London City Guide

Holborn ⇄ South Kensington Station | Tube Journey, Train Times & Fares

The journey from Holborn to South Kensington is in fare zone 1 and it’s a direct train on the Piccadilly tube line

  1. From Holborn take the Piccadilly Line
  2. Leave the train at South Kensington

Number of tube stops: 7 · Journey time: Approx 14 mins

Stations on the route: Holborn ➜ Covent Garden ➜ Leicester Square ➜ Piccadilly Circus ➜ Green Park ➜ Hyde Park Corner ➜ Knightsbridge ➜ South Kensington

London Underground tube delays

Strikes and station closures

First and last train times on the Piccadilly line

Tube times for the Piccadilly line

Alternative routes include Holborn to Gloucester Road, Holborn to Knightsbridge and Holborn to Sloane Square

Stairs, lifts and escalators to the station platforms

Holborn tube station is not wheelchair accessible

South Kensington station is not wheelchair accessible

Holborn station entrance – You must use an escalator plus one flight of stairs from the entrance to the platforms (19 steps down to the Central eastbound platform, or 20 steps down to the Central westbound/​Piccadilly southbound platforms, or 22 steps down to the Piccadilly northbound platform)

South Kensington station exit – You must use two flights of stairs down from the Circle/​District line platforms to the booking hall (12 steps up +13 steps up), or use two escalators plus one flight of stairs from the Piccadilly line platforms (17 steps down to the eastbound, or 20 steps up to the westbound platform). After that you must use another two flights of stairs to the Pelham Street/​Thurloe Street exits (3 steps up +13 steps up), or use three flights plus walk through a long subway to the National History Museum exit (8 steps down +16 steps up +15 steps up), or use three flights plus walk through a long subway to the Science Museum exit (8 steps down +14 steps up +10 steps up), or use three flights plus walk through a long subway to the Ismaili Centre exit (8 steps down +2x14 steps up)

The journey from South Kensington to Holborn is in fare zone 1 and it’s a direct train on the Piccadilly tube line

  1. From South Kensington take the Piccadilly Line
  2. Leave the train at Holborn

Number of tube stops: 7 · Journey time: Approx 12 mins

Stations on the route: South Kensington ➜ Knightsbridge ➜ Hyde Park Corner ➜ Green Park ➜ Piccadilly Circus ➜ Leicester Square ➜ Covent Garden ➜ Holborn

London Underground tube delays

Strikes and station closures

First and last train times on the Piccadilly line

Tube times for the Piccadilly line

Alternative routes include South Kensington to Gloucester Road, South Kensington to Knightsbridge and South Kensington to Sloane Square

Stairs, lifts and escalators to the station platforms

South Kensington underground station is not wheelchair accessible

Holborn station is not wheelchair accessible

South Kensington station entrance – You must use two flights of stairs from the Pelham Street/​Thurloe Street entrances to the booking hall (13 steps down +3 steps down), or use three flights plus walk through a long subway from the National History Museum entrance (15 steps down +16 steps down +8 steps up), or use three flights plus walk through a long subway from the Science Museum entrance (10 steps down +14 steps down +8 steps up), or use three flights plus walk through a long subway from the Ismaili Centre entrance (2x14 steps down +8 steps up). After that you must use another two flights of stairs down to the Circle/​District line platforms (13 steps down +12 steps down), or use two escalators plus one flight of stairs to the Piccadilly line platforms (17 steps up to the eastbound, or 20 steps down to the westbound platform)

Holborn station exit – You must use an escalator plus one flight of stairs from the platforms to the exit (19 steps up from the Central eastbound platform, or 20 steps up from the Central westbound/​Piccadilly southbound platforms, or 22 steps up from the Piccadilly northbound platform)

Tube fare between Holborn and South Kensington

This tube journey is in Oyster zone 1. The cheapest fare is £2.70 off-peak (£2.80 peak) when you pay by Oyster or contactless. There’s no return fare, you just pay the same as two single tickets

Cost of tube fare from Holborn ⇄ South Kensington Station | Tube Journey, Train Times & Fares
Fare zone Cash Oyster & Contactless cards
Single fare Single fare Daily cap
Peak Off-peak Peak Off-peak
Zone 1 fare £6.70 £2.80 £2.70 £8.50 £8.50
Travelcard prices from Holborn ⇄ South Kensington Station | Tube Journey, Train Times & Fares
Fare Zone Travelcards (Train, Bus & Tram)
One day travel­card Week travel­card Month travel­card
Anytime Off-peak
Zone 1-2 travelcard n/a n/a £42.70 £164
Zone 1-4 travelcard £15.90 n/a £61.40 £235.80
Zone 1-6 travelcard £22.60 £15.90 £78 £299
Zone 1-9 travelcard £28.50 £17 £111.30 £427.40
See our complete list of London Underground prices, Pensioner prices, Children’s prices, Oyster card prices, Contactless card prices and Travelcard prices
Note: Tube journey prices are correct as of

Peak and off-peak journey times

For Oyster and contactless off-peak is outside the hours of 6.30 AM-9.30 AM and 4 PM-7 PM (Mon-Fri). For travelcards it’s any time after 9.30 AM (Mon-Fri). Weekends are always classed as off-peak. Note: Between the 8th March and 31st May 2024 TFL are running a trial called ‘Off-Peak Friday Fares’, where Fridays will be classed as off-peak all day.

The fare is based on what time your journey begins. It doesn’t matter what time your journey ends.

Other ways to make this journey

Travel on foot – The distance to Holborn is about three miles. It would take you around 57-63 minutes

Travel by bus – Single fare: £1.75 (you may need more than one bus); Daily cap: £5.25; Weekly cap: £24.70; 1-day travelcard: £6; Weekly travelcard: £24.70 – Adult bus prices 2024 · Pensioner bus prices 2024 · Children’s bus prices 2024

Travel by taxi – The three mile taxi ride between South Kensington train station and Holborn station should cost between £14.30 and £24.60 and take about 13-25 mins

Travel by carCar parks near Holborn station and South Kensington