WestminsterStation.com
The entrance to Westminster Underground station, with its blue sign above the stairs

Getting there

Getting to Westminster, and getting around London

Westminster Station is on the Jubilee, District and Circle lines, so it is easy to reach from all of London’s airports and main stations. Here is how to get there, and how to get around once you arrive.

Westminster Station

Westminster Station opened in 1868 and was rebuilt for the Jubilee line extension, which opened in 1999. It sits right beside the Houses of Parliament, beneath Portcullis House, with exits for Parliament Square, Westminster Bridge and Westminster Pier. It is in fare zone 1, on three lines:

  • Jubilee line: to Waterloo, London Bridge and Canary Wharf, and to Green Park, Bond Street and Baker Street.
  • District and Circle lines: east to Embankment, Blackfriars and Tower Hill, and west to St James’s Park, Victoria and South Kensington.

From the airports

From London’s airports to Westminster
FromRouteTime
HeathrowElizabeth line to Bond Street, then Jubilee lineAbout 1 hour
GatwickGatwick Express or Southern to Victoria, then District or Circle lineAbout 1 hour
StanstedStansted Express to Liverpool Street, then Circle lineAbout 1 hour 20 minutes
LutonShuttle to Luton Airport Parkway, train to St Pancras, then Victoria and Jubilee linesAbout 1 hour 20 minutes
London CityDLR to Canning Town, then Jubilee lineAbout 35 minutes

By train and Eurostar

Eurostar trains from Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam arrive at St Pancras International. From there, take the Victoria line to Green Park and the Jubilee line one stop to Westminster. Trains from the south and west of England arrive at Waterloo, one stop from Westminster on the Jubilee line, and from the south-east at Victoria.

Paying for travel

  • Contactless: tap a contactless bank card or phone on the yellow reader when you enter and leave. Fares are capped each day, and each week from Monday to Sunday.
  • Oyster: TfL’s travel card has the same fares and daily caps. A Visitor Oyster card can be useful if your bank charges foreign transaction fees.
  • Children: under-11s travel free with a paying adult.
  • Buses: buses do not take cash. With the Hopper fare, you can take unlimited bus journeys within an hour of your first tap.

Getting around

  • On foot: many sights are closer than the Tube map suggests. Westminster to Trafalgar Square is about a ten-minute walk.
  • By Tube: fast and frequent. The Jubilee line runs all night on Fridays and Saturdays.
  • By bus: the top deck of a red double-decker is a cheap way to see the sights.
  • By river: Uber Boat by Thames Clippers and sightseeing cruises stop at Westminster Pier, with boats east to the Tower and Greenwich.
  • By bike: Santander Cycles hire bikes have docking stations all over central London.
  • By car: best avoided. Central London has a daily Congestion Charge and the Ultra Low Emission Zone, and parking is scarce and expensive.

Read our full guide to the Tube, buses and contactless.

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Getting there FAQ

How do I get from Heathrow to Westminster?

Take the Elizabeth line to Bond Street and change to the Jubilee line for two stops to Westminster, or take the Piccadilly line to Green Park and change to the Jubilee line for one stop. Either way, allow about an hour.

How do I get from Gatwick to Westminster?

Take the Gatwick Express or a Southern train to London Victoria, then the District or Circle line two stops to Westminster. The whole trip takes about an hour.

How do I get from the Eurostar at St Pancras?

Take the Victoria line from King’s Cross St Pancras to Green Park, then the Jubilee line one stop to Westminster. It takes about 20 to 25 minutes.

Should I buy an Oyster card?

You do not need one if you have a contactless bank card or a phone that pays by tapping: fares and daily caps are the same. A Visitor Oyster card is useful if your card charges foreign transaction fees.