This article is about a part of the London Underground. Another Circle Line operates ferry and sightseeing boats in Greater New York.

The Circle Line of the London Underground became known as such in 1949. The Circle line was not built as a separate line, but was instead created by joining parts of the District and Metropolitan lines as a service. Only two small sections of track are unique to the Circle Line - a tiny connecting section between Aldgate and Tower Hill stations (which is so small that trains turning off onto the District Line can see the platforms at Aldgate and vice-versa) and another connection between Gloucester Road and High Street Kensington.

When first proposed the route was called the Inner Circuit, referring to its position with respect to London and its railways. The form Inner Circle followed quickly, and was well established before the circle was actually completed. A later route was designated the Outer Circle, and this was quickly followed by a Middle Circle; for a short time there was even a Super Outer Circle. None of these was ever a complete circle: the Outer Circle, for example, from 1872 until 1908 followed the North London and West London Railways from Broad Street station to Willesden Junction and Addison Road (now Kensington (Olympia)), then ran onto the District to terminate at Mansion House.

As a joint service of the Metropolitan and District Railways/Lines, the Inner Circle was not even shown on tube maps until 1947. In 1949 it was finally designated as a separate line, becoming the Circle Line.

In the north, east and west of central London, the Circle Line approximately outlines Zone 1 of the Underground (though in the south there is a substantial portion of the Zone outside of the area enclosed by the Circle Line) and is the only line (apart from the two stop Waterloo & City Line) that is completely contained within it.

As the name implies, trains runs continuously on the line. A complete journey around the line (a rarity as there are usually quicker routes between the stations on other lines) lasts approximately one hour. The line has 27 stations and 22.5 km of track.

A popular pub crawl,'http://www.thecirclelinepubcrawl.co.uk is to visit each of the Circle Line tube stations in turn, drinking a half pint or short in a pub near to each.

There have, so far [2004] been three occurrences of a "Circle Line Party". These were promoted by grassroots organisations such as the Space Hijackers, and involve the "hijacking" of a circle line train. Alcohol and snacks are freely distributed, and music is played. Samba bands have also featured as part of the Circle Line Party.

Map

Geographically accurate map of the Circle Line (Large)

Stations

in order, clockwise from Paddington

• Paddington (Bakerloo and Circle)
• Edgware Road (Circle and Hammersmith)
• Baker Street
• Great Portland Street
• Euston Square
• King's Cross St Pancras
• Farringdon
• Barbican
• Moorgate
• Liverpool Street
• Aldgate
• Tower Hill
• Monument
• Cannon Street
• Mansion House
• Blackfriars
• Temple
• Embankment
• Westminster
• St. James's Park
• Victoria
• Sloane Square
• South Kensington
• Gloucester Road
• High Street Kensington
• Notting Hill Gate
• Bayswater

External links

• The Circle Line Pub Crawl website (http://www.thecirclelinepubcrawl.co.uk/)
• Circle Line Party website (http://www.spacehijackers.co.uk/clp3/)
• Circle Line Party 3 video (2004) (http://www.iconscious.co.uk/clp3/)

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