Charing Cross station facts for kids

Charing Cross station is a very important place in London, England. It's a major transport hub, meaning it's a busy spot where people can catch different types of trains and underground tubes to travel around the city and beyond. When people talk about Charing Cross station, they usually mean one of two things: the main railway station or the underground tube station. Both are super busy and play a big role in getting people where they need to go in London.

Charing Cross Station: A London Landmark

Charing Cross is a famous area in central London, and the station is right at its heart. It's known for being a key starting point for measuring distances from London. For example, many road signs measure distances from a point near Charing Cross. This area has been important for centuries, and the station continues that tradition by being a vital link in London's transport system.

Charing Cross Railway Station

The Charing Cross railway station is a big train station that first opened its doors on January 11, 1864. It was built by the South Eastern Railway company. When it was first built, it had a grand hotel right next to it, called the Charing Cross Hotel, which is still there today! The station was designed to be a grand gateway to London for people arriving from the south-east of England.

Today, Charing Cross railway station is one of London's busiest train terminals. It's managed by Network Rail and serves as the main London station for trains heading to Kent, a county in the south-east of England. You can catch trains here to places like Dover, Hastings, and Canterbury. It has six platforms and is a bustling place with thousands of passengers passing through every day.

Charing Cross Tube Station

Right underneath the main railway station, you'll find the Charing Cross tube station. This is part of London's famous London Underground network, often called "the Tube." This station is a bit more complex because it serves two different Tube lines: the Bakerloo line and the Northern line.

The Bakerloo line platforms at Charing Cross opened on March 10, 1906, and were originally called "Trafalgar Square." The Northern line platforms opened on June 22, 1907, and were called "Strand." In 1979, when the Jubilee line was extended, these two separate stations were connected and renamed "Charing Cross" to make it easier for people to find their way around. The Jubilee line platforms were later closed in 1999 when the line was extended further east.

Today, Charing Cross tube station is a vital interchange. It allows people to easily switch between the Bakerloo and Northern lines, and it's also directly connected to the main Charing Cross railway station. This makes it super convenient for commuters and tourists who want to explore London or travel further afield. It's a key stop for visiting famous landmarks like Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery.

Why is it Called Charing Cross?

The name "Charing Cross" has an interesting history. It comes from one of the twelve original Eleanor crosses. These were stone monuments built by King Edward I in the late 1200s to mark the overnight stops of the funeral procession of his beloved wife, Eleanor of Castile. The last cross was placed at the village of Charing, just outside the City of London. Over time, the area became known as Charing Cross, and the name stuck for the station and the surrounding area.