Somebody hold my hand!

[littlemisscomper]

I'm going up to London, and I'm scared! I was raised in St Albans and we used to nip over there quite a bit but I've been stagnating (is that the word I want?) in the distant countryside for the last 16 years now. I've totally forgotten how to cope with The Big Smoke!

I need to get from Paddington station to Leicester square. Apparently I should do that by tube. The internet says the journey looks like this:

Paddington → Edgware Road → Baker Street → Great Portland Street → Euston Square → King’s Cross St. Pancras change train King’s Cross St. Pancras → Russell Square → Holborn → Covent Garden → Leicester Square

That's right yeah? But how do I physically do that? Is it really blindingly obvious when I step off the train at Paddington how to get to the circle Line tube thingy? Is the circle line tube platform right there in Paddington station? How do I get tube tickets, and how do I use them?

Tube station and signs to the right way will be blindingly obvious, and just ask, the staff are very helpful at directing you.

You can also now tap your credit card at the tube barrier on the way in and then on the way out and it will just charge your card, easy!

You can buy a train ticket that includes travel on the tube (travelcard?) then you would just use your train ticket to access the tube. Big signs to the tube station inside the station. You go down stairs / escalator

You can also now tap your credit card at the tube barrier on the way in

Only if it’s contactless. :)

But yes, signs on how to get to the different platforms are quite clear. Double check you are going the right way in the one though - again this is usually clear as they list the stations on the sign where you pick your platform.

And breathe...

You'll be fine, honestly. It's all well signposted & the staff are really helpful.

I'd go for using a contactless card rather than including the tube in your train tickets, it's likely to be more flexible. You just tap it on the yellow circle at the tube gate, & make sure you use the same card to get out at the other end. Then stand on the right on the escalator and you're sorted.

Once you're back on the surface there are big maps all over the place now, so you should have no problem finding where you need to go either

Signs are clear just be warned you need to change at edgewear road too but that's across the platform

Thanks guys! It's good to know about the contactless payment thing! How much will that whole journey cost me, from Paddington to Piccadilly?

Petalbird, so in this video (at 15:00) I would just step out of the train I'm on and directly into the one on in front of me?

Do you have a smart phone?

I use the tubemap and city mapper apps for getting around London.

There are signs all over the place in stations, everything will be easily signposted. And don't he afraid to ask people - we're not that scary! :)

One journey in Zone 1 costs £2.40. If you reach £6.80 your card will be capped for the day & any more journeys will be free.

It's best to avoid the rush hour if you can, but don't worry if you can't - you might just have to squeeze a bit.

Paddington to Leicester Square:

At Paddington train station follow signs to the Underground, Bakerloo Line. Take Bakerloo line Southbound. Get off at Piccadilly Circus and walk to Leicester Square (5 minute walk).

That suggested route you've got there from the internet is bonkers. If you can't face walking once you get to Piccadilly Circus then you can change on to the Northern Line and go 1 stop to Leicester Square. But, honestly, it will be quicker to walk.

Have a look on Google maps. It's more like 3 minutes walk than 5.

When you get out at Piccadilly Circus station, stand with the giant light display above Boots facing you from across the road. Turn right onto Coventry Street - you can see how near Leicester Square is on the map.

Yes was going to say the same as pp. just go to Piccadilly Circus on the bakerloo line then walk across to Leicester sq. Your planned route would be v stressful and take double the time. Enjoy, we don't bite

OP, if you have a smartphone, I'd really recommend downloading the app 'Citymapper'. It's free, and it makes travelling around London so easy and clear. You just tell it where you want to be, and it will show you loads of different ways of making the journey (so you can choose the quickest, or the cheapest, or the one that gets you out of the rain...). If you pick a route and hit the 'go' button it will walk you through all the steps, show you where you are on a map that updates as you go, and all sorts. I use it all the time and I am a Londoner.

I got my mum (who is very definitely NOT a Londoner) to use it, and it's given her loads of confidence getting around and about on her own.

To change tube lines.

Step off the train.
Look for the signage to the line you need to change to (colour coded).
Follow the signs.
When you get to the platforms, check the two big map signs (they're huge) to make sure you go to the correct platform (of two£.
Catch the train.

You don't need to change tube lines!!

Bakerloo line southbound to Piccadilly Circus. That is all you need to know, you'll be absolutely FINE.

Is this a joke

I think it's anxiety anna. Be kind.

Ah. Sorry.