crossrail journey times paddington to bond street

Crossrail: New Elizabeth line journey time calculator on Citymapper shows how quick trips will be

After much anticipation, Londoners can now plan their trips according to the incoming Elizabeth line

• 19:34, 29 APR 2022
• Updated 11:46, 4 MAY 2022

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Just four years and £19 billion later, the brand-new Elizabeth line is set to open in a matter of weeks. The huge trans-London trainline will make journeys across the capital from until-now badly connected areas much quicker and easier. Transport for London's (TfL) initial Crossrail project will also decongest other lines, meaning other London Underground lines will be less cramped and, if all goes well, less delayed.

TfL has announced today (May 4) that the first stage of the new line will open on May 24 . Phase 1 covers the Paddington to Abbey Wood section of the line, which is set to run every five minutes. Phase 2 - covering Reading and Heathrow Airport to Paddington - will open later in the autumn.

In advance of the opening, mapping service Citymapper has created a journey time calculator for the Elizabeth line to show just how quick trips across the capital will now be.

Here is a breakdown of journey times between each station once the first phase of the Elizabeth line opens.

READ MORE: Forget more London Underground stations - what South London really needs is Thameslink 2 linking Croydon, Lewisham, Canary Wharf and Stratford

Elizabeth line journey times from Abbey Wood

Current: 7 minutes

Elizabeth line: 6 minutes

Custom House

Current: 41 minutes

Elizabeth line: 8 minutes

Canary Wharf

Current: 35 minutes

Elizabeth line: 11 minutes

Whitechapel

Current: 52 minutes

Elizabeth line: 15 minutes

Liverpool Street

Current: 43 minutes

Elizabeth line: 18 minutes

Elizabeth line: 20 minutes

Tottenham Court Road

Current: 55 minutes

Elizabeth line: 23 minutes

Bond Street

Current: 48 minutes

Elizabeth line: 26 minutes

Current: 58 minutes

Elizabeth line: 29 minutes

Elizabeth line journey times from Woolwich

Current: 28 minutes

Elizabeth line: 2 minutes

Current: 23 minutes

Elizabeth line: 5 minutes

Current: 32 minutes

Elizabeth line: 9 minutes

Elizabeth line: 12 minutes

Elizabeth line: 14 minutes

Current: 40 minutes

Current: 22 minutes

Elizabeth line: 22 minutes

Elizabeth line journey times from Custom House

Elizabeth line: 3 minutes

Current: 26 minutes

Elizabeth line: 7 minutes

Current: 34 minutes

Elizabeth line: 10 minutes

Current: 39 minutes

Current: 38 minutes

Current: 33 minutes

Current: 47 minutes

Elizabeth line journey times from Canary Wharf

Current: 17 minutes

Elizabeth line: 4 minutes

Current: 30 minutes

Current: 27 minutes

Elizabeth line: 17 minutes

Elizabeth line journey times from Whitechapel

Current: 10 minutes

Current: 12 minutes

Current: 31 minutes

Elizabeth line: 13 minutes

Elizabeth line journey times from Liverpool Street

Current: 15 minutes

Elizabeth line journey times from Farringdon

Current: 18 minutes

Elizabeth line journey times from Tottenham Court Road

Current: 16 minutes

Elizabeth line journey times from Bond Street

Elizabeth line journey times from paddington.

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NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

How long will the new Elizabeth Line take to travel across London? Projected journey times

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Getting around London on the underground can be a lengthy process with delays, tube strikes , baffling routes and temporary line closures.

Thankfully, the Elizabeth Line has finally partially opened , albeit several years late, with the new Crossrail system promising to cut down commute times.

Upon completion of the £18.8 billion project, the Travel for London (TfL) service will link 41 stations over 100 kilometres from Reading and Heathrow in the west, through central London, to Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east.

And now, commuters and those heading on their summer holidays may be delighted to learn that the Heathrow Terminal 4 station has opened.

So, how long will the journeys take on the Elizabeth Line , both within the city and across the rest of the line?

How long will the Elizabeth Line take to travel from central London to Heathrow Terminal 4?

According to the Crossrail website , Elizabeth Line services from Paddington, in central London, to Heathrow Airport will ‘run every 30 minutes’, with journeys taking roughly 35 minutes each way.

Currently, the route from Paddington to Heathrow Terminal 4 comprises several stops:

• Acton Main Line
• Ealing Broadway
• West Ealing
• Hayes & Harlington
• Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3
• Heathrow Terminal 4

From Monday to Friday, the connection from central London to Heathrow terminals from 4.53am for Terminals 2, 3 and 4. The last Elizabeth Line tube to Heathrow terminals will depart from Paddington at 11.17pm.

On Saturdays, you can head from Paddington to Heathrow from 4.45am, with the last departure leaving Paddington at 11.18pm.

How long will the new Crossrail take to travel across London?

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The Elizabeth Line promises to give 1.5 million more people access to central London within 45 minutes, as well as reducing journey times across the capital.

To reach this goal, the project has required 42 kilometres of new tunnels, 10 new stations, over 50 kilometres of new track.

Here is a breakdown of the sections of the line, projected journey times, as well as when they are expected to begin operating.

Central section: May 2022

Trains will start at Paddington in the West and go through to Abbey Wood and will pass through such stations as Liverpool Street and Canary Wharf.

Example journey times:

• Bond Street to Liverpool Street: Seven minutes
• Woolwich to Farringdon: 14 minutes
• Paddington to Canary Wharf: 17 minutes

New Tube map just dropped 👇 pic.twitter.com/oJdFBzCevd — TfL (@TfL) May 19, 2022

East section: Autumn 2022

This section will run from Liverpool Street station to Shenfield   in Essex, passing through east London areas such as Stratford and Romford.

• Stratford to Bond Street: 15 minutes
• Romford to Liverpool Street: 27 minutes

Eventually, passengers will be able to travel from Reading and Heathrow through central London to Shenfield or Abbey Wood without needing to change trains.

West section: Autumn 2022

This route will begin at Paddington   mainline station and will split after Hayes & Harlington.

One branch will carry on to Maidenhead and Reading and the other to Heathrow   airport terminals.

• Tottenham Court Road to Ealing Broadway: 13 minutes
• Paddington to Slough: 26 minutes

It should be noted that these times are estimations at this point, with the final version of the timetable is expected to be in place by May 2023.

MORE : These are the stations on the Elizabeth Line you can’t use your Oyster card

MORE : Does the Elizabeth Line run on Saturday and Sunday?

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Where does the Elizabeth Line go? Crossrail route map, full list of new stops and TfL journey times explained

At first, the elizabeth line will only operate between paddington and abbey wood.

After years of delays caused by Covid restrictions and overambitious deadlines , the new Elizabeth Line will open on 24 May running with a partially operating service.

The Government and Transport for London (TfL) have confirmed that the new line will be opening just in time for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

It is hoped that the Elizabeth Line will boost capacity and cut journey times for travel across the capital, TfL has said.

Where does the Elizabeth Line go?

The Elizabeth line  will run through the centre of London,  spreading out to four peripheral final destinations – Reading, Heathrow, Shenfield and Abbey Wood.

The line also travels through popular towns such as Maidenhead, Slough, Ilford, and Brentwood.

At first, the Elizabeth line will only operate between Paddington and Abbey Wood from 6.30am to 11pm every day except Sundays, when it will be closed.

By Autumn, the lines should open to serve all stations at an increased timetable.

Crossrail route map

TfL have released an official map showing the route of the Elizabeth line . For a full high resolution map, click here.

Full list of new Elizabeth line stops

The new Crossrail line will cover 41 stations (not in order):

• West Drayton
• Hayes & Harlington
• West Ealing
• Ealing Broadway
• Acton Main Line
• Bond Street
• Tottenham Court Road
• Liverpool Street
• Whitechapel
• Forest Gate
• Seven Kings
• Chadwell Heath
• Harold Wood
• Canary Wharf
• Custom House
• Heathrow Airport Terminals 2 & 3
• Heathrow Airport Terminal 4
• Heathrow Airport Terminal 5

Crossrail journey times

Service will start with 12 trains an hour (a train every 5 minutes) running between Paddington and Abbey Wood.

The line will not run on Sundays, however this will change in the autumn. A special service will operate on Sunday 5 June between 8am and 10pm to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee .

Most Read By Subscribers

Crossrail's arrival at Paddington

Updated March 2023

As we celebrate the opening of the Elizabeth Line, here’s a glimpse of what to expect at Paddington. The new railway runs for over 100km from Heathrow and Reading in the west through to Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east, serving 41 stations along the route, including 10 major new stations. The Elizabeth Line is part of the Transport for London network, with tube, DLR, overground and mainline station interchanges.

When fully open the line will increase central London’s rail capacity by 10%, bringing an additional 1.5 million people within 45 minutes of central London.

When is it opening?

The central section of the Elizabeth Line opened on Tuesday 24 May 2022.

From 6 November 2022

Transport for London announced on 23 August that the next phase, involving through running, will commence on 6 November 2022. This marks the point at which the railway will run on Sundays and become two lines, running directly from Reading in the west to Abbey Wood in the east, without having to change at Paddington, and from Shenfield in the east to Paddington, without having to change at Liverpool Street. At peak times 24 trains will run per hour on the central section between Paddington and Whitechapel.

Initially the Elizabeth Line will operate as three separate lines, with passengers changing at Paddington and Liverpool Street.

Services to Paddington and from Liverpool Street to Shenfield branded TfL Rail have become the Elizabeth Line. The central section will cover Paddington to Abbey Wood. To go further east or west of these points passengers will have to change at Paddington for the west and Liverpool Street for the east. There will be 12 trains per hour in this central section at this stage.

Opening Phases

Transport for London announced on 23 August that the next phase, involving through running, will commence on 6 November 2022. This marks the point at which the railway will run on Sundays and become two lines, running directly from Reading in the west to Abbey Wood in the east, without having to change at Paddington, and from Shenfield in the east to Paddington, without having to change at Liverpool Street. At peak times 24 trains will run per hour on the central section between Paddington and Whitechapel. Bond Street station opened on 24 October.

Ahead of the autumn changes, from Monday 5 September, extended opening hours run on the Elizabeth line between Paddington and Abbey Wood from around 05:30 to around 23:00.

The third and final stage will see a fully integrated railway and timetable, across the entire Elizabeth Line. This is set for Sunday 21 May 2023.

Elizabeth Line Trains

• A fleet of 70 200-metre long spacious, walk-through trains will run on the Elizabeth Line.
• Each train can carry 1,500 passengers.
• All 41 stations are step-free to platform level.
• Stations are future-proofed, able to accommodate an additional two carriages per train.
• Air-conditioning, Wi-Fi, CCTV and real-time travel information feature in each carriage.
• Three sets of double doors per carriage enable easy boarding, with platform doors Jubilee-line style.

Paddington’s Elizabeth Line Station

Each of the 10 new stations on the Elizabeth Line takes its cue from its surrounding environment and at Paddington you will see nods to the work of Isambard Kingdom Brunel and Matthew Digby Wyatt, creators of Paddington’s Grade 1 listed mainline station. A 10-foot grid pattern echoes Brunel’s engineering heritage. Circular lights the shape of lily pads are inspired by Wyatt’s geometric designs.

A 90-metre opening leads down into the station, which is spacious enough to accommodate the Shard on its side, or three Wembley Stadiums.

Above the station a 120-metre long glass canopy sits 10 metres above ground, spilling natural light into the station and even down to platform level below. In keeping with Crossrail’s ambition of bringing breath-taking art into every new station, the canopy is decorated to mimic the sky, featuring every type of cloud. Spencer Finch’s Cloud Index presents 27 different types of cloud within a single composition. The drawings were scanned and then printed onto 180 clear glass panels (each 2 metres x 6 metres) and installed in the canopy of the station.

Entrances can be found on Eastbourne Terrace, and in three places along Paddington Station’s western flank, parallel to platform 1. Each end of the Elizabeth Line station leads to street level, to the north at Bishop’s Bridge Road and to the south at Praed Street.

A dedicated link to the Bakerloo Line below Paddington station's concourse provides step free access from the Bakerloo Line for the first time. You will recognise the pattern in the Bakerloo link tunnel from the intricate tracery all too familiar in Paddington’s mainline station.

Journey Times

Paddington to Tottenham Court Road in five minutes, to Farringdon in nine minutes, to Liverpool Street in 11 minutes and Canary Wharf is an impressive 18 minutes. Oysters at the ready!

Onward Journeys

Arriving at Paddington's Elizabeth Line station passengers have a number of options to reach their destination:

• For the Heathrow Express follow the exit signs and head into Paddington mainline station to find non-stop, dedicated services to Heathrow Airport on platforms 6 and 7.
• For trains to Wales, Thames Valley, the West Country and the South West follow the exit signs and head into Paddington main station for GWR services.
• For the Bakerloo Line follow the signs within the Elizabeth Line station for the direct step-free link to Bakerloo Line trains.
• For the Circle, District and Hammersmith and City Lines head into Paddington mainline station.

For onward journeys on foot within Paddington, passengers are encouraged to exit the Elizabeth Line station and head north towards Bishop's Bridge Road for Paddington Central . For Canalside Walk and Merchant Square walking times through the mainline station might be quicker, and use the canalside exit next to the Hammersmith and City Line.

For Sussex Gardens, Connaught Village and routes through to the West End, head south from the Elizabeth Line station towards Praed Street.

A sneak peek of other Elizabeth Line stations

Before passengers arrive, take a look at some of the other stations on the central section. Farringdon on the left, Tottenham Court Road on the right.

Liverpool Street's Elizabeth Line station hosts one of the new incline lifts, seen below. The totems also serve as emergency lighting.

Canary Wharf

Canary Wharf's Elizabeth Line station sits above North Dock, topped by a roof garden. Its architecture takes reference from the dock-related maritime heritage. The glass framing the eight escalators to platform level are canary yellow coloured.

Related Content

Crossrail tunnels reached at paddington, brunel’s great western railway revealed.

Homes & Property | Property News

Elizabeth Line map: London Crossrail route, cost and the date the full service will open

The Crossrail project has officially launched, with passengers taking the first trains from Abbey Wood and Paddington just after 6.30am on Tuesday 24 May.

The £20 billion project connects the outer western edges of the capital to the outer east.

Currently the high-speed transport link is operating in three sections — the western section between Reading, Heathrow and Paddington, the central section between Paddington and Abbey Wood, and the eastern section between Liverpool Street and Shenfield.

On 6 November, the next phase of the Elizabeth line will launch: integrating services from the east and west into the central tunnels. The three sections will be brought together, enabling passengers to travel from Reading and Heathrow through central London to Shenfield or Abbey Wood without changing trains.

In preparation for this next stage, and the launch of a seven-day service across the whole line, services between Paddington and Abbey Wood will operate for longer, from 5.30am until around 11pm, each day from 5 September.

The final version of the timetable across the entire line is expected to be in place by May 2023.

The Crossrail effect: property price growth along the Elizabeth line

Now that trains are running along the route, the service is officially called the Elizabeth line .

Bond Street station will open for the Elizabeth line in autumn this year according to TfL commissioner Andy Byford.

What is the Elizabeth line?

It has been billed as the capital's biggest and most important transport upgrade since the expansion of the Tube network over 100 years ago and promises to change the lives of millions of Londoners and commuters.

The route will pass through 41 stations, stretching over 60 miles, from Reading and Heathrow airport in the west through central London to Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east.

More than 1.4 billion Tube journeys were made in 2018/2019, according to TfL. It is hoped that the new service will ease the burden on the network while also catering for a London population that’s growing by 100,000 a year.

It's thought more than 200 million passengers will use the Elizabeth line each year.

Nine new stations are being built as part of the project, at Paddington, Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road, Farringdon, Liverpool Street, Whitechapel, Canary Wharf, Custom House and Woolwich.

An existing station at Abbey Wood has been redeveloped for Crossrail.

Elizabeth line delays and costs

The original funding allocated for Crossrail was £14.6 billion in 2010. In 2018 this was revised to £17.6 billion.

Just three months before the anticipated 2018 opening ceremony the first of the delays was announced, with the most recent of these declaring that the central section of the line would open by the end of June 2022. TfL then brought this forward to May 24, in time for the early June bank holiday to mark The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee .

The agreed funding has now reached £18.8 billion. TfL has permission to spend an extra £1.1 billion to get the line in full service but, as things stand, has only been able to secure £825 million of loans.

The impact of the pandemic will cost Crossrail about £1 billion in lost fares, according to TfL.

Earlier this year the London Assembley sought assurances from TfL about its ability to fund the remainder of the project should the costs of opening the long-delayed line continue to rise.

Opening dates and key journey times

Three separate sections of the line launched on May 24.

Central Section: launched in May

Trains now run from the new Elizabeth line station at Paddington to Abbey Wood , a route that passes through main employment hubs such as Liverpool Street and Canary Wharf.

Example journey times:

• Paddington to Canary Wharf takes 17 minutes
• Bond Street to Liverpool Street will take seven minutes
• Woolwich to Farringdon takes 14 minutes

Bond Street station will open for the Elizabeth line in autumn.

The east and west sections will be joined to this central section on 6 November.

East section: to launch in full on 6 November

This section currently runs from Liverpool Street mainline station to Shenfield in Essex, passing through eastern areas such as Stratford and Romford.

• Romford to Liverpool Street will take 27 minutes
• Stratford to Bond Street will take 15 minutes

The east section will be joined to the central section on 6 November, enabling passengers to travel from outer east London to outer west without changing platforms at Liverpool Street.

West section: to launch in full on 6 November

This route currently begins at Paddington mainline station, splitting just after Hayes & Harlington, with one branch going to Maidenhead and Reading and the other to Heathrow airport terminals.

• Tottenham Court Road to Ealing Broadway takes 13 minutes
• Paddington to Slough takes 26 minutes

The west section will be joined to the central section on 6 November, enabling passengers to travel from outer west London to outer east without changing platforms at Paddington.

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Crossrail: Elizabeth line opening date finally revealed by Transport for London

It is hoped the Queen - who the line is named after - will be involved in the opening. The project has been delayed by years and gone hugely over budget.

Wednesday 4 May 2022 12:43, UK

The capital's new Crossrail service, known as the Elizabeth line, will open on Tuesday 24 May, Transport for London said.

The railway will run from Reading in Berkshire to Shenfield in Essex and Abbey Wood in southeast London.

It was was originally planned to open in full in December 2018 but it was hit by numerous problems including construction delays and difficulties installing complex signalling systems.

It is hoped the Queen - who the line is named after - will be involved in the opening.

The Elizabeth line will operate 12 trains per hour between Paddington and Abbey Wood from Monday to Saturday 6.30am to 11pm.

Further testing and software updates will take place on Sundays.

The Sunday closures will be lifted on 5 June to help people travelling in the capital during the Platinum Jubilee weekend.

Andy Byford, TfL's commissioner, said: "I am delighted that we can now announce a date for the opening of the Elizabeth line in May.

OPENING SOON: Some exciting news about the opening of the #Elizabethline . London’s newest railway will open on Tuesday 24 May 2022. pic.twitter.com/xO5S3Ciwck — Crossrail Project (@Crossrail) May 4, 2022

"We are using these final few weeks to continue to build up reliability on the railway and get the Elizabeth line ready to welcome customers.

"The opening day is set to be a truly historic moment for the capital and the UK, and we look forward to showcasing a simply stunning addition to our network."

The project went massively over its original £14.8bn budget in 2010.

The total cost of the project has been estimated at £18.9bn, including £5.1bn from the government.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said the Elizabeth line will make London "safer, fairer, greener and more prosperous".

Crossrail journey times

Liverpool Street to Ealing Broadway: 19mins (currently 32mins)

Tottenham Court Road to Heathrow Terminal 4: 39mins (currently 61mins)

Woolwich Arsenal to Canary Wharf: 5mins (currently 22mins)

Stratford to Bond Street: 14mins (currently 22mins)

Tottenham Court road to West Drayton: 32mins (currently 42mins)

He went on: "This is the most significant addition to our transport network in decades, and will revolutionise travel across the capital and the South East - as well as delivering a £42bn boost to the whole UK economy and hundreds of thousands of new homes and jobs.

"Green public transport is the future, and the opening of the Elizabeth line is a landmark moment for our capital and our whole country, particularly in this special Platinum Jubilee year."

But, the Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has claimed the decision to announce the opening date for the Elizabeth line a day before local elections in London breaches pre-election rules .

The cabinet minister accused Mayor of London Sadiq Khan of "breathtaking political cynicism".

He said he would be "referring this breach to the Electoral Commission for investigation".

Mr Khan dismissed the claims from the transport secretary.

A full timetable with direct trains running across the Elizabeth line is expected to launch by May 2023.

Bond Street Elizabeth line station will not be ready to open on 24 May but is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

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When is Crossrail opening and what stops are on the Elizabeth Line?

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The Crossrail project, also known as the Elizabeth line, has finally opened, some 41 months after the original projected opening date.

The purple-branded Elizabeth line opened early on the morning of 24 May, with the first train departing Paddington Station at 6.33am.

But where does the new rail line through London run to and from, and which stops are on the route?

Here’s everything you need to know.

What is Crossrail?

Crossrail is a project designed to create a rail link connecting east and west London, as well as the commuter towns to the east and west of the capital. It will start and end overground, with an underground portion running through the city centre.

Plans for better links between east and west London are nothing new - the roots of campaigns for what is now Crossrail stretch back to the 1940s and beyond.

However, it took until October 1990 for the UK government to approve a modern plan for an east-west London rail line. It was then postponed during the 1990s, before Cross London Rail Links Ltd (CLRL) was set up in January 2002.

Amid many stages of government approval, the Crossrail route was confirmed in 2008 and ground was broken at Canary Wharf on 15 May 2009.

In 2010 it was confirmed that Crossrail would open with a phased series of services being introduced. Tunnelling for the project began in May 2012.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: “This is the most significant addition to our transport network in decades, and will revolutionise travel across the capital and the south east – as well as delivering a £42bn boost to the whole UK economy and hundreds of thousands of new homes and jobs.”

What is the Elizabeth Line?

The Elizabeth Line is the name for the TFL -operated rail service that will run along Crossrail, from Reading and Heathrow in the west to Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east.

The line is marked out in purple on the TFL map, and passes through Paddington, Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road and Liverpool Street in the centre of London - speeding up journey times between key hubs for services to the rest of the UK.

“The transformational railway will reduce journey times, create additional transport capacity, improve accessibility and provide a huge economic boost to the capital and beyond. With new stations and travel links, the Elizabeth Line will support new housing and jobs across London, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Essex,” promises the Crossrail website.

The Queen unveiled the purple roundel that marks out the line in February 2016. On 18 May 2022 she made a surprise appearance to officially “open” the completed Elizabeth Line , named in her honour.

The 96-year-old monarch joined her youngest son the Earl of Wessex at Paddington Station for the royal visit less than a week before the official opening of the line. She was given an Oyster card and shown how to top it up at a ticket machine. However, the line is not due to open to the public until 24 May.

The Elizabeth line was unveiled on 24 May, with only part of the full line in operation.

Which part of the line is open?

From 24 May 2022, the only through-London service will be between Abbey Wood, in the southeast of the city, and Paddington station, in the west of town.

Crossrail has confirmed that the line will not run on Sundays until some time in autumn 2022, and one of the key central stations – Bond Street – will not be accessible from the Elizabeth Line until later in the year.

While there are trains at either end of the line - from Reading to Paddington and from Liverpool Street to Shenfield, Essex - passengers will initially have to change at those stops to connect to trains out of London.

The full line is slated to open in May 2023.

When it is finished, what will the stops on the Elizabeth Line be?

From west to east, the stops on the Reading-Shenfield line will be as follows:

• West Drayton
• Hayes and Harlington
• West Ealing
• Ealing Broadway
• Acton Main Line
• Bond Street
• Tottenham Court Road
• Liverpool Street
• Whitechapel
• Forest Gate
• Seven Kings
• Chadwell Heath
• Harold Wood

The Abbey Wood branch, which runs from Whitechapel, will stop at the following:

• Canary Wharf
• Custom House

The Heathrow branch, which runs from Hayes and Harlington, will stop at the following:

• Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3
• Heathrow Terminal 4
• Heathrow Terminal 5

When was the line due to open and why has it been delayed?

TFL originally announced that the line would open on 9 December 2018.

Delays have alternately been blamed on: a decision to delay procurement of rolling stock in 2018; tunelling issues around Bond Street; overspending; planning pushback; and the Covid-19 pandemic.

The known cost of the project has now topped the £18.6bn mark.

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Crossrail: How quick will the Elizabeth line be? Journey times to all central stations

You will be able to shoot from Paddington to Bond street in three minutes

• 12:47, 19 MAY 2022
• Updated 09:30, 24 MAY 2022

The central section of the Elizabeth line is opening on May 24, when the first phase of delivery of the delayed Crossrail project takes place. The service will run through its own tunnels under London, between Paddington and Abbey Wood, and stop at nine of ten brand new stations - Bond Street will open later in 2022.

The new line is about to slash journey times to and from these stations in the capital, cutting the time to travel from Abbey Wood to Paddington by almost half to 29 minutes. Service will start with 12 trains per hour end to end - so a train every five minutes between Paddington and Whitechapel - between 6:30 and 11pm, Monday to Saturday. A special service will operate on Sunday June 5 between 8am and 10pm for the Platinum Jubilee weekend.

The Elizabeth line will initially operate as three separate railways. Those travelling from Reading and Heathrow will need to change trains at Paddington and walk to the Elizabeth line station there. Similarly, Passengers from the Shenfield branch in the east will need to change at Liverpool Street Station. When the final stage is complete, set to be on May 2023, a single service will seamlessly connect all stations in the line.

READ MORE: Elizabeth Line fare costs confirmed by TfL

You can now use the TfL Journey Planner to plan Elizabeth line journeys for the initial opening stage if you set the date of travel beyond the 24 May. Current journey times between Reading/Heathrow and Paddington and Shenfield and Liverpool Street remain the same.

Timings for the next stage from autumn will be made clearer closer to the time. However, journeys that will not use the new central tunnels will be roughly the same - for example, Paddington to Slough will still take around 33 mins, as does currently with TfL Rail services.

What impact will the Elizabeth Line have on Berkshire? You can have your say in our new readers' poll

Elizabeth line journey times

These are the platform to platform times for the central section of the Elizabeth line in London, during the peak periods only.

Abbey Wood to

• Woolwich - 3 mins
• Custom House - 7 mins
• Canary Wharf - 11 min
• Whitechapel - 15 mins
• Liverpool Street - 18 mins
• Farringdon - 21 mins
• Tottenham Court Road - 24 mins
• Bond Street - 26 mins
• Paddington - 29 mins

Woolwich to

• Custom House - 4 mins
• Canary Wharf - 8 mins
• Whitechapel - 12 mins
• Liverpool Street - 15 mins
• Farringdon - 18 mins
• Tottenham Court Road - 21 mins
• Bond Street - 23 mins
• Paddington - 26 mins

Custom House to

• Canary Wharf - 4 mins
• Whitechapel - 8 mins
• Liverpool Street - 11 mins
• Farringdon - 14 mins
• Tottenham Court Road - 17 mins
• Bond Street - 19 mins
• Paddington - 22 mins

Canary Wharf to

• Whitechapel - 4 mins
• Liverpool Street - 7 mins
• Farringdon - 10 mins
• Tottenham Court Road - 13 mins
• Bond Street - 15 mins
• Paddington - 18 mins

Whitechapel to

• Liverpool Street - 3 mins
• Farringdon - 6 mins
• Tottenham Court Road - 9 mins
• Bond Street - 11 mins
• Paddington - 14 mins

Liverpool Street to

• Farringdon - 3 mins
• Tottenham Court Road - 6 mins
• Bond Street - 8 mins
• Paddington - 11 mins

Farringdon to

• Tottenham Court Road - 3 mins
• Bond Street - 5 mins
• Paddington - 8 mins

Tottenham Court Road to

• Bond Street - 2 mins
• Paddington - 5 mins

Bond Street to

• Paddington - 3 mins

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How to travel between Paddington and other London stations

Tips for making the easiest possible transfers across the city centre when travelling between Paddington and the other major stations in central London.

These guides on how to travel between Paddington and the other London stations are focused on, or at least include, the easiest routes - so that the simpler alternatives when travelling with heavy luggage or with young children etc can be followed.

Also note the advice for travel to a station from Paddington can vary from that on how to access Paddington from another station, for multiple reasons including the availability of lifts (elevators) in various locations and the access to and from bus stops.

At weekends the Underground lines and both the Elizabeth line and Thameslink trains can be impacted by construction work, those affecting the Underground and Elizabeth line trains can be looked up here , while those impacting the Thameslink trains, can be found here .

All of the ticket gates at central London stations have 'readers' which enable contactless payment .

Regardless of whether you are resident in the UK, or are visiting, there are three methods of using Contactless:

• A payment app on a mobile device, including your bank's contactless payment app, or the likes of Google Pay, Apple Pay, or Samsung Pay.
• A debit / credit card as long as it has the contactless symbol
• An Oyster card (you touch in and out as you do when using Contactless).

Good to know about using Contactless

• The system works by touching in and out.
• When using bank cards, take care to use the same card when touching out at the end of a journey, as you did when touching in at the start.
• You have to pay with Contactless on the regular red buses, you cannot pay with cash.
• When travelling by the Underground or Elizabeth line, you can save 10 - 20p per journey by paying with a banking app / card instead of an Oyster card.
• Making a Contactless payment is cheaper than buying a ticket from a station counter or machine - the price difference is usually at least 50%!

More info is available on the general London by train guide .

From Paddington:

The trains to the other London stations use three separate parts of Paddington station .

• The Elizabeth line station is right beside the main station building, parallel to platform 1. The platforms in the Elizabeth line station can be accessed by lifts (elevators) and escalators.
• The Circle line via Victoria trains which travel along the north bank of the River Thames and the 'tube trains' of The Bakerloo line, which travel across the western side of central London, can both be accessed from the Underground station, which is by the main concourse. Though the access to the Bakerloo line is by escalator, there is no lift (elevator) down to the trains. The route to the eastbound Circle line via Victoria, which are the trains towards The Thames, is solely by stairs, there is a footbridge within the station; it's painted red as seen in the image above.

• The trains which travel along the northern edge of central London, the Circle via King's Cross and the Hammersmith & City lines, use a separate Underground station which is at the other end of the station, adjacent to platforms 12 and 14. In this Underground station a lift (elevator) is available between the ticket hall and the trains, but the route to this station which avoids stairs, is the long way round.

From the main concourse you need to head to the passage way which also leads to the taxi rank.

At the end of this passage way there are escalators, which are pictured above, and lifts (elevators) up to the taxi rank.

Head up to the taxi rank because the pathway which leads to this Underground station, is over to the left of the taxis.

The short-cut route to this Underground station is to use the staircases that are by the rear of the trains which arrive at platforms 1 to 10, each pair of platforms has its own separate staircase.

The notes on how to reach each station below will include which part of the station you'll need to head to in order to take the optimum onward train.

The Bakerloo line of the Underground provides a direct link from Paddington to Charing Cross . It can be directly accessed from the main concourse.

Note that when heading to Paddington, the suggestion is to take a combination of Jubilee and Bakerloo lines via from Waterloo (East), but as no seat reservations are available on the trains which depart from Charing Cross , it's best to head there in order to board a train. All trains from Charing Cross will call at London Bridge, but by the time they arrive there, spare seats will be harder to find.

If you'll be arriving on a long-distance train, take the Elizabeth line between Paddington and Tottenham Court Road and then connect there for the northbound Northern line There are four advantages of this route:

• The long-distance trains will all arrive at platforms linked to the main concourse at Paddington and the entrance to the Elizabeth line is just to the right of the concourse; through these arches.

• It avoids having to use any staircases at Paddington, because escalators and a lift (elevator) are available down to the Elizabeth line.

• Escalators and lifts (elevators) are available at Tottenham Court Road, the transfer point will be by the front of the trains.
• At Euston you will only need to take a short flight of stairs which lead up to the escalator to the Underground ticket hall - on the other side of the Underground station ticket gates, there are escalators up to the main station, but there are also lifts over to the right-hand side

What looks like a simpler route from Paddington to Euston is taking an eastbound Circle or Hammersmith & City line train to Euston Square, but the two negatives of this option are:

• The shortest route at Paddington from the long-distance trains to the Underground station that these two lines use, involves ascending a flight of stairs.
• Euston Square is also a 3-5 minute walk to Euston station and the exit from the eastbound platform at Euston Square is solely by stairs. However, some of the non-express trains to Paddington arrive at its platforms 12 and 14 and these are adjacent to the Underground station that the Circle and Hammersmith & City lines use.

Or for a step-free direct route, which also avoids any escalators, take bus route/line 205 from stop E It's easily located if you head towards the Elizabeth line station as it is adjacent to Eastbourne Terrace, the road on which the bus stop is located. Head towards the lift (elevator), which is behind the escalators, but instead of heading down into the Elizabeth line station, go up to street level and the lift doors will open right by the bus stop.

At Euston, the bus, which will be heading to Bow Church, will stop in the bus station directly in front of the rail station.

These stations share the same Underground station.

If you don't have luggage The easiest connection from Paddington to both King's Cross and St Pancras stations, is to take the direct link provided by the Circle and Hammersmith & City lines of the Underground.

If you do have luggage A new step-free route to King's Cross and St Pancras from Paddington has been provided, the first stage of which involves taking an eastbound Elizabeth line train to Farringdon, from where the northbound Thameslink trains make a one-stop hop on to St Pancras. For King's Cross, on exiting the Thameslink station in St Pancras, turn left and then go straight ahead, towards the exit on the far side of the building.

This exit from St Pancras International on Pancras Road is literally across the street from King's Cross station.

In Farringdon station an escalator provides a direct link from the Elizabeth line to the northbound Thameslink trains.

When you step off the top of the escalator the northbound Thameslink platform will be straight ahead, just over to the left-hand side: or you can take a combination of two lifts.

The escalators down to the Elizabeth line ticket hall will then be steps away over to the right.

For the elevator access, walk to the right of the escalators and then you'll see the elevator over to the left.

Taking the Elizabeth line between Paddington and Liverpool Street is around 15 mins quicker than taking the Underground, plus the transfers from and to the trains are easier than taking the Underground.

Though if you will be travelling on to the likes of Ipswich, Norwich and Southend, now that the Elizabeth line trains towards Shenfield are calling at Stratford (for the attractions in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park ) making the transfer there will be easier than at Liverpool Street.

The Elizabeth line entrance is by platform 1, so when arriving by train at any other platform go straight ahead on to the main concourse and then when you reach it turn to the right and go through the arches pictured below.

The typically quickest route from Paddington to London Bridge is to take the Bakerloo Line to Baker Street, where a short walk through a passage way connects to the eastbound Jubilee Line.

Though if you will be travelling with luggage etc, the easier route is to take the Elizabeth line to Farringdon where an lift (elevator) is now available to the southbound Thameslink trains; and there will typically be twelve departures per hour from Farringdon on to London Bridge.

Then at London Bridge an elevator/lift will link the Thameslink platform to the main concourse, from where all departures have step-free access.

Though the Thameslink trains go direct from Farringdon to numerous destinations including Greenwich, Brighton and Gatwick Airport

The opening of the Elizabeth Line hasn't impacted on the route from Paddington to Victoria station , so the only direct rail link is by taking the Circle line.

Though due to the lack of step-free access to the part of the Underground station that the eastbound Circle line trains use and the typical 12 min interval between trains, it can be easier to take a bus on line, route 36 instead. The bus which will be heading towards New Cross will leave from stop E

It's easily located if you head towards the Elizabeth line station as it is adjacent to Eastbourne Terrace, the road on which the bus stop is located. Head towards the lift (elevator), which is behind the escalators which head down into the Elizabeth line station, go up and the elevator will exit right by the bus stop.

The Bakerloo line of the Underground provides a direct link from Paddington to Waterloo station , take any southbound train

To Paddington

The trains from the other London stations use three separate parts of Paddington station :

• The Elizabeth line station is right beside the main station building, parallel to platform 1. The exit from the Elizabeth line station can be accessed by lifts (elevators) and escalators.

When you have exited from the lift or the escalator, the access to the main concourse will be over to the left. ![Go through these exits from the Elizabeth line station and the main concourse at Paddington is directly ahead]

• The Circle line via Victoria trains which travel along the north bank of the River Thames and the Bakerloo line tube trains which travel across the western side of central London, both arrive at an Underground station, which is by the main concourse.

The access from the Bakerloo line is by escalator, there is no lift (elevator) up from the trains. However, the access from the Circle line trains, which use this part of the Underground station, to the main concourse is step-free, the trains arrive at a platform right beside the ticket-hall and a very short escalator links the ticket hall to the main concourse.

• The trains which travel along the northern edge of central London, the Circle via King's Cross and the Hammersmith & City lines, use a separate Underground station which is at the other end of the station, adjacent to platforms 12 and 14. In this Underground station a lift (elevator) is available between trains and the ticket hall and, but the route to the main concourse which avoids stairs, is the long way round.

To access the lifts (elevators) and escalators, which provide the access to the main concourse, you need to head to the other side of the taxi rank.

The short-cut route to the trains is to head to the right by that sign and then use the sets of staircases that lead down to the trains.

The Bakerloo line is particularly distant from the entrance/ticket hall of Charing Cross underground station, because the Bakerloo line station was originally entirely separate. So the transfer at Charing Cross between stepping off a mainline train and being on the Bakerloo platform takes around five minutes.

So if you will be heading to Paddington, the recommended option is to connect into the northbound Jubilee line at Waterloo East station instead.

All trains heading to Charing Cross will call at Waterloo East and the elevator access, by the rear of the trains, leads down to Southwark station of the Jubilee line.

Then at Baker Street station, a simple as can be level connection is available to northbound Bakerloo line trains.

Making this connection into the Jubilee line, using a combination of Waterloo East and Southwark stations, is also simpler than making the connection into the Jubilee line at London Bridge.

If you don't have luggage etc so walking across city streets and descending staircases won't be an issue, the easiest option for a Euston to Paddington transfer is to take any westbound Circle or Hammersmith and City line train from Euston Square station, the train will be heading to Hammersmith. An elevator is available to the westbound trains at Euston Square, but you need to cross to the other side of Euston Road, but on arrival at Paddington, by far the quickest route to the trains is by using stairs.

If you do have heavy luggage: The first stage of the alternative route is to take a southbound Northern line train on the route 'via Charing Cross' to Tottenham Court Road. Though a short flight of stairs leads to the southbound Northern Line platform - then at Tottenham Court Road station a lift (elevator) goes to the westbound Elizabeth line. At Paddington both lifts (elevators) and escalators are available for the transfer up from the Elizabeth line.

Also take this route if you'll want or need to make use of the facilities in Paddington station, such as its food/drink outlets or the ticket office.

If you don't have heavy luggage: Head to the the part of the Underground station at King's Cross and St Pancras used by both the Circle and Hammersmith & City lines and take an eastbound train to Paddington, these trains will be heading to Hammersmith. These Underground lines can be accessed by lift (elevator), but in St Pancras, if you arrive by the EMR or Southeastern trains, the access to them is at the opposite end of the station

Then at Paddington, the Underground station used by these lines, is some distance from the main concourse, where most of the station facilities at Paddington are located. Also the short-cut route from Circle and Hammersmith & City lines to all of the main line departures from Paddington, involves walking down staircases, one of which is pictured below.

If you do have heavy luggage

This route involves a transfer but the step-free access to and from the mainline trains is shorter at all stations in comparison to the transfer from and to the Circle and the Hammersmith & City line trains,

(1) From King's Cross:

• Use the exit from King's Cross on to Pancras Road, which leads off from the main concourse on the opposite side to the departure boards, you'll then see the entrance to St Pancras just across the street.
• Once you have entered St Pancras International go straight ahead and you will then see the entrance to the part of the station, used by Thameslink trains, over to the right, on the other side of a ticket desk.

(2) From St Pancras: Elevators and relatively short escalators are available down to the platform/track used by the southbound Thameslink trains, which is platform A.

Up to 16 trains per hour now depart from platform A for a one station hop to Farringdon and at that station, on the southbound platform, there are lifts / elevators down to the Elizabeth line.

They are by the front of the trains; the signs above the lift doors state that they go to the exit, but they do also go to the Elizabeth line.

All westbound Elizabeth line trains will go to Paddington where the Elizabeth line is adjacent to the main concourse and both lifts and escalators are available up to the main station.

Go direct from Liverpool Street to Paddington on a westbound Elizabeth line train.

The Elizabeth line can be accessed through the Underground ticket hall which is opposite platforms 3 to 6. The primary access from the main concourse into this Underground ticket hall is by using a short flight of stairs, but an elevator is also available to the left of these stairs.

On the other side of the ticket barriers the access to the Elizabeth line is a short walk away through a passage way over to the right, an escalator and a lift (elevator) lead down to the trains.

Though if your train to London will be calling at Stratford, then connecting there into the Elizabeth line will be easier than at Liverpool Street, by the front of the trains there are lifts on each of the platforms at Stratford.

On arrival at Paddington a lift (elevator) and escalators lead to an area which is immediately beside the station.

The main concourse will then just be steps away through the three gaps in the wall, which will be over to the left

(1) If you are happy to use escalators and squeeze on to tube trains , then typically the quickest route from London Bridge to Paddington is to take the northbound Jubilee line to Baker Street, because at that station a simple cross-platform transfer is available with northbound Bakerloo line trains which call at Paddington.

(2) Though an easier option, particularly if you have luggage etc is to head for platform 5 to take a Thameslink train to Farringdon, where elevators and escalators provide a link to the westbound Elizabeth line. At Paddington yet more lifts/elevators and escalators link the Elizabeth line to the main concourse, so the access to the onward trains is easier than when taking the Bakerloo line. And if a Thameslink departure is due within the next 3-5 mins, it can be quicker than taking the Underground.

Westbound Circle line, trains heading towards Edgware Road are scheduled to depart every 12 mins from Victoria , but the waiting time can be longer. Though a tick in the box is that at Paddington station , making the transfer to the main concourse from the part of the station that these Circle line trains arrive at, couldn’t be easier.

The northbound Bakerloo line trains go direct to Paddington station from Waterloo .

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• Department for Culture, Media & Sport

How to watch the Coronation and processions (Saturday 6 May)

Updated 5 May 2023

© Crown copyright 2023

This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: [email protected] .

Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.

This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-coronation-of-their-majesties-king-charles-iii-and-queen-camilla/how-to-watch-the-coronation-and-processions-saturday-6-may

The Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla will take place on Saturday 6 May. There will be ceremonial processions in London before and after the Coronation service at Westminster Abbey in London.

The service and processions will be broadcast on national television, radio and online, and shown on large screens at screening sites in London and around the country .

This guidance tells you how you can watch the processions in London in person, or visit the screening sites at Hyde Park, The Green Park and St James’s Park. To watch at another screening site, visit the Coronation.GOV.UK website to find events in your local area .

The accessibility section provides information for people with access requirements, including accessible viewing areas and quiet viewing spaces. It also includes a BSL (British Sign Language) video summary of the Coronation weekend .

Please be aware that large crowds are expected, and there will be road closures in place to ensure the event is delivered safely. Public transport services are likely to be very busy with some station closures and bus diversions, especially around the Westminster and Hyde Park areas.

About the Coronation

The Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla will take place on Saturday 6 May. The first procession will begin at 10.20am. Their Majesties will travel in procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey. This is known as ‘The King’s Procession’. Their Majesties will travel in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach, drawn by 6 Windsor Grey horses. The Household Cavalry will provide the Sovereign’s Escort.

The King’s Procession will travel along The Mall, through Admiralty Arch, passing to the south of the King Charles Island statue in Trafalgar Square before turning onto Whitehall. The procession will continue down Whitehall and along the east and south sides of Parliament Square, arriving at Westminster Abbey.

The Coronation service at Westminster Abbey will begin at 11am and finish at 1pm.

After the Coronation service, Their Majesties will return to Buckingham Palace as part of a larger ceremonial procession, known as ‘The Coronation Procession’. The Coronation Procession will last for around 30 minutes. Their Majesties will travel in the Gold State Coach, drawn by 8 Windsor Grey horses.

The procession will arrive at Buckingham Palace at around 1:30pm. Their Majesties will receive a salute from the United Kingdom and Commonwealth Armed Forces in the Buckingham Palace Gardens, and appear on the Buckingham Palace balcony. At 2:30pm, there will be a Coronation flypast by the Armed Forces over The Mall and Buckingham Palace (subject to weather, serviceability, and operational commitments).

Explore the procession route with Dan Snow

Learn more about the Coronation:

• The history of coronation ceremonies (official website of the British Royal Family)
• The King’s Procession and the Coronation Procession (official website of the British Royal Family)
• Coronations at the Abbey (Westminster Abbey website)

How to watch

• Both processions and the Coronation service will be broadcast live on national television, radio and online.
• Find out how to watch the processions in person .
• Please note that there will not be screens along the route. If you wish to watch the broadcast of events (including the Coronation service), you should visit one of the screening sites.
• Find out how to visit the screening sites in Hyde Park, St James’s Park and The Green Park .
• Find events in your local area .
• Find other ways to get involved in the celebrations , such as hosting a Coronation Big Lunch or street party, and taking part in the Big Help Out.

Screening the Coronation at events

The BBC has confirmed a special one-off TV licence dispensation for the Coronation of HM King Charles III. If you are hosting an event, you won’t need a TV licence to screen coverage of the Coronation on 6 May 2023, or the Coronation Concert on 7 May 2023. Find out more on the BBC’s website .

Plan your journey

This guidance contains information on:

How to get to London

• How to get to the procession viewing areas

How to get to the screening sites

Please note that the areas in and around Hyde Park, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Whitehall, St James’s Park, The Green Park and Trafalgar Square will be very crowded. The National Rail and London Underground stations in these areas will be very busy.

It may be necessary for short-term safety measures to be put in place at transport stations, such as queuing, closures, trains not stopping at certain stations, or changes to the way customers enter or exit a station. Please follow the directions of stewards and police officers.

What you should do:

• Plan your journey using the Transport for London and National Rail Enquiries websites.
• Check Transport for London status updates and National Rail Enquiries latest travel information before you travel, and allow more time than usual for your journey.
• Find up-to-date travel information by following National Rail Enquiries on Twitter or downloading the TfL Go app .
• After the events, remember to check the latest travel information before your onward journey. Service updates may have changed.
• If possible, please avoid travelling immediately after the events, as services may be busy. There will be plenty of trains running during the day and into the evening.

The major railway stations in London include:

• London Blackfriars
• London Cannon Street
• London Charing Cross
• London Euston
• London King’s Cross
• London Liverpool Street
• London Bridge
• London Marylebone
• London Paddington
• London St Pancras International
• London Victoria
• London Waterloo
• London Waterloo East

Use the Transport for London journey planner to continue your journey to the viewing areas or screening sites. Please be aware that transport services are expected to be very busy before and after the Coronation service, and it is likely there will be queues at stations.

You can plan your journey within London using the Transport for London journey planner . Check which station you should travel to if you want to:

• get to the procession viewing areas
• get to the screening sites

Remember to check National Rail Enquiries latest travel information and Transport for London status updates before you travel, and allow more time than usual for your journey.

You can also keep track of the latest travel information by following National Rail Enquiries on Twitter or by downloading the TfL Go app .

After the events, police and stewards will direct you to the exits and to nearby transport hubs. Remember to check the latest travel information before your onward journey, as service updates may have changed.

If possible, please avoid travelling immediately after the events, as services are expected to be very busy. There will be plenty of trains running during the day and late into the evening. If you are planning on catching a late-night train, please check in advance when your last available service departs.

London Victoria station - limited access (Hyde Park screening site only)

On Saturday 6 May, many of the roads around Victoria station will be closed. There will be limited public access to the procession route, or The Green Park and St James’s Park screening sites, from Victoria station.

London Victoria station should be used for the Hyde Park screening site only. If you exit at Victoria station, you may be directed to the screening site at Hyde Park.

If you want to watch the procession or go to the screening sites in The Green Park or St James’s Park, you should travel to an alternative station. Check which station to use if you want to get to the viewing areas , or get to the screening sites , and continue your journey from Victoria on the London Underground.

Watch the processions in person

In this section:

The procession viewing areas

• Procession route - map and facilities

You can watch the Coronation processions through London in person at viewing areas along the procession route, on both sides of The Mall and Whitehall.

The viewing areas will be open from 6am on Saturday 6 May. Please do not arrive before 6am.

The King’s Procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey will take place before the Coronation service, which starts at 11am. The Coronation Procession from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace will take place after the Coronation service.

There is an accessible viewing area which can be used by people with access requirements, and a quiet viewing space. Read the accessibility section for more information .

You should be aware that large crowds are expected, and be prepared to queue to enter the viewing areas. Follow the directions given by stewards and the police, who will monitor crowd numbers and ensure everyone can enter safely and securely.

Capacity at the viewing areas will be limited and they will be closed when they are full. If you leave a viewing area at any time, readmission cannot be guaranteed.

If the viewing area you intend to visit is full when you arrive, you will be directed to one of the other viewing areas or a screening site . The screening sites will show all of the day’s events on large screens, including both processions, the Coronation service, and the balcony appearance. Entry to the screening sites is free.

After the Coronation Procession has passed down The Mall, the police will open the route to allow people to move onto the road. People will be able to walk down The Mall towards Buckingham Palace, to watch the balcony appearance. The police will monitor crowd numbers and gradually open the viewing areas, to ensure that everyone stays safe and secure.

Staying safe in crowds

• Follow the directions given by stewards and the police, who will monitor crowd numbers and ensure everyone stays safe and secure.
• Take care of your belongings. Keep your phone, wallet and purse out of sight and make sure any valuables are secure.
• If you notice anything suspicious, please inform the stewards or police.

Read more about staying safe in London (Metropolitan Police website) .

Procession viewing areas - map and facilities

The image below shows a map of the procession route: the King’s Procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey, and the Coronation Procession back to Buckingham Palace. The procession route is marked in gold.

There are viewing areas along the procession route, on both sides of The Mall and Whitehall. The public viewing areas are marked on the map in purple.

The image also shows the facilities at the viewing areas and along the route. There are first aid points, water refill stations, toilets and accessible toilets, welfare points, and accessible viewing spaces . There are concession kiosks along the route where you can buy food and drinks.

The map also shows the nearby screening sites in The Green Park and St James’s Park , where you can watch the processions and the Coronation service on large screens.

View or download a larger version of the map , (PDF, 13.4MB).

How to get to the viewing areas

The table below tells you the recommended stations (London Underground or National Rail) to use for the viewing areas along the procession route. This may not be the station you would usually use, because of diversions and road closures.

There will be signs marking the walking routes, and stewards will direct you to the viewing areas.

Check before you travel

It may be necessary for short-term safety measures to be put in place at transport stations, such as queuing, closures, trains not stopping at certain stations, or changes to the way customers enter or exit a station.

Please note that on Saturday 6 May:

• St James’s Park station will be closed.
• Hyde Park Corner station will be exit only.
• Victoria station will have limited access to the procession route because of road closures. If you exit at Victoria, you may be directed to the Hyde Park screening site.

You should be aware that large crowds are expected, and the viewing areas will close when they are full. The viewing areas have limited capacity and may close before the events begin. Follow the directions given by stewards and the police, who will monitor crowd numbers and help people to stay safe.

After the events, police and stewards will direct you to the exits and to nearby transport hubs. Remember to check the latest travel information before your onward journey, as service updates may have changed. You can find up-to-date travel information by following National Rail Enquiries on Twitter or downloading the TfL Go app .

If possible, please avoid travelling immediately after the events, as services will be very busy. There will be plenty of trains running during the day and late into the evening.

Watch all events at the screening sites

• Hyde Park screening site (information and map)
• The Green Park and St James’s Park screening sites (information and map)

You can watch the Coronation at the Hyde Park screening site, which will show the processions and the Coronation service on large screens. There are also smaller screening sites at The Green Park and St James’s Park, but these are likely to reach capacity very quickly.

Access to all screening sites is free. There will be first aid points, water refill stations, toilets and accessible toilets, welfare points, and concession kiosks where you can buy food and drinks. Read more about facilities at the Hyde Park screening site , and The Green Park and St James’s Park screening sites .

There are accessible viewing areas and quiet spaces at each of the screening sites. Read the accessibility section for more information.

Please note that large crowds are expected. Follow the directions given by stewards and the police, who will monitor crowd numbers and help everyone to stay safe and secure. If you choose to leave a screening site during the events, you may lose your viewing position.

Hyde Park screening site

The Hyde Park screening site is located in the south-east corner of the park, covering the area around the Serpentine lake.

You can access the Hyde Park screening site from 5am on Saturday 6 May. However, please note that the broadcast will begin later in the morning, ahead of the first procession. If you arrive at 5am, the screens may not be turned on and some facilities (such as food and drink kiosks) may not be open. Please do not arrive before 5am.

There are 4 screens at the Hyde Park screening site:

Screen 1: Old Football Pitches (south of the Serpentine, close to South Carriage Drive) - facing west.

Screen 2: Old Football Pitches (south of the Serpentine, close to South Carriage Drive) - facing east.

Screen 3: The Cockpit (north side of the Serpentine, near the Norwegian War Memorial).

Screen 4: Boathouse Lawn (north side of the Serpentine, next to the boathouse).

Map and facilities - Hyde Park screening site

The image below shows a map of the Hyde Park screening site. Each of the 4 screens is marked on the map with a letter ‘S’ icon. An orange area next to the icon shows the direction the screen will be facing.

The map also shows the facilities at the site, including first aid points, water refill stations, toilets and accessible toilets, welfare points, accessible viewing spaces and quiet spaces .

There are concession kiosks near each of the screens where you can buy food and drinks.

The Green Park and St James’s Park screening sites

There are also screening sites at The Green Park and St James’s Park. Please note that these sites are smaller than Hyde Park, and are likely to reach capacity very quickly.

More information on the site opening times will be added shortly.

• The Green Park: 1 large screen at the Broad Walk.
• St James’s Park: 1 large screen, near the Marlborough Gate.

There are accessible viewing spaces and quiet viewing spaces at the screening sites. Read the accessibility section for more information.

Map and facilities - The Green Park and St James’s Park

The image below shows a map of the screening sites in The Green Park and St James’s Park.

The screen at each site is marked on the map with a letter ‘S’ icon. An orange area next to the icon shows the direction the screen will be facing.

There are concession kiosks near each screen where you can buy food and drinks.

The table below tells you the recommended stations (London Underground or National Rail) to use for each screening site. This may not be the station you would usually use, because of diversions and road closures.

• Victoria station will have limited access to The Green Park and St James’s Park because of road closures. If you exit at Victoria, you may be directed to the Hyde Park screening site.

You should be aware that large crowds are expected, and the screening sites may reach capacity before the events begin. Follow the directions given by stewards and the police, who will monitor crowd numbers and help people to stay safe.

Accessibility

Accessible viewing areas and quiet spaces, bsl (british sign language) summary - the coronation weekend, where to find the accessible and quiet viewing areas, accessible transport.

Accessible viewing areas are available for people with access requirements. These areas have limited capacity, and people will be admitted in order of arrival time.

People using the accessible viewing areas can be accompanied by carers or companions. Please note that space will be limited.

The accessible viewing areas will have:

• stewards managing the areas
• accessible viewing areas at ground level, providing dedicated locations for wheelchair users, and people with mobility impairments and other access requirements
• a British Sign Language interpreter
• a hearing loop for people using hearing aids
• welfare points to provide assistance, if needed
• disabled people’s toilets and Changing Places toilets
• assistance dog facilities

All accessible locations at viewing areas and screening sites are at ground level. The accessible viewing areas will have hard-floored areas and grassed areas. The grassed areas are intended for picnicking, and you will be able to bring your own picnic chairs for use in these areas.

The screening sites also have quiet spaces which people can use if they feel overwhelmed, or require time out in a calm environment. The quiet spaces will have soft seating, and ear defenders will be available.

Anyone can use the quiet spaces at any time. However, these areas have limited capacity and people will be admitted in order or arrival time.

The video below is a BSL (British Sign Language) summary of the Coronation weekend.

The Coronation weekend - BSL (British Sign Language) summary

Procession route, The Green Park, St James’s Park

The image below shows a map of the procession route (marked in gold), and the accessible viewing areas along the Mall and Whitehall (marked in purple). The map also shows the screening sites in The Green Park and St James’s Park.

The accessible viewing areas are marked on the map with a letter ‘A’ icon. The quiet spaces are marked on the map with an icon of a crossed-out microphone. The map also shows which of the nearby stations have step-free access.

Procession route viewing areas:

• Accessible viewing area: north side of the Mall, close to Trafalgar Square.

The Green Park screening site:

• The accessible viewing area and quiet space are close to the main screen (near the Broad Walk).

St James’s Park screening site:

• The accessible viewing area and quiet space are close to the main screen (near the Marlborough Gate).

View or download a larger version of the map , (PDF, 13.6MB).

The image below shows a map of the Hyde Park screening site.

There are accessible viewing areas and quiet spaces near each of the 4 screens:

View or download a larger version of the map , (PDF, 13.7MB).

There are more than 200 step-free stations across the TfL network. Visit Transport for London’s accessibility page for more information on accessible public transport information in London. You can find out how accessible each station is, and there is also a step-free journey planner.

Step-free stations

The following stations have step-free access, however please check before you travel as there may be short-notice changes. You can find up-to-date travel information by following TfLAccess on Twitter .

• Green Park (London Underground)
• Bond Street (London Underground)
• Tottenham Court Road (London Underground, Elizabeth Line)
• Victoria (London Underground)
• Waterloo (London Underground, National Rail)
• Westminster (London Underground)

The section on where to find the accessible and quiet viewing areas shows the location of the step-free stations close to accessible and quiet viewing areas.

Transport for London offers a ‘turn up and go’ service to help passengers who require additional assistance, such as people with visual impairments, mobility impairments, and large groups travelling together. This could include providing boarding ramps, help to move you through the station or interchange between trains and suggesting alternative or step-free routes.

The turn up and go service is provided on the London Underground and London Overground, and most stations on the Elizabeth Line. You do not need to pre-book this service, just ask staff for assistance at the station.

Transport for London also provides:

• Accessible maps of London transport facilities . You can download or order tube, bus and other transport maps in alternative formats (such as audio maps, large print, black and white) and maps of toilet and baby-changing facilities.
• Maps of London transport facilities in other languages . You can download the London Underground map in languages other than English.

For help with lost property, please visit the TLC Welfare website .

What to expect if you attend

To keep everyone safe, security measures are in place at all sites. You or your bag may be searched before you can enter.

At the viewing areas and the screening sites, there will be first aid points, water refill stations, toilets and accessible toilets, welfare points, and concession kiosks where you can buy food and drinks. You can bring your own food and drinks, but please avoid bringing glass items (such as drinking glasses) into the sites. Broken glass is a hazard to other visitors and wildlife and can be difficult to remove, particularly from parkland areas.

The Green Park, Hyde Park, and St James’s Park are managed by The Royal Parks. You can visit The Royal Parks website for more information on visiting these parks, including guidance on the parks’ rules and facilities.

Conduct and behaviour

There will be stewards and police officers at the screening sites, helping to keep everyone safe and secure. Antisocial or inappropriate behaviour (including excessive consumption of alcohol or drunken behaviour) will not be tolerated and you may be asked to leave.

You should:

• Follow the instructions of stewards, event staff and police at all times.
• Dispose of litter using the litter and recycling bins provided.
• Respect your surroundings. The Royal Parks are historic sites, and provide a diverse habitat for wildlife. Please stick to footpaths, do not damage or remove plants, and do not attempt to climb or attach anything to trees.
• Remember not to leave any of your property unattended, and report unattended bags or luggage to stewards or police.
• Leave the viewing areas or screening sites quietly so you do not disturb people who live nearby.

What you should and shouldn’t bring

Remember to bring:

• Suitable clothing for the weather conditions. You may want to bring warm, protective clothing or an umbrella in cold or wet weather, or sunscreen and a hat if it is likely to be sunny.
• A water bottle. There will be water refill stations at the viewing areas and screening sites where you can refill bottles. There will also be concession kiosks available where you can buy food and drinks, but you may want to bring your own refreshments (particularly if you have specific dietary requirements).
• Appropriate footwear. You will be required to stand outdoors for long periods, so you are advised to wear comfortable shoes.
• If you are visiting the screening sites at Hyde Park, St James’s Park or The Green Park, you may want to bring a blanket, stool or folding chair to sit on as the viewing screens are located in grassy areas (but please note there may not be space to use or store them). Do not bring stools or folding chairs to the procession route viewing areas.

You should not bring:

• Barbecues and equipment for fires.
• Drones. The use of drones is not permitted across any of the ceremonial sites, including the viewing areas and screening sites. You should not attempt to operate a drone in these areas, for photography or any other reasons. You may be fined, and your drone may be confiscated.
• Glass items. Broken glass is a hazard to other visitors and wildlife and can be difficult to remove. If you bring your own refreshments, please use paper or plastic cups for your drinks.
• If you are visiting the procession route viewing areas, do not bring stools or folding chairs.

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Kuznetski Most area in Moscow

Kuznetski Most is a small area between Tverskaya street, Kremlin, and Kitai Gorod (Lubyanka) and it's a downtown of Moscow. First of all, 'Kuznya' is a great place to walk: it is a real Moscow area, not a postcard at all, hectic busy streets neighbour tranquil lanes and courtyards with traditional architecture. There are also many very nice cafes, restaurants, clubs, and shops. If you want a cool place to meet people, go for a walk and to get the real feeling of the city, check out this area.

Long time ago there were only half-broken low wooden houses in Kuznetski Most area, and it was the place where poor blacksmithes lived. Blacksmith is 'Kuznets' in Russia, hence the name. In the beginning of the street (on top) there was a bridge over a small river, later this river was put underground, so there's no bridge anymore. About 200 years ago there was a rich Moscovitan noble buying this area. He immediately put away all the blacksmiths' houses and started to build a fancy new district. Just in few years he built up beautiful houses, with impressive ornaments, rich decoration, pools in the courtyards. Also, he opened some French boutiques in the area. That's when Kuznetski Most started to become fashionable. In a short time all the elite moved to this  area, and those who wasn't so fast were coming here to make some shopping and to sit in many of the restaurants and cafes around.  In the 20th century, when the communist times arrived, most of the buildings were given to government offices, some were given to soviet shops. The area became boring, the architecture was slowly deteriorating , but nobody seemed to care. In the beginning of the 90s  the area was revived again: the buildings were  restored , there was many new cafes being opened, boutiques, and shops. One important landmark of Kuznetsky Most is that it's home to FSB (Federal Security Bureau - former KGB) offices, and if you walk along Kuznetsky Most street you can get to the FSB reception, which is open 24 hours (in case you have something to report).  

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