Mind the Gap (and the Glutes): A Guide to the Tube’s Most Brutal Staircases
We’ve all been there: the lift queue at Covent Garden looks ten minutes deep, and a small, confident voice in your head whispers, "It’s just a few stairs, how bad could it be?" Fast forward five minutes, and you’re gasping for air in a humid concrete tube, questioning every life choice that led you to this vertical marathon. In London, the distance between the platform and the street isn't just measured in meters, it's measured in the slow, rhythmic burn of a spiral staircase that never seems to end.
While Transport for London (TfL) doesn’t publish an official "Step Count League Table" for every station (they’re more focused on step-free access these days), the data for the deepest, most legendary climbs is out there.
Whether you’re looking for a workout or looking for a reason to never leave the lift, here is the breakdown of the London Underground’s most infamous staircases.
1. The "Everest" of the Underground: Hampstead
Sitting at the top of the list (and the bottom of the hill) is Hampstead. Because the station is built on a massive incline, the platforms are a staggering 58.5 meters below ground level.
The Count: 320+ steps.
The Vibe: Pure cardio. It holds the record for the longest spiral staircase on the entire network. If the lifts are out, you aren’t just "taking the stairs", you’re embarking on an expedition.
2. The Central London Trap: Covent Garden
This is the one most tourists fall for. You see a queue for the lift, you see a door marked "Way Out (Stairs)," and you think, How bad can it be?
The Count: 193 steps.
The Vibe: Regret. Around step 100, you’ll start to see the faces of people coming the other way looking like they’ve seen things they can’t unsee. It’s the longest emergency staircase in Central London.
3. Belsize Park (Northern Line)
Just one stop down from Hampstead, Belsize Park offers a similar brand of vertical punishment. It’s a deep-level air-raid shelter station, meaning the climb is as historic as it is exhausting.
The Count: 189 steps.
The Vibe: The silent killer. Just a few steps shy of Covent Garden, this is another deep Northern Line spiral that will leave your legs shaking before you even hit the street level.
4. Russell Square (Piccadilly Line)
Located in the heart of academic London, this station is a favorite for students and museum-goers who think they're saving time. In reality, the lift is almost always the faster (and sweat-free) choice.
The Count: 175 steps.
The Vibe: The academic challenge. A favorite for those visiting the British Museum who think they'll save time by skipping the lift. They rarely do.
5. Goodge Street (Northern Line)
The Count: 136 steps.
The Vibe: The "entry-level" monster. It’s significantly shorter than Hampstead, but still enough to ruin a good outfit with a layer of "Tube sweat" on a warm July afternoon.
As one of the few remaining stations that relies almost entirely on lifts rather than escalators, Goodge Street feels like a relic of a different era, and its emergency stairs feel like a medieval dungeon climb.
The "Honourable" Mentions (The 100+ Club)
If you’re training for a marathon, these are the stations you might actually want to consider. If you’re carrying a suitcase, avoid them at all costs:
Caledonian Road (Piccadilly Line): 134 steps
Moorgate (Various Lines): 131 steps
Bank (Various Lines): 128 steps
Queensway (Central Line): 126 steps
Edgware Road (Bakerloo Line): 125 steps
Why is there no official list?
You might wonder why we don’t have an exact count for all stations. The reality is that for most modern stations, the "stairs" are just short flights or escalators. The detailed engineering data exists, but unless it's a deep-level spiral staircase, TfL generally prefers to highlight step-free routes to help people with mobility needs.
The Verdict: If the count is over 100, wait for the lift. Your knees (and the people behind you) will thank you.
