want or need to make use of the facilities at Paddington station, such as its food/drink outlets or the ticket office
The main concourse is mere steps away from the Elizabeth line exits.

A one-stop hop on the Underground is a comparatively expensive means of heading to St Pancras if you’re willing to pay the tube fare, you may as well take a taxi.

If you do take the Underground, a southbound Northern line train via Bank is a better option than taking the northbound Victoria line.
This is because the transfer from the Northern line to the mainline trains in King’s Cross, St Pancras underground station is easier than from the Victoria line; though if possible board the towards the front of the train.

Or take the bus from bus stop C in the bus station in front of the rail station, as it’s only a two stop ride on bus routes 91 and 390 to St Pancras.

Or walk as it will only take 12-20 minutes

• Head to the left hand side of the station concourse and then access Euston Road, which is the main street in front of the station, it's on the other side of the bus station and a small green area.
• When you reach Euston Road turn to the left and four blocks over you will see the entrance to The British Library on the left.
• Take the next street on the left, which is named Midland Road.
  St Pancras station is on the right-hand side of the street, you'll soon come to the entrance on Midland Road pictured above.
  Once you're in the station, go right for Eurostar arrivals and departures, up a level for the East Midlands and Southeastern trains, and the entrance to the Thameslink part of the station will be over to the left

Though the transfer to St Pancras International is infinitely easier from King's Cross station than from Euston, so if you'll be connecting into a Eurostar and your journey will be commencing in Manchester, you can have a step-free end-to-end trip if you travel via Leeds.
Similarly if you will be heading to Eurostar departures from Glasgow, the easier option is to travel via Edinburgh.

Also if you’re thinking of heading to St Pancras in order to take a Thameslink train heading south towards Brighton or Gatwick Airport, take the Northern line to London Bridge instead and make the transfer there, that route will be much easier; and is all undercover, if the weather is poor.

The Victoria line is the busiest on the Underground so squeezing on to a southbound train is nearly always somewhat fraught, particularly if you will be travelling with luggage.
However, if you'll be taking an onward train from Victoria station, then it's by far the most logical public transport option when heading to Victoria from Euston.

But if using a deep level 'tube' is something you'd pay to avoid and time is on your side, the trains operated by Southern, which usually connect Milton Keynes to Clapham Junction and East Croydon, provide a step-free alternative route.
These trains are currently departing from Watford Junction.
Most of the trains which depart from Victoria will call at Clapham Junction and all of the longer-distance routes operated by Southern, call at East Croydon.

The fastest option is take a southbound Northern line train via Charing Cross, but if time is on your side bus route 68 goes from stop E in the bus station.

Though on arrival at Waterloo you will need to cross the road and enter the part of the station, pictured above, which gives access to the Jubilee line; from there escalators and lifts (elevators) can take you up to the main station concourse.

Arriving by the Northern and Victoria lines

There is only one exit from Euston’s underground station, so when you step off a Northern or Victoria line train and follow the ‘Way Out’ signs, you will ultimately pass through the Underground ticket hall, which is beneath the main station’s concourse.

A series of escalators connect the platforms that the trains on both the Northern line (City branch) and Victoria line trains will arrive at to the ticket hall, and lifts (elevators) are also available.
However a combination of a short flight of stairs + an escalator provides the access from the platforms that the Northern line (Charing + branch) will arrive at - and a lift (elevator) isn't available from this part of the Underground station.

If you use the escalator which leads up to the Underground station's ticket hall, once you have passed through the ticket gates in the Underground station, straight ahead will be the passage which leads to the concourse at the station.
The passage way curves to the left and you can't miss the escalators, which go up to the main station building.
Over to the right in this passage are some less obvious lifts (elevators), which also go up to the main concourse.

When you step off the escalator, the direct route on to the main concourse has for the time being been closed off by building works.
Instead you have to briefly step outside the station and then pass through the doors which lead on to the main concourse.
A sign will tell you to turn left to access the main concourse, but you can also go right; And doing so is the quickest route to the ticket hall, where you can purchase or collect pre-booked tickets.

If you won’t be collecting or buying tickets, and if you don’t want to break into a run, it will take at least five mins to make the transfer between stepping off of the Underground and boarding your long-distance train; So allow a minimum of 10 mins for a stress-free transfer.

Euston Square station isn’t at Euston station, take a second look at the Underground Map and you’ll notice that the line between Euston Square and Euston is dotted; And as the key on the map shows, the dotted line means that you can walk between the two stations in under 10 minutes.

Ideally board an eastbound train to Euston Square towards the rear of the train and a westbound train towards the front, you’ll then be by the exit when you step off the train.

Euston Square station has more than one exit to the street, so you will need to follow the signs pointing the way to Euston station.
Stairs are the only means of exiting the station from trains heading east, but there is a lift between the platform and the street on the westbound platform.

If you have taken the stairs which lead to the Euston station exit, when you reach the street, turn right, then in the distance on the corner of the next road junction/intersection, you will see two large signs on a pole, a national rail symbol over an underground symbol.
These are indicating the location of Euston mainline station.
The walk will take around 3 - 5 mins, there is a busy road junction to cross and Euston station is set back from the street; so more than enough time to receive a soaking if the weather is poor.
If you don’t quicken your pace you will need to allow a minimum of 10 mins, between stepping off a train at Euston Square and boarding a train in Euston station.

When you reach the road junction, you will see the taxi rank on the other side of the street, and you need to enter this area and walk over to the far side of it, until you have no choice but to turn left; when you are by the charming pair of lodges/cottages, which house the Euston Tap pub/bar.

Once you’ve turned to the left, you will now be following the step-free route into the station, that’s also used by travellers that have been dropped off by taxi.
A sloping path with a canopy has been provided and you can follow this to the doors, which lead into the main terminal building.

At Euston Square station

The eastbound platform, used by trains arriving from the likes of Baker Street and Paddington, is solely connected to the ticket hall lobby above the trains, by a staircase.
However, the westbound platform, used by trains from Farringdon, Liverpool Street and Whitechapel, has a lift / elevator up to this lobby level.

From this lobby level there is another lift / elevator which provides step-free access to the south side of Euston Road - so when arriving on a westbound train, there is step-free access from train to street.

So if you arrive at Euston Square on a eastbound train, you can avoid having to heave luggage etc up a second flight of stairs, by going left in the station lobby, in order to access this lift
Though the quickest route from eastbound trains to street level, is to use the two sets of staircases which lead up to the north side of Euston Road.

The transfer to Euston station

If you have taken the lift /elevator within Euston Square station up to street level, you will be on the south side of Euston Road.
If you follow the sign pointing the way to the National Rail station, you will walk by the building which houses The Wellcome Collection museum.
At the next street junction, with Gordon Street, the station will be on the next block over, but on the other side of Euston Road.
What the image above shows is:

• the path will lead to the building marked by the arrow on the right - which houses the Euston Tap bar
• the path will then take you under the building marked with the middle arrow
• the location of the station entrance is marked by the arrow on the left.
  There is an obvious path to follow through the construction area and the route is step-free.

It's a 10 - 15 min walk to Euston station from King's Cross, so being a pedestrian is easier and cheaper than taking the Underground.
However, if the weather isn't conducive, take the southbound Northern line and avoid the Victoria line, as you then won't have to walk so far in the Underground station to access the trains.

Taking the westbound Circle, Hammersmith and City or Metropolitan lines to Euston Square underground station can seem the logical, direct option, but it has two obstacles;

1. The access to the westbound lines at Liverpool Street involves going up and over a footbridge that's somewhat hidden within the Underground station.
2. Euston Square is a 3 to 5 minute walk in the open-air to the main Euston station

However, there is a new alternative for a Liverpool Street to Euston transfer which is also a much easier route if you have luggage etc:

1. Taking a westbound Elizabeth line train to Tottenham Court Road
2. Connecting there for northbound Northern line train; a lift (elevator is available)
3. Though on arrival at Euston, a combination of short flight of stairs + an escalator + a lift provides the optimum route to the main concourse in the station.

The access to the Elizabeth line at Liverpool Street is on the other side of the main Underground ticket hall, which is opposite platforms 3 - 7.
There is a lift available down into this ticket hall to the left of the short flight of stairs.
An escalator and lift (elevator) lead down to the Elizabeth line trains.

Taking a northbound Northern line train on the route via Bank is the only logical way to go, it's a six station journey from London Bridge, but it will typically take less than 15 minutes.

If you'll be arriving into Paddington on a long-distance train, take the Elizabeth line between Paddington and Tottenham Court Road and then connect there for the northbound Northern line.
There are two advantages of this route:

1. The long-distance trains will all arrive at platforms linked to the main concourse at Paddington and the entrance to the Elizabeth line is just to the right of the concourse, go through these arches by platform 1.
   

2. Though on arrival at Euston, a combination of short flight of stairs + an escalator + a lift provides the optimum route to the main concourse in the station.

What looks like a simpler route from Paddington to Euston is taking an eastbound Circle or Hammersmith & City line train to Euston Square, but the two negatives of this option are:

1. The shortest route from the long-distance trains to the Underground station that these two lines use, involves ascending a flight of stairs
2. Euston Square is also a 3-5 minute walk to Euston station and the exit from the eastbound platform at Euston Square is solely by stairs.

However, some of the non-express trains to Paddington arrive at its platforms 12 and 14 and these are adjacent to the Underground station that the Circle and Hammersmith & City lines use.

Or for a step-free direct route, which also avoids any escalators, take bus route/line 205 from stop E
It's easily located if you head towards the Elizabeth line station as it is adjacent to Eastbourne Terrace, the road on which the bus stop is located.
Head towards the lift (elevator), which is behind the escalators, but instead of heading down into the Elizabeth line station, go up to street level and the lift doors will open right by the bus stop.

At Euston, the bus, which will be heading to Bow Church, will stop in the bus station directly in front of the rail station

Taking the Underground one stop to Euston from St Pancras International can seem an un-necessary expense, and a hassle.
However, if you have luggage, it can be a better option than making the 10-12 min walk.
If you're going to opt for the Underground when arriving by Eurostar, turn left from Eurostar arrivals and head towards a northbound Northern line train.
A plus of taking the Underground is if you’ll be pulling luggage on wheels, it’s further down Euston Road than it looks on a map, and working out how to enter Euston station from the street is a challenge.
In contrast the exit from the Underground station at Euston takes you direct into that station's main departure hall.

If you do opt to walk heading to Euston station from St Pancras International will take around 8 - 15 minutes.
if you arrive at St Pancras on an East Midlands, Southeastern or Thameslink service, head for the exit on to Midland Road; it's by the access to the Thameslink part of the station, at the opposite end of the 'Market' area of the station to the access to King's Cross station.
When you step outside the station, the Francis Crick Institute building will be across the street.
Or if you arrive by Eurostar follow the signs to the taxi rank as it is located on Midland Road, when you step out of the station turn to the left.

1. From either of these exits turn to the left and walk down Midland Road keeping the station building on your left.
2. At the end of Midland Road you will reach the junction with Euston Road, turn to the right and cross the street and head towards the British Library, which you will now see on the right.
3. Three blocks over, you will pass the Unison Building, with the word 'Unison' in large letters mounted on the pavement.
4. From here turn right and left, on two short streets used by the buses which serve Euston's bus station.
5. The access to the the railway station will then be up the short flight of steps you'll see ahead across the street; a longer step-free route into the station is also available.

Though if you will be arriving on a Eurostar and heading to Manchester, you can avoid having to make this transfer by taking a train from King's Cross to Leeds.
King's Cross is just across the street from Eurostar arrivals and Leeds typically has four or five trains per hour to Manchester.

Similarly if you will be heading to Glasgow there is a daily direct train from King's Cross to Glasgow, or if that doesn't suit you can take a train to Edinburgh, to connect there for a train on to Glasgow.

Victoria station has a direct link to Euston by the northbound Victoria line, but if time is on your side, you can avoid travelling on some of London’s most crowded Underground trains, by taking the bus instead.
Bus line/route 390 leaves from stop C in the bus bays right in front of Victoria station, it then arrives in the bus station just in front of Euston station.

The northbound Northern line provides a direct connection from Waterloo, but it's an always busy seven-station journey.
Also on arrival at Euston, a combination of short flight of stairs + an escalator + a lift provides the optimum route to the main concourse in the station.

The alternative is to head to bus stop K from where lines/routes 68 and 168 go to Euston from Waterloo.

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