London Charing Cross

London’s most central railway station

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.

Important information – Coronavirus

In line with government guidance, all non-essential retailers in our managed stations have closed to help prevent the spread of Coronavirus.

Where possible, supermarkets and pharmacies have stayed open to allow customers to purchase essential items.

Facilities including ticket offices, information points, lost property and the stations themselves may be operating reduced opening hours to facilitate the reduced timetable.

Our staff are working hard to keep key workers and vital supplies moving across Britain; please help keep them and yourselves safe by only travelling if it is essential.

Visit our coronavirus page for more information.

Charing Cross station

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). In an emergency call 999.

British Transport Police in our stations

Car

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.

Taxi

The taxi rank is on the station forecourt.

For more information visit traintaxi.

Bus

There are bus stops at the front of the station on the Strand.

For more information see maps (right) or visit TfL buses.

Bicycle

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.

Train

For information about trains to and from Charing Cross station go to National Rail Enquiries or call 03457 48 49 50.

London Underground

Charing Cross
Lines serving Charing Cross Underground station:

  • Bakerloo
  • Northern

The entrance is on the left of the ticket office down the stairs or the escalator.

Embankment
To get there, turn right onto The Strand and take the first right down Villiers Street – the station is about 250 metres ahead.

Lines serving Embankment:

  • District
  • Circle
  • Bakerloo
  • Northern

For more information see maps (right) or visit TfL Underground.

Tickets and information

Ticket office:

  • Monday to Saturday 04:30 – 00:50
  • Sunday 06:45 – 00:46

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.

Toilets and baby changing

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.

Cash

There are three ATM machines located between Hotel Chocolat and The Pasty Shop on the station concourse.

Telephones

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.

Wi-Fi

There are currently no WiFi facilities available.

Waiting room

Next to the gate line for Platform 4.

 

Lost property

At the station
Items handed in at the station are kept in the left luggage office. Report a lost item online.

Lost property counter opening hours:

  • Monday to Sunday 07:00 – 23:00

On board a train
Items left on trains are kept by Southeastern: report a lost item online or call 0845 000 2222.

Left luggage

You can leave luggage at Excess Baggage on the concourse.

  • Monday to Sunday 07:00 – 23:00

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.

Trolleys

There are no luggage trolleys in the station.

Photo booths

There is a photo-booth in the Trafalgar Square Exit near to the left luggage.

Water fountain

The water fountain is located on the left hand side of the TFL visitor information kiosk near by platform 5.

Parking

There is no car park at the station.

Accessible parking

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.

Cycle parking

Some bicycle racks are available on the forecourt.

Accessibility

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.

Requesting assistance

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:

  • Monday to Saturday 06:30 – 22:00
  • Sunday 07:30 – 22:00

Accessible toilets

Near the central Strand exit.

Wheelchairs

Wheelchairs are available for use with staff assistance.

Textphone

In the central entrance, between the forecourt and the concourse.

Getting to and from the station

Information about accessible public transport is available from Transport for London:

Transport accessibility information

Helpline: 0343 222 1234 (option 3) (24 hours)

Bus

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.

Underground

TfL Tube accessibility information

Charing Cross
Lines serving Charing Cross Underground:

  • Bakerloo
  • Northern

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
To get to there, turn right onto Strand and take the first right down Villiers Street – the station is about 250 metres ahead.

Lines serving Embankment Underground:

  • District
  • Circle
  • Bakerloo
  • Northern

There is no step-free access to the ticket office or platform levels.

Car

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.

Taxi

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.

London Charing Cross