We were out with our stopwatch on the Tube yesterday, testing whether the reported ’37 seconds between Covent Garden and Leicester Square’ really was true – and it is. On average that’s the time it takes between the doors closing at one station and opening at the other.
So we compiled a list of all the other shortest hops between two Tube stations, where journey times are all under 60 seconds. Try never to buy a cash fare ticket between these two stops!
These are all average timings from multiple journeys made going in both directions.
On the Piccadilly Line, Leicester Square and Covent Garden are the two closest stations together on the network with an average journey time of just 37 seconds.
Southwark to Waterloo on the Jubilee line takes on average 41 seconds.
The time between Charing Cross and Embankment (Northern) is 42 seconds.
Mansion House to Cannon Street (District and Circle) : 46 seconds.
Northfields to South Ealing on the Piccadilly are so close to each other you can see the other each from the the other one looking down the line. Journey time is 47 seconds.
The time between Charing Cross and Embankment (Bakerloo) is 48 seconds.
Holborn to Chancery Lane on the Central takes 50 seconds.
On the Central Line, Oxford Circus to Tottenham Court Road takes just 52 seconds.
Cannon Street to Monument (District and Circle) : 54 seconds.
Marylebone to Edgware Road on the Bakerloo, 55 seconds.
Bond Street to Oxford CIrcus on the Central takes 56 seconds.
Warren Street to Euston on the Victoria line takes 57 seconds.
Swiss Cottage to FInchley Road on the Jubilee Line is 58 seconds.
Shepherds Bush Market to Goldhawk Road on the Hammersmith & City, Circle Lines takes 58 seconds.