To ask for London tube help?

[BearBearBearBear]

I'm going to London this weekend by myself for the first time ever (big girl pants - I know!) and I need to get from kings cross to Kensington high street.

Now, I know I could get the tube but frankly I'm shit and panic that I can't use my phone(and coronavirus).

Could anyone tell me whether a bus is easy? Or roughly the cost in a cab? Uber's quoting 16-22 but last time I got an Uber we were stuck in traffic and I had a huge bill!

Failing this has anyone walked it? Is it easy if I follow the maps on my phone?

Get the City Mapper App - it’s great for bus planning, even tells you which side of the road to stand to get the bus. TFL website also good for route planning. Kings X to Kensington is a very long walk!

Best thing to do is download the Citymapper app. This will show you a load of different ways to get there, and how long it will take, which bus to get etc.

Just get the tube. Screenshot your route so you have it to hand. And the tube has free wifi at the stations so worst case scenario you can always get off the train and double check things. The tube is just a train - nothing to freak out about

its 3 buses or a 5 mile walk - honestly just get the tube

The bus will take over an hour. The tube is 35 mins

Tube is Victoria line to Victoria, circle/district to High St Ken. Would take less than half an hour. There is wifi on some tube routes.

Or follow the link below and specify start postcode, end postcode and timings. You can also select to travel by bus only max walking distance etc.

tfl.gov.uk/plan-a-journey/

Don't walk, bloody hell!

You're just as likely to get the coronavirus on the bus as you are on the tube. The Victoria line is extremely efficient and it's honestly a really straight-forward journey, as described above. And you pick up wifi on the tube at loads of stations now (you don't have to register or anything).

You're more likely to get stuck in traffic in an Uber on Saturday (no congestion charge) but central London definitely feels a bit emptier at the moment so you could take a chance.

As PPs have said - download CityMapper - if you activate your route once you're on the bus it will even tell you when to get off.

But also get the tube - it's much quicker

Also, you need to factor in the time of day you are travelling - even now post rush hour the bus will take an hour. Uber has just quoted me £13-£16

Get the tube!! I totally understand your "fear" but actually it'll make you feel like you've achieved something once you get to the other end. And it's easy enough to get off and change direction if you find yourself on the wrong train.

OP, look at TFL journey planner - that will give you many options (including walking) and each option allows you to show details such as which bus stop, how many stops etcetera.

This will give you a starting point - write it down if you are worried about not being able to use your phone on tube. Also, my late dad gave me a very useful piece of advice regarding public transport. It was simply that people don’t look up enough - the signs are all there, but people look down. And this from a man who had very limited sight, and was a complete expert on the tube system!

Obviously, very thorough hand washing and drying is a must, along with avoiding touching your face if possible.

Good luck, and have a great weekend - you can do this on public transport without breaking the bank!

You can get the circle line from Kings Cross to High Street Ken. It’s not a deep line - you might actually be above ground and it’s generally less crowded. It should take 40 minutes
tfl.gov.uk/plan-a-journey/results?JpType=publictransport&InputFrom=King%27s+Cross+&From=King%27s+Cross+&FromId=1000129&InputTo=High+Street+Kensington+Underground+Station&To=High+Street+Kensington+Underground+Station&ToId=1000110&TimeIs=departing&Date=20200314&Time=1015&Mode=tube&JourneyPreference=leastinterchange&Via=

Don’t just navigate via the underground though, sometimes it is quicker and nicer to walk. London on foot is delightful if you do it right.

If you really don’t want to get the tube. Walk from Kings Cross to Warren Street Station. (Junction of Tottenham Court Road and Euston Rd A501) and get the 27 towards Hammersmith Grove. That bus goes to Kensington High St.

It’s about a 10 min walk to WS from KC.

I also recommend getting the tube from Kings X. It is far too long to walk from there to Kensington High Street!

Please just get on the tube! It's so much easier and does have wifi as a PP noted, there are maps and staff to help if you get lost!

@Fanthorpe Yes, walking in London can be lovely - I do it every day. But a 1.5 hour walk instead of a 30 minute tube journey is mad.

Ah no @squeaver, I wasn’t clear. I was referring to the common mistake that visitors make of assuming that the underground is the easiest way to navigate. Leicester Square to Covent Garden for example. Look at the physical map as well as the tfl one!

Don't be intimidated by the tube OP. There are network maps on the walls at every station, and diagrams at the entrance to each platform that show which station you're at and what the next stops are from that platform (so you don't go in the right direction). Take your time and look at them carefully. You can also download maps of the tube network onto your phone. Enjoy your trip and don't forget some hand sanitiser.

@fanthorpe Very true! You've reminded me of that very useful map that shows you the walking distances.

OP - you should look at this too.

Get the tube!

Circle line from Kings X St Pancras (next door to Kings X) right round to HSK. You might have to change at Edgware Road but it’s an above ground / very straightforward change (probably just crossing from one side of the platform to the other).

(You’ll want Westbound platform at Kings Cross St Pancras).

Rather than Uber, download the Addison Lee app. Prices are fixed and will not change if you get stuck in traffic.

Victoria Line to Green Park, change to the Piccadilly to South Ken. Then it's a couple of stops to High St Ken, or you can walk. There'll be a map at South Ken station showing the local area, including High St Ken.

If in doubt, ask tube staff and even the great British London public. Tube staff are generally a delight and Londoners are actually quite friendly

Just agreeing with every one else. Victoria line southbound from King's Cross to Victoria , then the Circle line westbound to Kensington High Street.

(Although must admit the Circle line is my least favourite line having occasionally taken it the wrong way round to where I wanted to be)