London Liverpool Street (London)

Though it’s likely that even the regular commuters probably appreciate that the pioneering renovations carried out in 1991, proved to be a text book example of how to preserve the 19th century glory of a station, while creating a space that’s infinitely more user friendly than it had ever been previously.

The stunning roof over platforms 1 - 10 dates from 1875, but platforms 11 - 18 are located in what's in effect the basement of an office block.

The concourse spans the station and provides level access to all the platforms, which the mainline trains depart from.
Though what’s unusual about Liverpool Street is that this concourse is below street level, so it is accessed by escalators and stairs.

There is a street level walkway, which both surrounds and spans the concourse and by the rear of the station building, beneath the war memorial, is a lift (elevator) which connects the entrances/exits to the concourse.
So you shouldn’t have to use the stairs and escalators to access the trains when arriving at Liverpool Street on foot, or by bus and taxi.

The train services tend to leave from specific sets of platforms (tracks) according to their destination – though note there can be some overlap;

Platforms 1 -5 are used by the local trains to destinations in north-east London including Hackney, Stoke Newington, Tottenham, Walthamstow and White Hart Lane

Platforms 3 – 8 is where the trains heading to Cambridge and the Stansted Express services depart from; note that there are no specific platforms (tracks) dedicated to the Stansted Express.

Platforms 8 -10 are used by the express trains to Norwich via Ipswich and Colchester

Platforms 11 – 18 is where the trains to destinations on the Essex coast including Clacton, Harwich and Southend-On-Sea depart from.

This separation of the train services according to destination is also reflected on the main departure board, which hangs down from the roof, so it in effect divides the concourse into two halves.

What won’t be obvious is that the departure board is also split in two, as you look at it the trains departing from platforms 1-10 are on one half on the board - the 'west departures'; while the trains departing from platforms 11-18 will be listed on the other half - the 'east departures'.

Though the 'Stansted Express' departures are listed in their own separate column on the far right.

The details of the trains are also listed in departure orders, so that the next train to leave is constantly moving to the left, so working out which platform your train will be leaving from can require some patience.
Though if you are confused the staff at the information desks on the concourse can come to the rescue; there is a dedicated desk for the Stansted Express.

You’ll have a less-stressful travel experience if you aim to at Liverpool Street, ready with ticket in hand, 10 – 15 minutes before your train will be departing.
Give yourself time to absorb the train departure information and as seat reservations aren’t available on any departure, except the trains heading to Norwich, being able to be among the first wave of travellers to board, is a big plus.

Liverpool Street is served by the Central, Circle, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan Lines and there is an obvious entrance to the Underground station shared by all the lines, on the mainline station concourse; its opposite platforms (tracks) 3 – 6.

Taking the Central Line:

The Central Line connects Liverpool Street with the heart of the city and the West End, so it’s always busy.
All eastbound trains call at:

• St Pauls,
• Holborn for the British Museum and:
• Bond Street for Selfridges.

The Central line uses a distinct part of the Underground station at Liverpool Street, its platforms are deep below ground, so they can be accessed by elevator and escalator.

Taking the Circle, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan Lines:

These three lines all share a separate part of the Underground station, which is level with the main station concourse.

As a consequence of this the eastbound platform used by all three lines has step-free access to and from the mainline station; and the Underground trains from Paddington and Baker Street and Kings Cross, St Pancras and Farringdon all arrive here.

The Circle trains heading to:

• Tower Hill for the Tower of London,
• Mansion House for Tate Modern,
• Embankment for the South Bank,
• Westminster; and
• Victoria:
• and South Kensington for the museums:
  leave from this eastbound platform

Though the Circle Line trains only usually depart every 12 minutes and they can be a tad slow; they initially heading east before turning to the west.
Therefore if you don’t have heavy luggage it can be quicker to take the westbound Central Line and make connections.

The quickest route to Waterloo is to take the Central Line to Bank and connect there for the Waterloo and City line (except on Sundays).
For Victoria the best option is to make the connection into the southbound Victoria line at Oxford Circus, while the quickest route to South Kensington is usually to connect at Holborn into a westbound Piccadilly line train.

In contrast to the eastbound platform, the westbound platform used by the Circle, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan Lines can only be accessed by stairs.
Any train from this platform will stop at:

• Farringdon and
• Kings Cross, St Pancras and Baker Street,
  However, take care not to board a Metropolitan train, if you will be heading to Paddington.

Not only do the Circle, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan Lines share platforms, the trains also look identical, so take care to check the names of the lines and the destinations, which will be on the side of the trains.

By bus:

Liverpool Street has a bus station up at street level by platform 1, so if you take a bus to and from here, you won’t have to navigate the streetscape around the station.

Bus route/line 11 departs from stop C and connects Liverpool Street to St Pauls Cathedral, the Strand for Covent Garden and Charing Cross station, Whitehall, Westminster and Victoria; it’s a fabulous bus ride.

Route/line 133 departs from stop D and goes to London Bridge station and Borough Market.