High Street Kensington tube station
Circle line and District line · Zone 1 · Kensington and Chelsea
About High Street Kensington station
Parliament passed the Metropolitan and Metropolitan District railways’ bill in 1864, work started in 1865, and by 1867 a barrel roof designed by the Metropolitan’s engineer Sir John Fowler enclosed the platforms. The station, first titled Kensington, opened on 1 October 1868 with four lines, two for each railway. In 1906–1907 the Metropolitan’s consultant architect George Campbell Sherrin took off the barrel roof, sheltered the platforms under wooden canopies on iron columns and built a new octagonal booking hall over their north end, reached by an arcade from the High Street whose shop space went to the department stores Pontings and Derry & Toms. London Transport rebuilt the octagonal hall in 1937–1938 to increase its capacity.
There are four platforms: two through and two bays where District line trains from Earl’s Court terminate, platform 3 usually taking the weekend and special-event service to Kensington (Olympia). Just south of the station the Circle and District lines diverge. On platform 3 stands one of the few surviving K8 telephone kiosks, Grade II listed and no longer used by the public.
First and last trains from High Street Kensington
| Line and direction | Mon–Thu first – last | Friday first – last | Saturday first – last | Sunday first – last |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Circle towards Hammersmith (Circle and H&C lines), Aldgate or Gloucester Road | 05:16 to Gloucester Road – 00:38 | 05:16 to Gloucester Road – 00:38 | 05:16 to Gloucester Road – 00:38 | 07:15 to Aldgate – 00:10 to South Kensington |
| Circle towards Edgware Road (Circle line) | 05:43 – 00:34 | 05:43 – 00:34 | 05:43 – 00:34 | 07:30 – 00:25 to Baker Street |
| District towards Wimbledon, Ealing Broadway or Richmond | 05:28 – 00:52 to Ealing Broadway | 05:28 – 00:52 to Ealing Broadway | 05:28 – 00:52 to Ealing Broadway | 06:55 to Ealing Broadway – 00:18 to Earl's Court |
| District towards Edgware Road (Circle line) | 05:38 – 00:06 | 05:38 – 00:06 | 05:38 – 00:06 | 06:59 – 23:52 |
Times are TfL’s published timetable departures from this station; on Saturday the list follows TfL’s “Saturdays and public holidays” timetable.
At the busiest hour on a weekday there are up to 6 Circle trains an hour per direction and 10 District trains an hour per direction from High Street Kensington, counting both directions separately.
Next stations from High Street Kensington
Running times between High Street Kensington and the adjoining stations, from TfL’s timetable.
| Line | Next station | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Circle | Gloucester Road | 3.1 min |
| Circle | Notting Hill Gate | 2.3 min |
| District | Earl's Court | 2.8 min |
| District | Notting Hill Gate | 2.5 min |
Connections
- Tube: change here between the Circle line and District line.
Station facilities
What is near High Street Kensington station
The Kensington Arcade, about 30 m away, forms the entrance from Kensington High Street, with Marks & Spencer about 40 m off. The Roof Gardens are about 70 m from the station, St Mary Abbots Gardens and the High Street Kensington Farmers’ Market about 100 m, and Kensington Central Library about 120 m. Kensington Square and Kensington Town Hall are both about 200 m away, and Sambourne House, a museum, about 290 m.
| Place | Walk from the station |
|---|---|
| The Kensington Arcade | 30 m |
| The Roof Gardens | 70 m |
| Kensington Central Library | 120 m |
| Kensington Square | 200 m |
| Kensington Town Hall | 200 m |
| Sambourne House | 290 m |
| Marks & Spencer | 40 m |
| St Mary Abbots Gardens | 100 m |