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?

Honestly get the tube. It's so simple.

Ha ha to Leicester Square to Covent Garden. ANd there is always some silly person who decides to try the stairs at Covent Garden.

The advantage of the Circle Line is you can go either way and will get there eventually.

It’s a LONG way by bus.

It'll take 1.5 hours to walk, though the last half hour or so it's across Hyde Park so that but would be pleasant, if you're taking your time and an even longer walking route then you could duck into Regents Park on the way too. Check any maps app for directions.

You can also walk to Warren Street very quickly (15-20 min) and then get the 27 bus straight there.

The tube route isn't too bad, you can get the circle line straight round high you'd have to switch platform at Paddington to another circle line. As PP have said, just ask anyone for help who doesn't look like a tourist, mostly Londoners are happy to give directions.

I'm a Londoner who avoids the tube as much as possible and almost always takes the bus in preference.

Definitely echoing others' calls to download the free Citymapper app but you can play around with it online too King's Cross to High Street Ken, according to Citymapper.

Scroll down the page and hover over each of the options to see the route and start / end points. If you click on any of them you'll see more detailed options (including the bus stop, or which tube exit) - to go back to the page of other options look for "All Journey Results" near the top and click on that (the back button on your browser can be a bit unreliable for this).

You can also set the time / date of departure on the link I've given (see where it says 'Now' and change that).

The suggested tube route seems fairly straightforward and about half an hour.

The bus route is twice as long but involves less thinking (I can't be doing with thinking, I just want to stare at the scenery haha) and the example given involves a bus to Baker Street and another bus to High St Ken (other bus journeys are available).

Nearly every bus stop in central London has 'Countdown' to tell you how long the wait is for the next bus. If not make a note of this link, and plug in the bus stop's 5 digit code to get the info on a smartphone tfl.gov.uk/travel-information/stations-stops-and-piers/

Good luck :)
Jo

kings cross to kensington high street is a LONG way to walk. You do know londoners us the underground every day without a problem and that the virus also takes the bus. Also there are no direct buses so you will not only have to change buses but find the right bus stop. Better take the underground. Look at Journey planner so plan your journey on the tube (or buses if you decide to do so).

Get the tube. Wear gloves. Wash your hands.

Wow thanks everyone! I'm going to man the tube!!! At 30 I really should just be able to figure it out will def download citymapper.

The advantage of the Circle Line is you can go either way and will get there eventually

Indeed, you can as I know from experience.

ANd there is always some silly person who decides to try the stairs at Covent Garden

Doesn't everyone try it once ? And never again.

OP absolutely don't use the stairs if you are ever at Covent Garden !!!

I can honestly say I have never, ever been tempted to try the stairs at CG!

Millions of us are still using the tube, it’s no more a ticking time bomb than anywhere else.

I did the stairs at Covent Garden about 10 years ago for reasons I no longer remember. Very, very bad idea.

The advantage of the Circle Line is you can go either way and will get there eventually

The circle line isn’t a circle anymore so this isn’t entirely true.

Best route would probably be westbound Circle or Hammersmith and City from Kings Cross to Edgware Road (pay attention and DON’T get on a Metropolitan line and end up in Finchley Road like I’ve done before) Then switch to another Westbound Circle or District (you’ll probably need to cross platform and make sure it’s not a circle to Hammersmith - they’ll make it clear) to High Street Ken.

The Hammersmith and City/Circle/District are so much more pleasant and less claustrophobic that the deep lines like Victoria and Northern etc.

Oh, and if you’re left handed, make sure you don’t try to open the ticket barrier with your oyster/contactless/ticket in your left hand! I did that the very first time I went to London 20 years ago and watched the barrier next to me open and close and I had to go and ask TFL staff to let me out!

I used to work at Covent Garden. I always took the stairs. I liked them

@Mockerswithnoknockers unfortunately not any more. I've always said they should have renamed it the Spiral line when they changed it!

Good luck OP - you'll be fine!