Is a great job worth the Northern Line?

[Blutopia]

I have the potential opportunity of a job in London again - I've worked in the city before, did it for 2 years and didn't especially mind the commute, but I used Waterloo and City to go from Waterloo to Bank. Crowded but doable as the train was always empty when it arrived.

With this job I'd have to go a few stops on the Northern line to Tottenham Court Road. Does anyone know how bad that section is in rush hour, from Waterloo - I'm sure it isn't nicknamed the Misery Line for nothing?

I personally have never found Waterloo to Tottenham Court Road that bad on the northern line but might just have been lucky!

You'd be on the train for literally 5 minutes max, I don't think you'd have enough time to get angry.

It's a nice walk (30 mins ish) if you'd rather get some steps in.

It’s getting onto the northern line at Waterloo that’s a headache. But I wouldn’t turn down a good job for it

There's not a problem with that route. If the 1st tube has come from Morden, wait for the next, there'll be plenty room.

I lived on the Northern line once and swore never again! It was a daily nightmare. But your journey is only a few stops. Can you do a dry run to test it out before accepting the job? Worse case you could walk it.

I always liked the northern line and couldn’t understand the hatred. (Used to live in Camden and Finchley)

Oh god, no job ever is worth the northern line. It’s not once you’re on the train, it’s trying to get onto it in the first place!

How about walking it to see how long it takes? Folding bike?

I haven't used it in a while, but that route used to be fine, it's the Bank branch that's rammed. There are also a range of buses you can get if there are issues, and walking is only about half an hour.

I lived in Kennington and got that line to Goodge St everyday for work for a couple of years. Never had a problem! Always got a seat if I waited for the tube from Morden to pass.

Recently mixed office for a few months and had to brave the Northern line. Was only a few stops but I got on where hardly anyone got off.

Was dreadful. Although my journey to my permanent office is a 30 minute walk so any tube journey was bound to be a shock to the system!!!

Mixed = moved

It can be fine but you could get the bakerloo (seats available 90% of the time) to Oxford Circus and then walk.

This is why I love MN, that's very helpful thanks!

That's what I'm thinking, I don't want to turn down a job unnecessarily - I haven't got it yet, 1st interview tomorrow. But its exactly what I've been looking for, and I've been looking for nearly a year for this particular role and set up. DH is worried about work life balance - long days and a total commute of 1 hr 40 mins each way inc the tube. I could handle that if there was some flexibility with hours or a couple of days WFH, but the agency hasn't asked them that yet - I'm already more expensive than they planned!

I'm excited about the job though. I really hope they'll be flexible, it's quite high level

Cross posted with a few, thanks for all those tips. Wouldn't bother with a bike but don't mind walking, occasionally walked Waterloo to Moorgate which was 35 mins. The only problem is arriving at work very sweaty!

God, to live in London again. I used to worry about stuff like this but I had to cancel an interview today because the bus I had to take (approx 7 miles) didn't start running until 730 and the journey time was an hour (yes you read that correctly) and the hours were 8-5, so I would be half an hour late every day. Non negotiable hours.

Not remotely helpful, I was just reminiscing about my 10 years of worrying about not getting a seat on the tube. Failed at life .

I commuted on the Northern Line for 3 years. I always found it fine. It's definitely not the worst! I moved after that to somewhere on the Central Line. Northern Line is 100% less awful!

I go from Kennington and a lot of people get on at Waterloo but there's usually space. It's only for a few stops so I wouldn't let that stop you

I’ve grown up in London and ironically always lived on the northern line and I don’t find it any worst than the other lines during rush hour...

And people need to remember another tube will come in like 2 or 3 mins...so even if you ant get on the first, another one is usually shortly behind.

Never heard of ‘The Misery Line’ either

Get the bus! Number 1 - far more civilised!

Northern line is fine and it’s such a short journey, even if it wasn’t I’d be surprised if anyone let a bad journey stop you from a good job.

Blimey it's not that bad! Ive travelled into work in the west end from East Finchley and Clapham, didn't think about it. Can't imagine turning a job down for 5 minutes on a particular tube line! 😂😂

I think you’d be ok in that section. Can you give it a trial run?
The worst bit for me was always the bank branch London Bridge to Old Street, a mad crush at London Bridge but it thins out by the time you get to old st/angel as lots of people get off at bank and Moorgate. The rest of it seemed ok! I was always baffled by people who get on at London Bridge and get off at bank, by the time you get down to the platform, queued to squeeze onto a train (sometimes waiting for 3-4 before you get on) you easily could’ve got a bus or walked..

I reckon it’d be ok as others will get off. It’s places like Clapham that are the absolute pits as everyone just gets on there.

I'm usually coming up from Tooting. I'll save you a seat in the front carriage.

To me nothing is worth the Northern Line north into central London from Clapham way... I used to have to wait for five trains sometimes before I could edge forward enough to squeeze on.

But then I lived in Hampstead and that end of things was fine.