The Central line is the red line on the London Underground, linking west London with the centre, east London and destinations in Essex.
About the Central line
The line connects Ealing Broadway and West Ruislip in the west with central London and the routes towards Epping and Hainault in the east. Its branches make checking the train’s destination and route important, rather than relying only on eastbound or westbound signs.
Its first section opened to the public on 30 July 1900 between Shepherd’s Bush and Bank as the Central London Railway. The nickname The Tuppenny Tube referred to its original two-penny fare.
Today’s network has 49 stations, combining deep central tunnels with above-ground sections farther out. Later extensions substantially changed the route of the original railway.
Central line stations
The following list separates branches from the shared section to locate the 49 current stations. It does not mean every train runs from one end of the line to the other.
- From West Ruislip towards North Acton: West Ruislip, Ruislip Gardens, South Ruislip, Northolt, Greenford, Perivale and Hanger Lane.
- From Ealing Broadway towards North Acton: Ealing Broadway and West Acton.
- Shared section between North Acton and Leytonstone: North Acton, East Acton, White City, Shepherd’s Bush, Holland Park, Notting Hill Gate, Queensway, Lancaster Gate, Marble Arch, Bond Street, Oxford Circus, Tottenham Court Road, Holborn, Chancery Lane, St. Paul’s, Bank, Liverpool Street, Bethnal Green, Mile End, Stratford, Leyton and Leytonstone.
- From Leytonstone towards Epping: Snaresbrook, South Woodford, Woodford, Buckhurst Hill, Loughton, Debden, Theydon Bois and Epping.
- From Leytonstone towards Hainault via Newbury Park: Wanstead, Redbridge, Gants Hill, Newbury Park, Barkingside, Fairlop and Hainault.
- Connection between Hainault and Woodford: Grange Hill, Chigwell and Roding Valley, before rejoining at Woodford. Check whether your journey requires a change of trains.
British Museum is not an open station: it closed in 1933. For the museum from Central, consider Holborn or Tottenham Court Road according to your journey. Wood Lane is not a current Central stop either: today’s station serves Circle and Hammersmith & City; White City is the nearby Central station.
Choosing the right train and branch
- Travelling west: a West Ruislip train does not call at West Acton or Ealing Broadway. These branches separate at North Acton.
- For Epping: check that your train goes all the way there; some terminate earlier. A Hainault train via Newbury Park takes a different route after Leytonstone.
- For Hainault: look for “via Newbury Park” or “via Woodford”. These are different routes and do not serve the same intermediate stations.
- For Chigwell, Grange Hill or Roding Valley: check the journey planner for your travel time. Do not assume any Hainault train will call at these stations.
Central line map and route
The Central line crosses the city from western suburbs through central London towards the north-east. It serves everyday journeys as well as cultural, shopping and business destinations.
The image above is retained as a reference. Check current branches and connections using the TfL Central route and current map.
Central line operating hours
First and last trains depend on station, direction, branch, destination and day. Check TfL’s official timetables for your journey and look for disruptions and engineering works before setting off.
On Friday and Saturday nights, Central has Night Tube between Ealing Broadway and Loughton/Hainault. The Hainault route runs via Newbury Park. Night service does not cover the West Ruislip branch, stations beyond Loughton towards Epping, or the Woodford–Hainault connection through Roding Valley, Chigwell and Grange Hill.
For a late return, check that your station and branch are included: knowing that Central has Night Tube is not enough. See our night service guide for more information.
Facts about the Central line
The line’s development left stations that no longer form part of the service. British Museum opened in 1900 and closed when Central’s connection at Holborn provided a more practical interchange with Piccadilly. Its name should not be mistaken for a station you can use to visit the museum today.
The stations’ different architecture reflects successive stages of Underground design, with older platforms alongside entrances and facilities updated over time.
With its long history and extensive route, Central remains an important connection across the city, carrying passengers between residential neighbourhoods and central destinations.
Last reviewed: 25 October 2026.
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