London Underground stations are listed here in alphabetical order. The name of the station is followed by the years when the station was opened for traffic and the years when the station was renamed or significant reconstructions took place. This may be followed by the station's former name(s). In the next line, I briefly explain the origin of the name (if it is a very old language, the word is put between apostrophes instead of quotation marks). Below that, the most important attractions that are close to that station may be listed. A green tick marks peculiar things related to the station itself.
But first, a little about the names of the Underground lines. Please note that each line also has its own distinctive colour, which is also used in the interior design of the train. If you think you got on the District Line train, but you find yourself holding on to the yellow handrail, you know immediately that you have the wrong train.
The oldest of the lines. Opened in 1863 by a company called the Metropolitan Railway Company. The word "metropolis" of course comes from Greek...
At first, it was called the Metropolitan District Railway, but it got its current name to avoid confusion with the previous one.
At first this line formed a circle, but later it was expanded and changed. Round-wheel trains created some traffic management problems.
The line connected a place called Hammersmith to the city centre. The line has now been extended to Barking, but the name has remained.
Was once the only line into central London. This is no longer the case, but the name remains.
When the line opened in 1906 it was called the Great Northern, Piccadilly & Brompton Railway. Of course, such a long name was difficult to pronounce, so it was shortened. Besides, Piccadilly is probably the most important place for a tourist on this line.
Connects Baker Street and Waterloo stations. That's how the name is derived: BAKER+waterLOO.
The line was created by the merger of two companies. There were big plans to expand to the north, but these remained plans. As a special curiosity, there is a station on the line called Morden, which is London's most southerly tube station.
The line is one of London's newest and passes through Victoria railway station, named of course after the Queen.
According to the jubilee of the Queen's reign.
The shortest line in London, connecting only two stations, named after these. The City station is now called Bank, but the name of the line was not changed.
Six tube stations are named after nearby pubs: The Angel, Swiss Cottage, Elephant & Castle, Manor House, Royal Oak and Maida Vale.
Many of London's underground stations have been designed by two men:
G Leslie Green
H Charles Holden
Green died young and managed to design "only" 22 stations. Holden completed 48. Half of Green's stations are of dark red stone with a distinctive colour and large arched windows above the entrance. That's why they say: If it is red, it's green.
Unfortunately, many stations have either been destroyed in the war, demolished or are no longer in use. Some stations don't even have an above ground section. And some have been heavily rebuilt. But these station buildings can still be seen quite a lot if you walk around. That is why these authors are marked with colored circles at the stations. At some stations both have done something, there are two signs.
Baker Street 1863 -> 1868 - 1906
Sir Edward Baker owned properties in this area
The station has the most platforms - 10
The Sherlock Holmes Museum
Madame Tussauds
Royal Academy of Music Museum
St Marleybone Church
Balham 1926H
Named after the person Baelga meaning "Baelga's home"
Bank 1898 -> 1940 City
Bank of England
One of two stations with a four-letter name. The second is Oval.
The Waterloo - City line also starts here, which has only two stations.
Barbican 1865 -> 1923 -> 1968 Aldersgate Street, Aldersgate & Barbican
The name comes from Persian via Latin and means fortification or watchtower
Before the ticket gates, there is a commemorative plaque for the station's cat on the pillar.
The Charterhouse
St Bartholomew's Hospital Museum
Museum of London
The Barbican
Barbican Art Centre
Barking 1902
Home of Barc or Beringer, by names of persons
Barking Abbey
Barkingside 1903 -> 1948 >
Place called Barking is near
Barons Court 1905
The name comes from a nearby property and obviously imitates the nearby Earl's Court.
Battersea Power Station 2021
After the power station designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott
Bayswater 1868 -> 1922 -> 1933 Bayswater & Westbourne Grove
Where the Brook Westbourne crossed the road
Becontree 1932 Gale Street
A tribe called the Beohha once lived here and the tree was a boundary marker
Belsize Park 1907G
From the Old French expression 'Bel asis' meaning beautifully laid out
Bermondsey 1999
Here lived a man called Beormund and his family
The Rotherhithe Picture Research Library
Brunel Museum
Bethnal Green 1946
Either from the surname Blida or from the stream Bythe
Near the exit, there is a memorial to the half a hundred people who died hiding from the bombing during WWII. They were not killed by the bombs, but by the commotion in the still-in-progress dark station.
Museum of Childhood
Blackfriars 1870
By Dominican monks
St Bride's Church
Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese (pub)
Dr Johnson's House
Blackhorse Road 1968
By building called Black House
Bond Street 1900 H
After the street designed by Sir Thomas Bond
Wallace Collection
Borough 1890
This word originally denoted a fortified place
Boston Manor 1883 -> 1911 -> 1934 Boston Road H
Surname Bords
The only London Underground station to feature on a stamp
Boston Manor House
Bounds Green 1932 H
By John le Bonde and Walter le Bounde
Bow Road 1902
Curved street
Brent Cross 1923 -> 1976 Brent
After a river that flows nearby
Brixton 1971
From the name Beorthtric and the word 'stane' (stone)
Brixton Market
Brixton Windmill
Bromley-by-Bow 1902 -> 1968
Old English 'broome' meaning tree
Three Mills Island
The House Mill
Buckhurst Hill 1948
Again Old English word for a tree
Burnt Oak 1924
Burnt oak was once a boundary marker
Caledonia Road 1908 G
Named after a nearby children's shelter
Camden Town 1907 G
The Earl of Camden (Kent) established a residential area here
Canada Water 1999
There used to be Canada Docks here, probably goods were brought from there
Canary Wharf 1999
Fruit Lines Limited once built warehouses here for fruit imported from the Canary Islands and the Mediterranean
Canning Town 1999
It has been assumed that the name comes from the former Governor General of India, but it is probably the name of a company located here
Cannon Street 1884
This name isn't about cannons or canons, it's a distortion of Candlemakers Street
Canons Park 1932
St. Augustine canons had land here
St Lawrence Church, Little Stanmore
Chalfont & Latimer 1889 -> 1915
According to two men who lived in the 13th century
Chalk Farm 1907 G
It has been suggested that this is a corruption of Chalcot Farm, but it has not been proven that there was one
The longest facade among Underground stations
Primrose Hill
Chancery Lane 1934
Probably a corruption of Chancellor's Lane
Cittie of Yorke
London Silver Vaults
Ede & Ravenscroft
Barnard's Inn Hall
Charing Cross 1907 -> 1914 -> 1973 -> 1979 G
A memorial cross to Queen Elanor once stood here (above the equestrian statue of the King Charles I), 'Charing' meaning river bend
The National Gallery
National Portrait Gallery
British Optical Association Museum
Benjamin Franklin House
Household Cavalry Museum
St Martin Church
Chesham 1889
'Ceaster' once meant a fortress tower for the Romans
Chigwell 1948
The name is thought to be from the Old English word 'ceaege' which meant a bush
Chiswick Park 1979 -> 1887 -> 1910 Acton Green H
From Old English 'cese' and 'wic' meaning cheese and farm
Chorleywood 1889
Son of the Wild - 'ceorl'
Clapham Common 1900 H
From 'clap' and 'ham' (hill and home)
Clapham North 1900 - 1926 Clapham Road
See previous
Clapham South 1926 H
The same
Cockfosters 1933
Derived from 'chief forester'
Colindale 1924
By the family of John Collin
RAF Museum (RAF = Royal Air Force)
Colliers Wood 1926 H
Derived from 'charcoal burners'
Covent Garden 1907 G
Kunagi oli siin Westminsteri konvendi aed
This was once the garden of the Westminster Convention
Covent Garden Market
London Film Museum
London Transport Museum
Croxley 1925 -> 1949 Croxley Green
From the words 'crocs' and 'leah' meaning woodland
Ealing Broadway 1879 -> 1920
The local chieftain was called a 'gilla' and has undergone several changes, the 'broadway' being the broad street by the station
Pitzhanger Manor
Ealing Studios
Ealing Common 1910 H
See previous
Earl's Court 1871 -> 1878
One earl had estates here - the Earl of Oxford
East Acton 1920
Farm by oak trees
Eastcote 1906 H
Old English 'cote' meant farm or shelter
East Finchley 1939 H
Probably from a personal name - Fince Forest
East Ham 1902
Old English 'amm' meaning watery meadow
East Putney 1889
By Person's Name - Puttan Landing Place
Edgeware 1924
By name Ecgis
Edgeware Road 1907 G
See previous
Elephant & Castle 1906 G
Based on the pub above the shopping centre (now demolished).
The first "underground baby" was born in this station in 1924. In total, only 3 children have been born in the London Underground.
There is a large electric substation dedicated to Michael Faraday on the square in front of the station.
Cinema Museum
Elm Park 1935
According to the elm trees that grew nearby
Embankment 1915 -> 1974 -> 1976 Charing Cross Embankment G
The Embankment is filled and widened area on the banks of the Thames, completed in 1870.
Savoy Chapel
Carting Lane Gas Lamp
Epping 1949
After the Yippinga tribe who lived here
Euston 1907
After the Earl of Grafton who resided at Euston Hall, Suffolk
Euston Square 1863, 1909 Gower Street
See previous
Fairlop 1948
"Fair lop" - a rather long legend about a man who died and whose coffin was made from an oak tree near his home, which then began to bloom...
The station was built to serve a large airport. But the airport was never built here...
Farringdon 1863 -> 1922 -> 1936 Farringdon Street, Farringdon & High Holborn
Merchant William de Faringdon operated here in the 13th century
St Etheldreda's Church
Marx Memorial Library
The Crown Tavern
St John's Church
St John's Gate
Finchley Central 1940 H
Probably by person Finc
Stephens House and Gardens
The Stephens Collection
Finchley Road 1879
See previous
Freud Museum
Finsbury Park 1906
The district called Finsbury is located several kilometres away from here, but the park was built at the initiative of the local residents
Hainault 1948
From the Old English words 'iwan' and 'holt' meaning "household with woodland"
Hammersmith 1864 -> 1868 -> 1874 H
As you might expect, by a local blacksmith
Hampstead 1907 G
Means home place in the old language
The deepest Underground station.
Burgh House and Hampstead Museum
Fenton House
St John-at-Hampstead Church
Hanger Lane 1947
Wood storage site
Harlesden 1917
Heorowulf Farm
Harrow & Wealdstone 1917
Wealstone probably means boundary stone in the forest, see below for Harrow
Harrow-on-the-Hill 1880 -> 1894 Harrow
From 'hearg' - pagan temple
Harvard Square
There has never been an Underground station with that name. It was one of the passwords of Soviet spies to ask for directions to this station. :-)
Hatton Cross 1975
Farm on the moor and probably a hint of a road cross
Heathrow 1976 -> 1983 -> 1986
A row of houses on a moor
The station belongs to the airport.
Hendon Central 1923
From 'haeh' and 'dun' - on a high hill
High Barnet 1940
'Baernet' - a place cleared by burning
Highbury & Islington 1904 -> 1922 Highbury
Highbury was a Roman summer camp, Gisla is a person's name
Highgate 1941 H
There used to be a tollgate on the hill where tax was collected on goods entering the town market
High Street Kensington 1868
By High Street
Design Museum
Leighton House Museum
Linley Sambourne's House
Hillingdon 1923
Given name Hilda
Holborn 1933 HG
From the words 'holh' and 'burna' - stream valley
Soane Museum
Lincoln's Inn
Hunterian Museum
Old Curiosity Shop
Holland Park 1900
There was once a Holland House here, Holland is the name of a person, not a country
Holloway Road 1906 G
Here the houses were in a hollow by the road, between the higher grounds of Highgate and Islington
Hornchurch 1902
Some old monastery once stood here
Hounslow Central 1886 -> 1912 -> 1925 Heston Hounslow
The Hund and the 'hlaw' - the hill where Hund lived
Hounslow East 1909 -> 1925 Hounslow Town
See previous
From this station, there are six stations with the same initial letter.
Hounslow West 1884 -> 1925 -> 1926 Hounsloe Barracs H
Kensington Olympia 1868 -> 1946
From the personal name Cynesige, Olympia is a large exhibition building.
Kentish Town 1907 G
It is believed that someone's farmer's nickname was Kentish.
Kenton 1917
Name Coena.
Kew Gardens 1877
The Old English 'key' meaning quay or dock.
Kew Gardens
Kilburn 1879 -> 1950
From 'cyne-burna' meaning royal stream.
Kilburn Park 1915
See previous.
Kingsbury 1932
The King's Manor.
King's Cross St Pancras 1863 -> 1925 -> 1933 -> 1941
The first part of the name means the statue of King George IV, the second the saint whose church is nearby. If you want to know who was St Pancras (don't say "pancreas" :-) ), you can watch this video
After a fire in 1987, smoking was banned not only on trains (see Oxford Circus) but on the entire Underground.
King's Cross Railway Station
St Pancras Railway Station and Hotel
London Canal Museum
British Library
Knightsbridge 1906
Can be interpreted as Young Mens' Bridge. Very unic name, see "kniGHTSBRidge". Noticed?
Queensbury 1934
At that time there was already a Kingsbury station, by analogy.
Queen's Park 1915
The property named in honour of Queen Victoria.
The only place on the London Underground where trains run through the depot. So many people may be frightened that they have overslept at the final stop.
Walthamstow Central 1968
From 'wilcume' and 'stow' - welcome and a holy place.
Walthamstow Market
Vestry House Museum
William Morris Gallery
Wanstead 1947 H
From the words 'waen' and 'stede' - carriage stand.
Warren Street 1908 H
Maiden name of the wife of landowner Charles Fitzroy.
Warwick Avenue 1915
Again the maiden name of the landowner's wife, as with the previous station.
Waterloo 1906 -> 1926 G
After the famous battle with Napoleon's forces.
Watford 1925
'Wad' means hunt, place of hunters.
Wembley Central 1917 -> 1948 Wembley for Sudbury
Woodland where Wemba lived, in old language.
Wembley Park 1894
See previous.
SSE Arena
Wembley Stadium
West Acton 1923
See Acton Town
Westbourne Park 1866
Place west of the stream.
West Brompton 1869
"Broom town" - by flora.
West Finchley 1940
See Finchley Central
West Ham 1902
Means marshy river bank, from 'hamm'.
West Hampstead 1879
See Hampstead
West Harrow 1913
See Harrow-on-the-Hill
West Kensington 1874 -> 1877 North End H
See Kensington
Westminster 1868 -> 1907 Westminster Bridge H
The abbey in the west.
Westminster Abbey
Westminster Palace
The Jewel Tower
Churchill War Rooms
West Ruislip 1906 -> 1947 Ruislip & Ickenham
See Ruislip
Whitechapel 1884
According to the White Stone Chapel (destroyed in 1940).
The station serves both surface and underground trains. Underground trains are on the upper floor, surface trains are below these. That's how it needs to be. :-)
Royal London Hospital Museum
White City 1908 Wood Line
According to the Exhibition Building, which was of white stone.
Willesden Green1879
From the words 'wiell' and 'dun' - spring hill.
Willesden Junction 1915
See previous.
Wimbledon 1889
The hill where Winebeald lived.
Wimbledon Park 1889
See previous.
Woodford 1947
"The ford by a wood"
Wood Green 1932 H
Farm name.
Wood Lane 2008
Reflects the fact that it is outside the densely populated area of London.
Woodside Park 1940
Expresses the proximity of the forest.
