
There are a fair few London Tube journeys that are actually just as speedy on foot, meaning that – believe it or not – the ordeal of tapping your Oyster Card and squishing yourself into a packed carriage may not always be worth it. But which journey is the most pointless of all, I hear you ask? No, it isn’t the one that takes you to work every morning. It’s actually the stretch of the Piccadilly Line between Covent Garden and Leicester Square.
Perched just a teeny-tiny 320 metres away from each other, these two stations are connected by a mere 45 second ride on the Tube or a 5 minute stroll up the road – making them the closest together stations on the entire transport network. Now, I know what you’re thinking: 45 seconds is still much quicker than five minutes. And yes, you’d be correct. But once you factor in barriers, never-ending escalators, tube waits, and the dreaded lift at Covent Garden station; the numbers aren’t quite so simple.
To settle the debate once and for all, we decided to investigate. Two of us hopped on the Tube whilst another pounded the pavements, and – although there was only a few seconds in it – the walk was (quite clearly) far more enjoyable. Both journeys took around 5 minutes 50 seconds, and whilst we spent those five minutes sprinting, sweating, and hoping that the transport Gods were on our side; Tom took a lovely sunny stroll through the streets of London. I think I know what I’d opt for in future.
Over 250 people spend £2.70 taking the Tube journey between the two stations every day – the majority of whom must be tourists because a true Londoner would never. So, our advice is – if you’re able to – ditch the Oyster Card and get those pins moving. It’ll be good for your step count and your bank balance. What more could you ask for?