Embankment

Embankment underground station has been known by various names during its long history - including, indeed, ’Embankment’.

The station has two entrances, one on Victoria Embankment and the other on Villiers Street, adjacent to Victoria Embankment Gardens.

The station is in two parts: sub-surface platforms opened in 1870 by the Metropolitan District Railway (MDR) as part of the company’s extension of the Inner Circle eastwards from Westminster to Blackfriars and deep-level platforms opened in 1906 by the Baker Street and Waterloo Railway (BS&WR) and 1914 by the Charing Cross, Euston and Hampstead Railway (CCE&HR). A variety of underground and mainline services have operated over the sub-surface tracks and the CCE&HR part of the station was reconstructed in the 1920s.

After having been named both Charing Cross and Embankment, in 1974 the station was renamed Charing Cross Embankment. Then, on 12 September 1976, it became Embankment, so that the merged Strand and Trafalgar Square stations could be named Charing Cross.

Contrary to popular belief, the shortest walking distance between two stations is not the 250 metres between Leicester Square and Covent but between Charing Cross and Embankment, a distance of 100 metres.

During summer 2013, Oswald Laurence’s famous ’mind the gap’ announcement was reinstated to Embankment station after a request from his widow who would come to Embankment station after he died just to hear his voice. She asked for a copy of the iconic mind the gap announcement her husband made some 40 years before - instead staff decided to restore the recording.

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NEARBY LOCATIONS OF NOTE

101 Strand, WC2R This shop was one of the first in London to have gas lighting fitted.

101 Strand, WC2R

101 The Strand 101 The Strand was an art school from 1750 until 1806.

101 The Strand

Ackermann’s Rudolph Ackermann (20 April 1764 in Stollberg, Saxony – 30 March 1834 in Finchley) was an Anglo-German bookseller, inventor, lithographer, publisher and businessman.

Ackermann’s

Charing Cross Charing Cross denotes the junction of the Strand, Whitehall and Cockspur Street, just south of Trafalgar Square

Charing Cross

Embankment Embankment underground station has been known by various names during its long history - including, indeed, ’Embankment’.

Embankment

Embankment to Charing Cross walk Arguably the shortest walk between two stations of the London Underground

Embankment to Charing Cross walk

Hungerford Bridge Hungerford Bridge is a rail bridge crossing the Thames into Charing Cross station.

Hungerford Bridge

Hungerford Stairs The Hungerford Stairs were the entrance point to Hungerford Market from the River Thames. They are now the site of Charing Cross railway Station.

Hungerford Stairs

Nelson’s Column Nelson’s Column is a monument in Trafalgar Square built to commemorate Horatio Nelson’s decisive victory at the Battle of Trafalgar during which he lost his life.

Nelson’s Column

Northumberland House Northumberland House was a large Jacobean townhouse in London, which was the London residence of the Percy family, the Dukes of Northumberland.

Northumberland House

The Adelphi The Adelphi is a small district surrounding the streets of Adelphi Terrace, Robert Street and John Adam Street.

The Adelphi

Wyld’s Great Globe Wyld’s Great Globe was an attraction situated in Leicester Square between 1851 and 1862.

Wyld’s Great Globe

NEARBY STREETS

Adam Street, WC2N Adam Street is named after John and Robert Adam, who built the Adelphi development in the 1760s (Charing Cross)

Adam Street, WC2N

Adelaide Street, WC2R Adelaide Street was named for Queen Adelaide, Consort to King William IV (Charing Cross)

Adelaide Street, WC2R

Adelphi Terrace, WC2N Adelphi Terrace is named after John and Robert Adam, who built the Adelphi development in the 1760s (Embankment)

Adelphi Terrace, WC2N

Admiralty House, SW1A Admiralty House is a block on Whitehall (Westminster)

Admiralty House, SW1A

Agar Street, WC2N Agar Street is named after George Agar, who built the street in the 1830s with John Ponsonby, Earl of Bessborough (Charing Cross)

Agar Street, WC2N

Bear Street, WC2H Bear Street is a streetname with two possible derivations (Leicester Square)

Bear Street, WC2H

Beaufort’s Buildings, WC2R Beaufort’s Buildings was replaced by Savoy Court (Charing Cross)

Beaufort’s Buildings, WC2R

Bedford Street, WC2E Bedford Street was named after local 18th century landowners the Russell family, earls/dukes of Bedford (Covent Garden)

Bedford Street, WC2E

Bedfordbury, WC2N Bedfordbury is one of the streets of London in the WC2N postal area (Covent Garden)

Bedfordbury, WC2N

Belvedere Crescent, SE1 Belvedere Crescent used to run off Belvedere Road (South Bank)

Belvedere Crescent, SE1

Belvedere Road, SE1 Belvedere Road was laid out between 1814 and 1827 (South Bank)

Belvedere Road, SE1

Brettenham House, WC2R Brettenham House is a block on Savoy Street (Charing Cross)

Brettenham House, WC2R

Brydges Place, WC2N Brydges Place replaced Taylor’s Buildings in 1904 when the Colloseum was built (Charing Cross)

Brydges Place, WC2N

Buckingham Street, WC2N Buckingham Street is named after George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham (Charing Cross)

Buckingham Street, WC2N

Bull Inn Court, WC2E Bull Inn Court lies north off Strand (Covent Garden)

Bull Inn Court, WC2E

Burleigh Mansions, WC2H Burleigh Mansions dates from 1885 (Leicester Square)

Burleigh Mansions, WC2H

Canada House, SW1A Canada House is a Greek Revival building situated on Trafalgar Square (Charing Cross)

Canada House, SW1A

Carting Lane, WC2R Carting Lane is thought to be named after the carts that brought goods to and from the wharf formerly located here. (Charing Cross)

Carting Lane, WC2R

Casson Square, SE1 Casson Square is a square of South Bank buildings (South Bank)

Casson Square, SE1

Cecil Court, WC2N Cecil Court is a pedestrian street with Victorian shop-frontages (Leicester Square)

Cecil Court, WC2N

Cecil Street, WC2N Cecil Street was built on the site of Cecil House (Charing Cross)

Cecil Street, WC2N

Chandos Place, WC2N Chandos Place replaced the northern section of Chandos Street in 1938 (Charing Cross)

Chandos Place, WC2N

Chandos Street, WC2N Chandos Street (called Chandos Place after 1938), was named after the third Lord Chandos, the father-in-law of the fourth Earl of Bedford. (Charing Cross)

Chandos Street, WC2N

Charing Cross Mansions, WC2H Charing Cross Mansions is one of the mid 1880s block built around a widened Cecil Court (Leicester Square)

Charing Cross Mansions, WC2H

Charing Cross, WC2N Charing Cross, long regarded as London’s central point, as an address is an enigma (Charing Cross)

Charing Cross, WC2N

Charles Court, WC2N Charles Court ran between Villiers Street and Hungerford Market (Charing Cross)

Charles Court, WC2N

Church Court, WC2N Church Court once led from Church Lane - now demolished - to Strand (Charing Cross)

Church Court, WC2N

Church Lane, WC2N Church Lane was once a small lane leading from the back of St-Martins-in-the-Fields church to the Strand (Charing Cross)

Church Lane, WC2N

Cockspur Court, SW1A Cockspur Court runs west for a short section from Spring Gardens (Charing Cross)

Cockspur Court, SW1A

Cockspur Street, SW1A Cockspur Street is possibly after the cock fighting that formerly occurred here, cocks often having spurs attached to their feet during fights (Charing Cross)

Cockspur Street, SW1A

Concert Hall Approach, SE1 Concert Hall Approach ’does what it says on the tin’ (South Bank)

Concert Hall Approach, SE1

Craig’s Court, SW1A Craig’s Court is an alleyway off Whitehall (Charing Cross)

Craig’s Court, SW1A

Craven Passage, WC2N Craven Passage is named after William Craven, 3rd Baron Craven, who owned the land when the street was built in the 1730s (Charing Cross)

Craven Passage, WC2N

Craven Street, WC2N Craven Street is named after William Craven, 3rd Baron Craven, who owned the land when the street was built in the 1730s (Charing Cross)

Craven Street, WC2N

Dover House, SW1A Dover House is a block on Whitehall (Westminster)

Dover House, SW1A

Downing Street, SW1A Downing Street has been the home of British Prime Minsters since the eighteenth century (Westminster)

Downing Street, SW1A

Duncannon Street, WC2N Duncannon Street connects Trafalgar Square and Strand (Charing Cross)

Duncannon Street, WC2N

Durham House Street, WC2N Durham House Street was the former site of a palace belonging to the bishops of Durham in medieval times. (Charing Cross)

Durham House Street, WC2N

Embankment Place, WC2N Embankment Place runs from Villiers Street, under a railway arch, on to Northumberland Avenue (Embankment)

Embankment Place, WC2N

Exchange Court, WC2E Exchange Court leads south from Maiden Lane (Covent Garden)

Exchange Court, WC2E

Fox Under Hill Alley, WC2N Fox Under Hill Alley ran alongside Cecil House and later Salisbury Street (Charing Cross)

Fox Under Hill Alley, WC2N

George Court, WC2N George Court is named after George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham (Charing Cross)

George Court, WC2N

Golden Jubilee Bridge, WC2N Golden Jubilee Bridge is a road in the WC2N postcode area (River Thames)

Golden Jubilee Bridge, WC2N

Goodwins Court, WC2N Goodwins Court connects Bedfordbury with St Martin’s Lane (Covent Garden)

Goodwins Court, WC2N

Grand Buildings, SW1A Grand Buildings replaced the Grand Hotel in 1986 (Charing Cross)

Grand Buildings, SW1A

Great Scotland Yard, SW1A Great Scotland Yard is a street located in Westminster, London, connecting Northumberland Avenue and Whitehall. (Charing Cross)

Great Scotland Yard, SW1A

Gwydyr House, SW1A Gwydyr House is a building on Whitehall (Westminster)

Gwydyr House, SW1A

Half Moon Street, WC2N Half Moon Street was an old name for the lower portion of Bedford Street (Charing Cross)

Half Moon Street, WC2N

Heathcock Court, WC2E Heathcock Court runs north off Strand (Covent Garden)

Heathcock Court, WC2E

Hobhouse Court, WC2H Hobhouse Court is named after Sir John Cam Hobhouse, Victorian MP and arts patron (Leicester Square)

Hobhouse Court, WC2H

Hop Gardens, WC2N Hop Gardens is a small courtyard (Covent Garden)

Hop Gardens, WC2N

Horse Guards Avenue, SW1A Horse Guards Avenue stretches from Whitehall to the Embankment (Westminster)

Horse Guards Avenue, SW1A

Horse Guards Parade, SW1A Horse Guards Parade dates to the time of Henry VIII (Westminster)

Horse Guards Parade, SW1A

Horse Guards Road, SW1A Horse Guards Road runs along the eastern edge of St James’s Park (Westminster)

Horse Guards Road, SW1A

Hudson’s Court, WC2N Hudson’s Court is one of the courtyards swept away by the building of Trafalgar Square and Duncannon Street during the 1830s (Charing Cross)

Hudson’s Court, WC2N

Hungerford House, WC2N Residential block (Embankment)

Hungerford House, WC2N

Hungerford Lane, WC2N Hungerford Lane was a dark narrow alley that went alongside and then under Charing Cross Station (Charing Cross)

Hungerford Lane, WC2N

Irving Street, WC2H Irving Street is named after Henry Irving, the popular Victorian actor (Leicester Square)

Irving Street, WC2H

Ivybridge Lane, WC2N Ivybridge Lane is named after a former ivy-covered bridge (Charing Cross)

Ivybridge Lane, WC2N

John Adam House, WC2N John Adam House can be found on John Adam Street (Charing Cross)

John Adam House, WC2N

John Adam Street, WC2N John Adam Street is named after John Adam, who built the Adelphi development with his brother Robert in the 1760s (Charing Cross)

John Adam Street, WC2N

Johnson’s Court, SW1A Johnson’s Court is a former courtyard next to Northumberland House (Charing Cross)

Johnson’s Court, SW1A

Kinnaird House, SW1Y Kinnaird House is a block on Pall Mall (St James’s)

Kinnaird House, SW1Y

Kipling House, WC2N Kipling House is a block on Villiers Street (Charing Cross)

Kipling House, WC2N

Kirkland House, SW1A Kirkland House is a block on Whitehall (Westminster)

Kirkland House, SW1A

Lancaster Court, WC2N Lancaster Court was an old Strand courtyard, swept away in the 1830s (Charing Cross)

Lancaster Court, WC2N

Lancaster Place, WC2R Lancaster Place is part of the northern approach to Waterloo Bridge (Charing Cross)

Lancaster Place, WC2R

Leicester Square, WC2H Leicester Square is a central tourist attraction of London (Leicester Square)

Leicester Square, WC2H

Lumley Court, WC2N The very narrow Lumley Court connects Strand and Maiden Lane (Charing Cross)

Lumley Court, WC2N

Maiden Lane, WC2E Maiden Lane runs from Bedford Street in the west to Southampton Street in the east (Covent Garden)

Maiden Lane, WC2E

Main Building, SW1A Main Building is a block on Horse Guards Avenue (Westminster)

Main Building, SW1A

Manners Street, SE1 Manners Street ran northeast off Vine Street (South Bank)

Manners Street, SE1

May’s Court, WC2N May’s Court is a road in the WC2N postcode area (Covent Garden)

May’s Court, WC2N

Narrow Wall, SE1 Narrow Wall was, by the Tudor period, a road on the line of the old earth embankment of the River Thames (South Bank)

Narrow Wall, SE1

National Film Theatre, SE1 A street within the SE1 postcode (South Bank)

National Film Theatre, SE1

New Street, SW1A New Street was made part of Spring Gardens in 1881 (Westminster)

New Street, SW1A

Norman House, WC2R Norman House can be found on Strand, behind Savoy Steps (Charing Cross)

Norman House, WC2R

Northumberland Avenue, WC2N Northumberland Avenue runs from Trafalgar Square in the west to the Thames Embankment. (Charing Cross)

Northumberland Avenue, WC2N

Northumberland Court, SW1A Northumberland Court was a courtyard beside Northumberland House (Charing Cross)

Northumberland Court, SW1A

Northumberland House, SW1A Northumberland House is a modern block on Northumberland Avenue sharing the same name as a notable house of Charing Cross (Charing Cross)

Northumberland House, SW1A

Northumberland Street, WC2N Northumberland Street commemorates the former Northumberland House, built originally in the 17th century for the earls of Northampton and later acquired by the earls of Northumberland. (Charing Cross)

Northumberland Street, WC2N

Oceanic House, SW1Y Oceanic House is a block on Pall Mall East (Charing Cross)

Oceanic House, SW1Y

Old Admiralty Building, SW1A Old Admiralty Building is a block on Spring Gardens (Westminster)

Old Admiralty Building, SW1A

Orange Street, WC2H Orange Street gets its name from William III, Prince of Orange - the reigning king when the street was built. (Leicester Square)

Orange Street, WC2H

Pall Mall East, SW1A Pall Mall East is an eastern extension of Pall Mall towards Trafalgar Square (Charing Cross)

Pall Mall East, SW1A

Richmond Terrace, SW1A Richmond Terrace is on the site of Richmond House, destroyed by a fire on 21 December 1791 (Westminster)

Richmond Terrace, SW1A

Robert Street, WC2N Robert Street is named after Robert Adam, who built the Adelphi development with his brother John in the 1760s (Embankment)

Robert Street, WC2N

Salisbury Street, WC2N Salisbury Street was named after Robert Cecil, the first Earl of Salisbury (Charing Cross)

Salisbury Street, WC2N

Savoy Court, WC2R Savoy Court is a modern name for Beaufort Buildings (Charing Cross)

Savoy Court, WC2R

Savoy Hill, WC2R Savoy Hill is located at a site originally called Savoy Manor (Charing Cross)

Savoy Hill, WC2R

Savoy Place, WC2N Savoy Place is located at a site originally called Savoy Manor - taking its name from Peter II, Count of Savoy. (Charing Cross)

Savoy Place, WC2N

Savoy Street, WC2E Savoy Street is final street east off Strand before the approach road to Waterloo Bridge (Charing Cross)

Savoy Street, WC2E

Savoy Way, WC2R Savoy Way is located on the former site of the Savoy Palace, built for Peter II, Count of Savoy in 1245. (Charing Cross)

Savoy Way, WC2R

Shell Mex House, WC2N Shell Mex House is a grade II listed building located at 80 Strand (Charing Cross)

Shell Mex House, WC2N

Southbank Centre Square, SE1 Southbank Centre Square is a road in the SE1 postcode area (South Bank)

Southbank Centre Square, SE1

Southbank, SE1 Southbank is a road in the SE9 postcode area (South Bank)

Southbank, SE1

Spring Gardens, WC2N Spring Gardens derives its name from the Spring Garden, formed in the 16th century (Charing Cross)

Spring Gardens, WC2N

St Martins Court, WC2H St Martins Court is one of the streets of London in the WC2N postal area (Leicester Square)

St Martins Court, WC2H

St Martins Lane, WC2N St Martins Lane runs up to Seven Dials from St Martin’s-in-the-Fields (Covent Garden)

St Martins Lane, WC2N

St Martins Place, WC2N St Martin’s Place is a short stretch connecting Trafalgar Square to the bottom of Charing Cross Road (Charing Cross)

St Martins Place, WC2N

St Martins Street, WC2H St Martins Street is one of the streets of London in the WC2H postal area (Leicester Square)

St Martins Street, WC2H

Strand, WC2E Strand (or the Strand) runs just over 3⁄4 mile from Trafalgar Square eastwards to Temple Bar, where the road becomes Fleet Street inside the City of London (Charing Cross)

Strand, WC2E

Suffolk Place, SW1Y The Earl of Suffolk (Thomas Howard) was the reason for the naming of Suffolk Place (St James’s)

Suffolk Place, SW1Y

Suffolk Street, SW1Y Suffolk Street was named after Thomas Howard, Earl of Suffolk, who owned a stable yard attached to Northumberland House which lay on this site (St James’s)

Suffolk Street, SW1Y

Sutton Walk, SE1 Sutton Walk - formerly Sutton Street until 1939 - was redeveloped as part of Concert Hall Approach (South Bank)

Sutton Walk, SE1

The Arches, WC2N The Arches runs directly under Charing Cross station as a short cut from Villiers Street to Northumberland Avenue (Charing Cross)

The Arches, WC2N

The Macadam Building Street, WC2R The Macadam Building Street is a location in London (Temple)

The Macadam Building Street, WC2R

The Queen’s Walk, SE1 The Queen’s Walk is a road in the SE1 postcode area (South Bank)

The Queen’s Walk, SE1

The Terrace, SW1A The Terrace is a road in the SW1A postcode area (Westminster)

The Terrace, SW1A

Trafalgar Square, WC2N Trafalgar Square commemorates Horatio Nelson’s 1805 victory at the Battle of Trafalgar (Charing Cross)

Trafalgar Square, WC2N

Trinity Place, SW1A Trinity Place is a former courtyard in the Whitehall area (Charing Cross)

Trinity Place, SW1A

Victoria Embankment, SW1A Victoria Embankment leads north out of the Westminster area (River Thames)

Victoria Embankment, SW1A

Victoria Embankment, WC2N Victoria Embankment was built as part of Joseph Bazalgette’s Embankment scheme (Embankment)

Victoria Embankment, WC2N

Victoria Embankment, WC2R Victoria Embankment runs from the Houses of Parliament to Blackfriars Bridge (Temple)

Victoria Embankment, WC2R

Villiers Street, WC2N Villiers Street was named after George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham (Charing Cross)

Villiers Street, WC2N

Vine Street, SE1 Vine Street roughly followed the route of the contemporary pathway between York Road and the South Bank, beside Waterloo underground station (South Bank)

Vine Street, SE1

Warwick House Street, SW1A Warwick House Street formerly approached Warwick House, built in the 17th century for Sir Philip Warwick (Charing Cross)

Warwick House Street, SW1A

Watergate Walk, WC2N Watergate Walk is named after a former watergate built in 1626 for George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham as an entrance for the former York House (Embankment)

Watergate Walk, WC2N

Waterloo Bridge, SE1 Waterloo Bridge is a road in the WC2R postcode area (South Bank)

Waterloo Bridge, SE1

Waterloo Bridge, SE1 Waterloo Bridge, as well as being the bridge itself, lends its name to the southern approach road (South Bank)

Waterloo Bridge, SE1

Wellington House, WC2E Wellington House is a 1930s office block on the corner of Lancaster Place and Strand (Charing Cross)

Wellington House, WC2E

Whitcomb Street, WC2H Whitcomb Street - named after William Whitcomb, 17th century brewer and property developer (Leicester Square)

Whitcomb Street, WC2H

Whitehall Court, SW1A Whitehall Court runs north from Horse Guards Avenue (Westminster)

Whitehall Court, SW1A

Whitehall Gardens, SW1A Whitehall Gardens is a road in the SW1A postcode area (Westminster)

Whitehall Gardens, SW1A

Whitehall House, SW1A Whitehall House, a grade II listed building, is situated on Whitehall, in close proximity to Trafalgar Square. (Charing Cross)

Whitehall House, SW1A

Whitehall Place, SW1A Whitehall Place is one of the streets of London in the SW1A postal area (Westminster)

Whitehall Place, SW1A

Whitehall, SW1A Whitehall is recognised as the centre of the government of the United Kingdom (Westminster)

Whitehall, SW1A

William IV Street, WC2N William IV Street runs from Charing Cross Road to the Strand (Charing Cross)

William IV Street, WC2N

York Buildings, WC2N York Buildings marks a house was built on this site in the 14th century for the bishops of Norwich (Embankment)

York Buildings, WC2N

York Place, WC2N York Place marks the location of a house on this site (Charing Cross)

York Place, WC2N

York Road, SE1 York Road skirts the western edge of Waterloo station (Waterloo)

York Road, SE1

Zimbabwe House, WC2N Charles Holden designed this building located on the corner of Agar Street and Strand for the British Medical Association. (Charing Cross)

Zimbabwe House, WC2N

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