What Line Is Great Portland Street On?
Great Portland Street is a key Central London location, connecting the West End with significant areas like Marylebone and Fitzrovia. It is home to the Great Portland Street Underground Station, which serves as an important transit hub.
On the northern end of this street is the Great Portland Street Underground Station that lies on the Circle, Hammersmith & City, and Metropolitan Lines, forming part of a heavily trafficked section of the London Underground. These lines share tracks, offering seamless connections across central London and beyond.
History of Great Portland Street Station
Great Portland Street Station opened on 10th January 1863 as “Portland Road” and was part of the Metropolitan Railway, the world’s first underground railway. Over time, it underwent several name changes, finally adopting the name Great Portland Street in 1933. The original structure was replaced by a new building in 1930, situated on a traffic island at the intersection of Great Portland Street, Marylebone Road and Albany Street.
The Great Portland Street Station was designed by C.W. Clark, known for his work on several Metropolitan Railway stations. This building is noted for its cream faience cladding, a mansard roof, and Free Classical architectural style. The façade was carefully repaired and cleaned in recent restoration efforts, with faience tiles replaced and metalwork restored. These efforts help preserve the Grade II listed status of this unique elliptical station building.
As one of the world’s first underground railways, the Great Portland Street Station was critical in shaping London’s underground network. The station operates along the network’s busiest track sections between Baker Street and Aldgate Junction. Thanks to the seamless connections to major hubs and access to both day and night buses, the station continues to support London’s growth by enhancing central connectivity and easing travel across London’s busiest districts.
What Tube Line is Great Portland Street On?
The Great Portland Street station serves the Circle, Metro, and Hammersmith & City lines and is located in Travelcard Zone 1. Each of these lines handles high passenger traffic, as highlighted below:
The Circle Line
The Circle line is marked in yellow on the Tube map and operates a loop from Hammersmith to Edgware Road, passing through London’s key central areas. It covers 36 stations over 27 km, serving important hubs like King’s Cross St Pancras, Liverpool Street, and Victoria. The line features shallow tunnels and shares tracks with the Metropolitan, District, and Hammersmith & City lines. With six trains per hour (tph) in clockwise and anticlockwise directions, the Circle Line connects to significant rail terminals and popular tourist destinations. This makes it a crucial service for commuters, travellers, and visitors.
The Hammersmith & City Line
The Hammersmith & City line links Hammersmith in the west with Barking in the east, covering 29 stations along 25.5 km. This line is recognised by its pink colour on the Tube map. It passes through critical areas, including the City of London’s financial district. As noted earlier, the line shares tracks with other sub-surface lines like the Circle and District, ensuring smooth travel through central and eastern London. There are 6 trains per hour serving this line eastbound to Barking and westbound to Hammersmith. Like the other lines, the Hammersmith & City Line offers frequent services, connecting commuters and tourists to business centres, landmarks, and busy interchanges like Paddington and Liverpool Street.
The Metropolitan Line
The Metropolitan line, commonly called the Met, is distinguished by its magenta colour. It stretches from Aldgate in the City of London to Amersham, Chesham, Watford, and Uxbridge. This line covers 66.7 km, offering vital links between the city and suburban areas like Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire.
The Met is known for its express service during peak times. Hence, it allows commuters to travel quickly, achieving speeds of up to 100 km/h. With peak and off-peak services operating up to 14 tph and 12 tph, respectively, this line plays a crucial role in serving office workers and suburban residents.
Connections and Nearby Stations
Great Portland Street station provides seamless access to several key underground stations. Regent’s Park on the Bakerloo line is only a short walk away, connecting passengers to Oxford Circus, which offers interchanges with the Bakerloo, Victoria, and Central lines.
Another nearby station is Warren Street, accessible on the Northern and Victoria lines and links travellers to destinations like Euston and University College Hospital. For longer trips, King’s Cross St Pancras is also accessible, providing connections to national and international rail services. Together, these nearby stations offer smooth travel through central London, ensuring passengers have multiple options for both local and regional commutes.
Great Portland Street station provides seamless access to several key underground stations. Regent’s Park on the Bakerloo line is only a short walk away, connecting passengers to Oxford Circus, which offers interchanges with the Bakerloo, Victoria, and Central lines.
Another nearby station is Warren Street, accessible on the Northern and Victoria lines and links travellers to destinations like Euston and University College Hospital. For longer trips, King’s Cross St Pancras is also accessible, providing connections to national and international rail services. Together, these nearby stations offer smooth travel through central London, ensuring passengers have multiple options for both local and regional commutes.
Nearby Attractions
A short distance from Great Portland Street is Regent’s Park, a sprawling 410-acre Royal Park known for its ornamental lake, open spaces, and the London Zoo. Another nearby attraction is Madame Tussauds, a world-renowned wax museum featuring life-like sculptures of celebrities and historical figures.
Dining and Shopping Spots
The vibrant Fitzrovia Quarter near Great Portland Street offers a mix of shops, galleries and wellness hubs. A quick stroll takes you to Oxford Street and Regent Street for premium shopping experiences. If you are looking for a spot to dine and unwind, there are several restaurants, coffee shops and lively pubs dotting the streets of Fitzrovia Quarter.
From Great Portland Street Station, you’re within easy walking distance of Oxford Circus, The Regent’s Park, and cultural hubs like Madame Tussauds. The proximity to King’s Cross and Fitzrovia’s thriving neighbourhood means you can easily access long-distance commutes, dining, shopping, and entertainment hotspots in central London.