The Bakerloo Line is one of the most useful Tube lines for tourists staying near Paddington, Baker Street, Oxford Circus, Piccadilly Circus, Charing Cross, Waterloo or Wembley. It is not the most famous London Underground line, but it is very useful for central London travel and for connecting some of the city’s most visited areas.
Quick answer: is the Bakerloo Line useful for tourists?
- Best for: Paddington, Baker Street, Oxford Circus, Waterloo and Wembley
- Best use case: central London travel and rail connections
- Not ideal for: Heathrow transfers (use airport-specific routes instead)
- Line colour: Brown
- Main strength: simple access to major tourist and transport hubs
Bakerloo Line map
Bakerloo Line overview
The Bakerloo Line crosses London from the north-west to the south and is particularly useful for visitors because it serves a combination of major central stations, shopping areas, theatre districts and important rail hubs. It is the Brown Line on the Tube map.
For many tourists, the Bakerloo Line is less obvious than Piccadilly, Central or Victoria, but it can be extremely practical if your hotel or itinerary includes areas such as Paddington, Baker Street, Oxford Circus, Charing Cross, Waterloo or Wembley.
- Main tourist strength: excellent central London coverage
- Useful stations: Paddington, Baker Street, Oxford Circus, Piccadilly Circus, Charing Cross, Waterloo
- Useful for events: Wembley Central
- Best for: visitors moving between shopping, rail stations, theatres and central landmarks
When should you use the Bakerloo Line?
The Bakerloo Line is particularly useful if you want a simple Tube route between key central London areas without relying too heavily on changes.
- Use it for Paddington: yes
- Use it for Baker Street: yes
- Use it for Oxford Circus: yes
- Use it for Charing Cross / Trafalgar Square: yes
- Use it for Waterloo: yes
- Use it for Wembley: yes, especially on event days
If your route includes several of these stations, the Bakerloo Line can be one of the easiest Underground options for tourists.
Best Bakerloo Line stations for tourists
- Paddington – useful for rail connections and west London access
- Baker Street – good for Madame Tussauds and Marylebone area
- Oxford Circus – shopping and central London hub
- Piccadilly Circus – great for West End access
- Charing Cross – useful for Trafalgar Square and the Strand
- Waterloo – excellent for South Bank and London Eye
- Wembley Central – useful for Wembley Stadium area
London Bakerloo Line service status
If you plan to use the Bakerloo Line during your stay, it is always worth checking live service status before you travel, especially during weekends, engineering works or event days near Wembley.
Tourist attractions on the Bakerloo Line
The Bakerloo Line serves several interesting places across London and is more tourist-friendly than many visitors expect.
- Wembley Stadium – accessible from Wembley Central
- Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens – reachable from Paddington
- Madame Tussauds – near Baker Street
- Sherlock Holmes Museum – near Baker Street
- Carnaby Street – near Oxford Circus
- Trafalgar Square – near Charing Cross
- The Mall – accessible from Charing Cross
- London Eye – accessible from Waterloo
- Imperial War Museum – near Lambeth North / Elephant & Castle
Complete Bakerloo Line Station List
The Bakerloo Line serves 25 stations between Harrow & Wealdstone in northwest London and Elephant & Castle in central south London.
| Station | Zone |
|---|---|
| Harrow & Wealdstone | 5 |
| Kenton | 4 |
| South Kenton | 4 |
| North Wembley | 4 |
| Wembley Central | 4 |
| Stonebridge Park | 3 |
| Harlesden | 3 |
| Willesden Junction | 2-3 |
| Kensal Green | 2 |
| Queen’s Park | 2 |
| Kilburn Park | 2 |
| Maida Vale | 2 |
| Warwick Avenue | 2 |
| Paddington | 1 |
| Edgware Road | 1 |
| Marylebone | 1 |
| Baker Street | 1 |
| Regent’s Park | 1 |
| Oxford Circus | 1 |
| Piccadilly Circus | 1 |
| Charing Cross | 1 |
| Embankment | 1 |
| Waterloo | 1 |
| Lambeth North | 1 |
| Elephant & Castle | 1-2 |
Important transport connections on the Bakerloo Line
The Bakerloo Line is especially useful because it connects to major transport hubs and several important Underground lines.
- Paddington – rail services and airport-related onward travel
- Marylebone – national rail services
- Baker Street – Circle, Hammersmith & City, Jubilee and Metropolitan lines
- Oxford Circus – Central and Victoria lines
- Piccadilly Circus – Piccadilly line
- Charing Cross – Northern line
- Embankment – Circle, District and Northern lines
- Waterloo – Jubilee, Northern and Waterloo & City lines
Related London Underground guides
Ticket price
Tourists are often surprised by London Underground fares. In most cases, it is much cheaper to use contactless or an Oyster card than to buy a paper single ticket.
For example, a journey between outer zones and central London is usually significantly cheaper with Oyster or contactless than with a standard single ticket.
👉 See our London Tube Tickets guide to choose the best ticket
Bakerloo Line timetable
The Bakerloo Line runs every day of the week, including weekends and public holidays.
First train
The first services usually leave Harrow & Wealdstone and Elephant & Castle early in the morning, with slightly later starts on Sundays.
Last train
The last services usually leave before midnight, with slightly earlier last trains on Sundays.
You can check the official Bakerloo Line timetable on the TfL website if you need exact journey planning.
FAQ – Bakerloo Line
Is the Bakerloo Line useful for tourists?
Yes. The Bakerloo Line is very useful for tourists because it serves several major central London areas, including Paddington, Baker Street, Oxford Circus, Piccadilly Circus, Charing Cross and Waterloo.
What colour is the Bakerloo Line on the London Tube map?
The Bakerloo Line is shown in brown on the official London Underground map.
Where does the Bakerloo Line start and end?
The Bakerloo Line runs between Harrow & Wealdstone in north-west London and Elephant & Castle in south London.
How many stations are on the Bakerloo Line?
The Bakerloo Line serves 25 stations, including Paddington, Baker Street, Oxford Circus, Piccadilly Circus, Charing Cross and Waterloo.
Does the Bakerloo Line go to Paddington?
Yes. Paddington is on the Bakerloo Line and is an important station for tourists arriving by train or travelling to and from west London.
Does the Bakerloo Line go to Waterloo?
Yes. Waterloo is one of the main central London stations on the Bakerloo Line. It is also convenient for visiting the South Bank and the London Eye.
Does the Bakerloo Line go to Oxford Circus?
Yes. Oxford Circus is served by the Bakerloo Line and provides connections with the Central and Victoria lines. It is one of the best stations for shopping around Oxford Street and Regent Street.
Does the Bakerloo Line go to Piccadilly Circus?
Yes. Piccadilly Circus is directly served by the Bakerloo Line and is convenient for the West End, theatres, restaurants and nearby attractions.
Does the Bakerloo Line go to Trafalgar Square?
The Bakerloo Line does not have a station called Trafalgar Square, but Charing Cross station is only a short walk from Trafalgar Square.
Which Bakerloo Line station is best for the London Eye?
Waterloo is the most convenient Bakerloo Line station for the London Eye. From Waterloo station, the London Eye and South Bank are within walking distance.
Which Bakerloo Line station is best for Madame Tussauds?
Baker Street is the best station for Madame Tussauds. The attraction is only a short walk from the Underground station.
Which Bakerloo Line station is best for the Sherlock Holmes Museum?
Use Baker Street. The Sherlock Holmes Museum on Baker Street is within walking distance of the station.
Does the Bakerloo Line go to Wembley Stadium?
The Bakerloo Line serves Wembley Central. It can be useful for reaching the Wembley area, although Wembley Park on the Jubilee and Metropolitan lines may be more convenient for some journeys to Wembley Stadium.
Does the Bakerloo Line go to Heathrow Airport?
No. The Bakerloo Line does not go directly to Heathrow Airport. Travellers should normally use another route, such as the Piccadilly Line, Elizabeth Line or airport rail services depending on their starting point.
Does the Bakerloo Line go to Gatwick Airport?
No. The Bakerloo Line does not serve Gatwick Airport. However, it can be used to reach central London stations where you can connect with rail services towards Gatwick.
Which Tube lines connect with the Bakerloo Line?
The Bakerloo Line offers connections with several other Underground lines. Important interchange stations include Baker Street, Oxford Circus, Piccadilly Circus, Charing Cross, Embankment and Waterloo.
Can I use an Oyster card on the Bakerloo Line?
Yes. Oyster cards can be used for journeys on the Bakerloo Line in the same way as on other London Underground lines.
Can I use contactless payment on the Bakerloo Line?
Yes. You can normally use a contactless bank card or compatible mobile device to pay for Bakerloo Line journeys. Remember to touch in and touch out using the same card or device.
Does the Bakerloo Line run every day?
Yes. The Bakerloo Line normally operates seven days a week, although engineering works, disruptions and planned closures can sometimes affect services, particularly at weekends.
What time does the Bakerloo Line start and finish?
Bakerloo Line trains generally begin running early in the morning and continue until around midnight, but exact first and last train times depend on the station and day of the week. Check the latest TfL timetable when planning an early-morning or late-night journey.