kids encyclopedia robot

Blackfriars station facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Blackfriars London Underground National Rail
London Blackfriars
Blackfriars tube stn and Thameslink northern entrance 2012.JPG
Northern entrance on Queen Victoria Street after renovation in 2012
Location Blackfriars, Castle Baynard
Local authority City of London
Managed by Thameslink;
London Underground
Owner Network Rail
Transport for London
Station code BFR
DfT category A
Number of platforms 6 (4 National Rail)
(2 London Underground)
Accessible Yes
Fare zone 1
OSI Mansion House London Underground
Temple London Underground
Blackfriars Millennium Pier London River Services
Southwark London Underground
Railway companies
Original company London, Chatham and Dover Railway
Key dates
10 May 1886 (10 May 1886) Opened as St. Paul's (LC&DR)
30 May 1870 Opened (MDR)
1937 Renamed as Blackfriars
1977 Rebuilt (British Rail)
2012 Rebuilt (Thameslink)
Other information
Lists of stations
Other websites
  • Departures
  • Layout
  • Facilities
  • Buses

Blackfriars station is a busy train station in the City of London, England. It is a major hub for both the London Underground (the Tube) and National Rail trains. The station is located right next to Blackfriars Bridge, where New Bridge Street and Queen Victoria Street meet. It is in Travelcard Zone 1, which is the central area for public transport in London.

Blackfriars tube station building site
Blackfriars Underground station worksite during the Thameslink Programme rebuild

Blackfriars station has been rebuilt and updated as part of a big project called the Thameslink programme. This project made the station much more modern and able to handle more passengers. During the work, the office building above the station was taken down and a new one was built. The main train station stayed open for most of this time. However, the Underground part of the station was closed for a while until late 2011.

What is Blackfriars Station?

Blackfriars is a unique station because it stretches right across the River Thames. This means you can see amazing views of London from its platforms. It serves as a key connection point for people travelling across the city.

How Trains Use Blackfriars

The station has different platforms for different types of trains:

  • National Rail: These trains connect London to other towns and cities. At Blackfriars, you can catch trains going south, like to Brighton or Gatwick Airport.
  • London Underground: This is London's subway system, also known as the Tube. The District and Circle lines stop at Blackfriars, making it easy to get around central London.

Modern Features of the Station

The recent rebuild of Blackfriars station brought many cool new features. One of the most interesting is its roof, which is covered with solar panels. These panels help the station generate its own electricity from the sun. This makes Blackfriars one of the most eco-friendly stations in the UK.

History of Blackfriars Station

Blackfriars station has a long history, changing over many years.

Early Days

The first station here opened in 1870 for the Underground. It was originally called St. Paul's. The main line railway station opened a bit later, in 1886. Over time, the station grew and changed names. It became known as Blackfriars in 1937.

Major Upgrades

The station has been rebuilt several times to keep up with the growing number of passengers. A big rebuild happened in 1977. The most recent and largest upgrade was completed in 2012 as part of the Thameslink programme. This project made the station much bigger and more modern. It also allowed longer trains to stop there, helping more people travel.

Getting Around from Blackfriars

Blackfriars station is very well connected. You can easily switch between different types of transport:

  • Tube Lines: The District line and Circle line of the London Underground stop here.
  • River Boats: Right next to the station is Blackfriars Millennium Pier. From here, you can catch river boats that travel along the Thames.
  • Nearby Stations: Other Tube stations like Mansion House, Temple, and Southwark are also close by.

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Estación de Blackfriars para niños

kids search engine
Blackfriars station Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.