Up is the only way. Every road leads to Rome. As you can only move south from the North Pole, similarly if you’re on the Circle Line, you will always move eastward, no matter which way you’re headed.
The pictures I took on the underground (I hope, legal) illustrate the same:
- To go from Victoria to Liverpool Street, you need to head east.
- How about the other way around? From Liverpool Street to Victoria? If that is the case, you will still need to head east.
- Liverpool Street lies east of Victoria.
- Moreover, Victoria is located east of Liverpool Street.
Since you can only travel east, it seems we are at the west pole.
Couldn’t clockwise and anticlockwise work better on the Circle Line? The BBC’s odd H2G2 site does offer some clarification. There is a reason for that, even if it seems absurd. Circle Line stations use the same platforms as some older lines, e.g., Metropolitan Line, with clear West and East directions.
So how do you determine which platform should be used? Well, you can do it in three different ways. For this purpose, you will surely need a tube map. Now, locate your starting point and your destination point. Also, see if the map shows an NR [National Rail] station nearby.
Here’s how you will know about the platform.
- Before stepping on the platform, examine the boards to see your destination. Ignore the west/eastbound text. If it has your desired location, you are on the right platform.
- Once you find the intended platform, look at the electronic sign or the lightbox with arrows – these should then read: ‘Circle Line via XXXXXXXX,’ with the ‘X’s standing for the stations between where you are and your destination. Suppose you are at High Street Kensington and have to go to Embankment, the sign will read ‘Circle Line via Victoria.’ If there aren’t any stations in-between your current location and where you want to go, use the next step in conjunction.
- As you follow the instructions above, watch the Electronic sign. If the sign tells you the correct NR station, you are on the right platform, even if it doesn’t show any in-between stations. Say you are at Paddington and want to go to Baker Street. The sign should show, “Circle Line via King’s Cross/St. Pancras.’ If not, you may be on the wrong platform.
Furthermore, the London Underground staff is always there to help you. You can distinctly spot them by their blue uniforms, and they will always provide accurate information.
