London’s most central railway station
Important information – Coronavirus
Our staff are working hard to keep critical workers and vital supplies moving across Britain; please help keep them and yourselves safe. Travel at quieter times. Wash your hands. Wear a face covering.
Visit our coronavirus travel advice page for more information.
Wear a face covering
You must wear a face covering for the full duration of your journey on public transport in England and Scotland. It is recommended that you continue to wear your face covering when travelling in Wales. If travelling from Wales, you will be required to wear a face covering when you enter England. Find out more about specific exemptions.
Passenger assistance
Our passenger assistance is operating with additional safety measures in place, including the requirement to wear a face covering.
Book passenger assistance as you normally would. Please wear your own face covering and our staff will do likewise, this reduces the risk to you and our staff. If you don’t wear a face covering this will limit our ability to help you. If you do not have your own face covering we will provide a face covering for you. At our stations we have face coverings (including visors) and hand sanitiser available to help us help you.
Please see the accessibility section below for more information.
Facilities
- Facilities including ticket offices, information points, lost property and the stations themselves may be operating reduced opening hours.
- Maintaining the highest possible hygiene levels on the railway is vital. From the start of this pandemic we have made sure we have sufficient cleaning supplies – such as anti-viral treatment.
- We are cleaning stations throughout the day so that those who need to travel can do so more safely.
- As service levels increase, additional deep cleans will be carried out in toilet areas, and we will continue to sanitise and use anti-viral treatment on common touch-point areas, such as doors and handrails.
- We are making changes in many station areas so that people can social distance and move around more safely.
Retailers
We are working hard to safely reopen retail units in all of our stations. We hope to have all of your favourites available soon, but we will only reopen units when we are able to make sure we can adhere to social distancing guidance from the government. Our priority continues to be the safety of our passengers and retailer teams.
See it. Say it. Sorted.
When reporting any security issues around the railway to a member of staff or the British Transport Police (BTP), please keep your distance. Follow Government advice on staying safe. You can also call or text BTP to report an issue. Call: 0800 40 50 40 / Text: 61016. In an emergency dial 999
Charing Cross was built on the site of the famous Hungerford Market, opening in 1864. One year later, Charing Cross Hotel was built, giving the station an ornate French Renaissance style frontage.
Located in the City of Westminster, London Charing Cross accommodates 30.2 million passengers a year. It faces the Shard from the front, and the Hungerford Bridge at the other end where trains cross into and out of Charing Cross, passing over the River Thames.
Station opening hours
- Monday to Saturday: 04:30 – 00:50
- Sunday: 06:30 – 00:46
Tickets and travel information
National Rail Enquiries
03457 48 49 50
Textphone: 0345 60 50 600
Welsh language line: 0345 60 40 500
Station enquiries
General station enquiries: 03457 11 41 41
Find your way around using the Charing Cross Station Map,
British Transport Police
For assistance speak to any member of station staff or contact the British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40 (24 hours) or text 61016. In an emergency call 999.
British Transport Police in our stations
Private cars can pick up and drop off on the station forecourt. Waiting is not permitted. Sat nav postcode: WC2N 5HS There is no parking at the station for members of the public. There are bus stops at the front of the station on the Strand. For more information see maps (right) or visit TfL buses. If you want to take your bicycle on the train, please check with the train operator first. There are bicycle racks available at the front of the station. For information about trains to and from Charing Cross station go to National Rail Enquiries or call 03457 48 49 50. Charing Cross The entrance is on the left of the ticket office down the stairs or the escalator. Embankment Lines serving Embankment: For more information see maps (right) or visit TfL Underground. Ticket office: There are ticket machines located by the ticket office. The ticket office and machines are run by Southeastern. For tickets, train times and up to the minute information visit National Rail Enquiries or call 03457 48 49 50. Alternatively contact Southeastern. Men and women’s public toilets are located between Boots and Caffe Nero. Accessible, baby change: in the Central exit to The Strand between Marks & Spencer and Whistle Stop. There are three ATM machines located between Hotel Chocolat and The Pasty Shop on the station concourse. There are payphones in the Trafalgar Square Exit near to the left luggage facilities, where there is also a BT textphone, and in the Central Exit to the Strand. There are currently no WiFi facilities available. Next to the gate line for Platform 4. At the station Lost property counter opening hours: On board a train You can leave luggage at Excess Baggage on the concourse. You can pre-book storage for your heavy, awkward or high-value luggage at our station left luggage facilities. For more information visit Excess Baggage or call 020 7930 5444. There are no luggage trolleys in the station. There is a photo-booth in the Trafalgar Square Exit near to the left luggage. The water fountain is located on the left hand side of the TFL visitor information kiosk near by platform 5. There is no car park at the station. There are no accessible parking spaces at the station, but there is a bay on the forecourt reserved for Blue Badge holders picking up or dropping off passengers. Some bicycle racks are available on the forecourt. Step free access: there is step-free access from the Strand. Access from Villiers Street is by escalators controlled by the Embankment Place management. The station forecourt is cobbled, but there is a pavement to one side. Induction loops: the helpdesk has a loop, left luggage / lost property does not have one. Visually impaired: there are no tactile warning strips along the platform edges. Coronavirus information: Book passenger assistance as you normally would. Please wear your own face covering and our staff will do likewise, this reduces the risk to you and our staff. If you don’t wear a face covering this will limit our ability to help you. If you do not have your own face covering we will provide a face covering for you. At our stations we have face coverings (including visors) and hand sanitiser available to help us help you. If you need help with mobility or with luggage, we can help you more effectively if you call in advance on 0800 783 4524. In the station, please speak to any member of our staff including cleaners, or go to the Southeastern information desk: Near the central Strand exit. Wheelchairs are available for use with staff assistance. In the central entrance, between the forecourt and the concourse. Information about accessible public transport is available from Transport for London: Transport accessibility information Helpline: 0343 222 1234 (option 3) (24 hours) TfL bus accessibility information There is step-free access from the bus stops on the Strand. All buses are accessible except heritage routes 9 and 15. TfL Tube accessibility information Charing Cross There is no step-free access to the ticket office or platform levels, however an escalator descends to the ticket hall level until approximately 10:30 and rises for the rest of the day. Embankment Lines serving Embankment Underground: There is no step-free access to the ticket office or platform levels. Pick-up / drop-off point: there is a space on the station forecourt reserved for Blue Badge holders, waiting is not permitted. Parking: there is no station car park. The taxi rank is on the cobbled station forecourt. All taxis are accessible. For more information visit traintaxi. Click on the link below to search for food, drink and shopping outlets at London Charing Cross station.
Car
Bus
Bicycle
Train
London Underground
Lines serving Charing Cross Underground station:
To get there, turn right onto The Strand and take the first right down Villiers Street – the station is about 250 metres ahead.
Tickets and information
Toilets and baby changing
Cash
Telephones
Wi-Fi
Waiting room
Lost property
Items handed in at the station are kept in the left luggage office. Report a lost item online.
Items left on trains are kept by Southeastern: report a lost item online or call 0845 000 2222.Left luggage
Trolleys
Photo booths
Water fountain
Parking
Accessible parking
Cycle parking
Accessibility
Requesting assistance
Accessible toilets
Wheelchairs
Textphone
Getting to and from the station
Bus
Underground
Lines serving Charing Cross Underground:
To get to there, turn right onto Strand and take the first right down Villiers Street – the station is about 250 metres ahead.
Car
Taxi