The fastest route between King’s Cross St Pancras and South Kensington

I’ve commuted via King’s Cross St Pancras to Imperial College’s South Kensington Campus for about a decade now, but have only recently discovered what I believe to be the fastest possible route between those two London stations. King’s Cross St Pancras to South Kensington takes me about 20 minutes, and the return journey takes about 17.

From King’s Cross St Pancras to South Kensington

I’ll assume you’re standing outside King’s Cross railway station. Enter the Underground station via the entrance shown in the photo below.

Starting point outside King’s Cross railway station.

There are two things you need to know about the King’s Cross St Pancras Underground station: one is that they built a new ticket hall in 2009 (the ‘northern’ ticket hall), and the other is that you should never use it. Wherever you’re coming from and wherever you’re going, if you find yourself in the northern ticket hall then you’ve gone the long way round.

So although you’re aiming for the Victoria line, you shouldn’t actually follow the signs that tell you to go right for the Victoria line. They’ll take you via the northern ticket hall. Instead, go left.

The sign says go right for the Victoria line, but you should go left.

This will take you to another ticket hall (the ‘Tube’ ticket hall). From this point, you can safely follow the signs for the Victoria line (southbound). Once you step onto the platform, don’t be tempted to move; you’ll want to get on the train at its frontmost door.

Stand here on the southbound Victoria line platform.

Get off the train at Victoria. You are now aiming for the District and Circle lines. In front of you is a sign inviting you to walk back along the platform if you want the District and Circle lines. It is a lie. Ignore it, and follow the signs for National Rail instead.

This sign is a lie.

You will soon see another sign insisting that you are on a route with no access to the District and Circle lines. It is also a lie. Ignore it, and proceed up the escalator in front of you.

This sign is also a lie.

At the top of the escalator, turn left, then left again to go down another escalator. You can now follow signs for the District and Circle lines (westbound).

Follow the signs for the District and Circle lines (westbound).

You’ll want to board the train at the front of the third car. This requires you to walk left along the platform until the ground under your feet looks like the photo below.

Stand here on the westbound District and Circle lines platform.

When you get off the train at South Kensington you should find the stairs directly in front of you. (Unfortunately this station has no step-free exit.)

From South Kensington to King’s Cross St Pancras

Starting at the ticket hall of the South Kensington Underground station, take the stairs down to the District and Circle lines platform. You’re heading eastbound, so keep left at the bottom of the stairs. Keep walking straight ahead, until you’re most of the way along the platform. You’ll want to board the train at the back of the second car, which means you should stand outside the green door of the Customer Service Manager’s office.

Stand here on the eastbound District and Circle lines platform.

Get off the train at Victoria and follow the signs for the Victoria line (northbound). When you step onto the platform you’ll want to turn left and head all the way down to the far end, so you can board the train at the very rear. This puts you in the right position to make a quick exit at King’s Cross St Pancras, being sure – as always – to avoid that northern ticket hall!