Last week London Shoes braved the elements and set off in pouring rain and freezing temperatures to venture to the City’s ‘Square Mile’ for the specific purpose of exploring the well-known transport destination/landmark that is “Bank-tube station” – with a particular focus on its “16” entrances/exits – the most of any station of the London’s Underground Network.
The extremely busy Bank tube station was opened in 1900 and was named after the ‘Bank of England’ which it sits right next to.
Today – the Bank station is one of the busiest on the London Underground network and one of the world’s most complex set-ups.
Here are some Bank tube station facts….it has: –
*>5 London Underground lines serving it. (Central Line / Waterloo & City Line / Northern Line / Docklands Light Railway / District & Circle Line)
*>10 platforms.
*>5 ticket halls – the most of any London Underground station.
*>12 escalators.
*>2 sets of ‘moving-walkways’ – commonly referred to as ‘travelators’.
*>a Grade 1 Listed status.
*>No main entrance ‘above’ ground at street level – its ticket halls and barriers etc are all ‘underground’.
*>Ventilator shafts that are hidden at street level, underneath statues or traffic islands.
*>16…..exits/entrances – the most of any station on the London Underground network.
Back when it was first opened, all of today’s tube lines were operated by different rail companies – and Bank station was one of the first ‘fusions’ of different lines and stations.
Some of London’s most prestigious and iconic buildings sit on top of the massive Bank tube station complex.
Streets like Lombard Street / Threadneedle Street / Cornhill / Poultry / Cheapside / King William Street / Walbrook – plus many more – all connected to what was once the financial capital of the world – can all be accessed from exiting Bank station.
Most of these historic buildings are ‘Listed’ and required delicate underpinning work to be done on them whenever engineering and tunnelling works are done at Bank station.
In 1933 – Bank station was linked with Monument tube station which opened in 1884 and is served by the District and the Circle lines – and you can actually walk to and from each station – underground.
The distance between Bank station and Monument station by road, is approx. 1299 ft – however, via the subterranean passenger walkways linking the 2 stations, the distance is (ironically) 1066 ft (1066-Battle of Hastings) – and the walking time between the 2 stations using the passenger walkways, is approx. 3 to 5mins depending what platform you are on at Bank station.
On the 11th January 1941, during the WW2 London Blitz – a German bomb scored a direct hit on the road junction directly above Bank station ticket hall – where Lombard St/Threadneedle Street/Princess Street/Cheapside/Cornhill all converge, often referred to as ‘the bull ring’.
The road collapsed from the impact of the bomb, creating a crater approx. 120ft x 100ft, causing the station to be closed for 2 months whilst all the damage was repaired.
Sadly 56 people who were in or around the ticket hall below, lost their lives – and today, a commemorative plaque is displayed inside Bank station, to honour those killed as a result of this tragedy.
In 1991 – the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) was extended to Bank station. New platforms were built much deeper than those of the Northern Line, which were the deepest at that time – with connections at one end to the Central Line and Monument station at the other.
Bank station now has 2 sets of moving walkways, commonly known as “Travelator’s”. Its first one was introduced way back in 1960 – when it was the first of its kind in Europe, and it cut the then 10min walk from Central Line platform to street level….to only 4 mins.
There have been various add-ons to the Bank station complex over the past couple of decades – mainly introduced to improve the inter-changes between each tube line that has ‘Bank’ as one of its stops.
The most recent addition to Bank station actually went ‘live’ just a few days prior to London Shoes visit.
As part of a multi-million£ upgrade undertaken over the past 7yrs – a brand-new entrance/exit has been opened in ‘Cannon Street’.
This new station entrance has been predominantly introduced to improve connections between Bank’s Northern and Docklands Light Railway lines – and will considerably ease congestion and overcrowding throughout Bank station’s passenger walkways – particularly during peak travel periods.
However – I do find it a little weird exiting ‘Bank’ station in Cannon Street, especially when, just a few yards down the road is the actual Cannon Street station – but apparently, commuters love it.
So – the main quest of this trek out, was to try and locate all “16” of Bank station’s exits/entrances.
Finding exits 1 to 9 is no problem – because they’re all well signposted and all congregated around the bull ring area where the historic financial district and trading streets are – e.g. Lombard St-Threadneedle Street-Princess Street-Cheapside-Cornhill-Walbrook-King William Street.
The challenge comes when trying to locate the other 7 entrances/exits – because they haven’t been numbered after number 9, and there is no customer info map available, that actually pin-points where these other exits are!!
However – applying a bit of logic, it is safe to say that the other 7 entrances/exits that make up the 16, are gonna be those relating to the new Cannon Street entrance – the newish Walbrook entrance – plus those for the DLR and Monument line entrances.
Even though I had spent a big chunk of my day ‘underground’ – I was still looking like a drowned rat from the occasions I was out ‘on-the-streets’ – and so, to dry out I thought I would have a little liquid refreshment and a bite to eat, before heading off back home.
So – being in the ‘Square Mile’ of the City, I felt it only right to call into one of its busiest pubs…..the massive “Crosse Keys” in Gracechurch Street.
Now – interestingly, the Crosse Keys is located at 9 Gracechurch Street EC3 – which used to be the London HQ of Barclays International – a building I knew well, because of my 43yr career with Barclays Bank (although I had never actually been in there before).
The pub building was also the London HQ of the Hong Kong & Shanghai Banking Corp (HSBC).
Records show that there had been a coaching inn/tavern on the site of 9 Gracechurch Street as far back as the 1500’s. The Great Fire of London in 1666 destroyed the original building – but others were
rebuilt throughout the following centuries.
The current 9 Gracechurch Street building dates back to 1889 – and became a banking establishment in 1913, when it had the largest banking hall in the City at that time.
But by the end of the 1990’s both Barclays and HSBC had vacated the building and in 1999 it was bought by the pub chain Wetherspoons – and in its conversion into a pub, ‘Spoons’ kept the original marble pillars – the ceiling’s glass dome – its stairwells and fireplaces.
Even the old Barclays boardroom on the first floor was kept in place and converted into an annex for drinkers.
So – after a couple of cheeky beers and a plate of chicken wings & chips – it was time to mingle with all the ‘city boys’ and head back home – after what was quite an enjoyable day wandering around Bank station – the sort of location us Londoner’s all take for granted, and probably don’t really appreciate its importance and value…..(a bit like me really!!)
Hope you enjoy the accompanying photos.
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See below the entire gallery of photos taken to support this Bank Station & its 16 exits blog
The tiling surrounding the roundels on the Central Line platforms of Bank station – depict the ‘Dragons’ that protect the City walls – (often mistaken as Griffins/Gryphons)
A standard London tube map – showing the 5 lines that service Bank station
A rain soaked me – outside 1 of the 16 entrances/exits situated at Bank Station
Exit no.2 at Bank Station – that leads out to the historic City streets of ‘Poultry’ & ‘Princes Street’
Signage to Bank Station’s ‘Exit 8 & Exit 9’. The majority of the ‘City’ signage is embellished with illustrations of the historic London landmarks on view when exiting.
Me – at ‘Exit 7’ Bank Station – that leads out to the historic Mansion House
Just one example of the many direction notices/signs on display throughout the entire range of Bank Station. This one points the way to 7 of the station’s 16 entrances/exits – plus 3 of the 5 tube lines that ‘stop’ at Bank
‘Exit 1’ – at Bank Station – leading out to the historic City streets of Poultry & Cheapside
The “Royal Exchange” – sits right outside ‘Exit 3’ of Bank Station
The devastation of the streets above Bank Station right outside the ‘Royal Exchange’- caused by a German bomb dropped on the evening of 11th Jan 1941 during the Blitz
A plaque on display in the main concourse of Bank tube station – that commemorates the 56 people killed by a German bomb that hit the site on the evening of 11th January 1941
A drenched Me – at just 1 of the 16 entrances/exits of Bank station
The Bank of England – that is sited right outside ‘Exit 2’ at Bank station
Me – alongside ‘The Royal Exchange’ – just outside Bank stations Exit 3
‘King William Street – built between 1829 and 1835 and named after the reigning monarch of the time, King William IV – (which incidentally, is the monarch where the term ‘Old Bill’ derives from re: the Police). Beneath the entire length and breadth of King William Street – lies Bank station.
Me – with King William Street in the background – underneath the entire length and breadth of this street – sits Bank station.
Another Bank station entrance/exit – leading to the City’s ‘Square Mile’
Exit’s 4 & 5 (protected by the City’s Dragons) leading to the historic City streets of Cornhill and King William Street
Bank station now has 2 sets of ‘Travelators’ (i.e. moving walkways). Its first ones were introduced as far back as 1960 – when it was the first one in Europe, and it cut the 10min walk from Central Line platform to street level….to 4 mins.
Me – on one of Bank stations 2 sets of ‘travelators’
One of the few old signage on display within the many tunnels and walkways of Bank station. The ‘arrow’ on this sign probably dates in back to the 1930’s.
The view from Exit 9 – Bank station – with Threadneedle Street and Cornhill sitting astride The Royal Exchange
When you come out of Exit 1 and Exit 2 at Bank station – you will see the Royal Bank of Scotland building – with the historic Poultry and Princes Streets either side of it.
The scene of devastation when a German bomb struck a successful ‘hit’ during the WW2 Blitz – The now Royal Bank of Scotland building in the background.
Me – at one of the 16 entrances/exits of Bank station
In 1991 – the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) was extended to Bank station, .New platforms were built deeper than those of the Northern line, with connections at one end to the Central line and Monument Station at the other.
A Docklands Light Railway (DLR) train at Bank station
Exit 3 – Bank station – that leads out into Cornhill / Leadenhall Market / Lloyds of London & The Royal Exchange
The distinctive roundel of the Waterloo & City line – the smallest, but oldest of London’s tube lines – that links up with Bank station.
Me – in the rain, near the Cheapside entrance/exit at Bank station – Exit no.1
Looking into Exit 2 at Bank station – that leads you out alongside the Bank of England
The recently opened passenger walkways connection the Central Line & Northern Line platforms of Bank station. Very much constructed on the design of the Elizabeth Line passenger walkways
The Monument entrance/exit. In 1933 the tube stations of Bank and Monument were connected – the distance between them by road would be 1299 ft – however, the passenger walkways linking the 2 stations is (ironically) 1066 ft – and the walking time between the 2 stations is approx 3 to 5mins depending what platform you are on at Bank station.
The main entrance/exit of Monument station – that is linked directly to Bank station by a series of passenger walkways/tunnels.
On 27th Feb – just a few days after my visit – the new Cannon Street entrance/exit to Bank station was opened, following a £700m upgrade of Bank station, which took roughly 7yrs to complete.
A rain soaked Me outside the new Cannon Street entrance/exit of Bank station. It seems odd to have a Bank station entrance/exit in Cannon Street – when a few yards down the road is Cannon Street station – serviced by the Circle & District Lines. This new Cannon street entrance/exit provides step free and more direct access to the Northern Line and DLR platforms within Bank station.
The “Crosse Keys” pub – at no. 9 Gracechurch Street. Today it’s a massive Wetherspoons Pub – but I remember when it used to be the Barclays International office – and also when it was the Hong Kong & Shanghai Bank Corp – London HQ.
The site of todays ‘Crosse Keys’ pub – has a history of being an Inn/Tavern – that goes as far back as the 1500’s.
An old b&w photo of what the inside of 9 Gracechurch Street looked like – when it was a banking institution. The marble columns are still in situ today.
Looking down on the bar of the Crossed Keyes ‘Spoons’ pub – 9 Gracechurch Street
Me – knocking back a ‘cheeky’ one in the gallery of the Crossed Keys pub-Gracechurch Street – the area I’m sitting in used to be the old boardroom.
Absolutely fantastic – brings back some great memories of my time at Lombard Street (and the New Moon pub 😁)
My office is 20 Gracechurch Street Geoff! I could have popped in for a pint with you 🤣
love your Posts! 🙂
No wonder I could never find my way to our meetings at St Swithins?, I never knew which exit I was coming out of😂😂😂
Fascinating stuff, living in Cornwall now, one thing I really miss is the underground and regularly watch the programme about the underground on yesterday.. believe it or not went on an escalator yesterday, first time in 12 months, its a different world..
I remember getting lost in Bank Station – looks like no chance of finding my way round it now.
Seem to remember that it was Kings Cross to Bank then change to DLR for my trips from up North to Canary Wharf. Never got to enjoy the underground experience and always relieved to be back I the fresh air.
More photographs greatly enjoyed. Thank you for sharing. By the way, would you happen to know if the short tube journey from Waterloo to Bank, known as the drain, still runs? It was a real bone shaker, but cut the journey short. It ran only Mon – Fri., was a huge bonus. Those were the days!
A great Shoes, thank you. I used to work up there 1973-2005 at Willy Glyns in Lombard St and Morgan Grenfell in Winchester St. I reckon most if not all of the marvellous sandwich shops have gone now…..our favourite was in Bank Station oh and that huge Jewish bakers at the start of Eldon Street where we bought baguettes full of huge slabs of liver pate and Branston. Went up there a couple of weeks ago, it’s all changed soooo much.
Another fabulous read Geoff Clements . can’t remember when or why I used Bank but do remember reaching the street and seeing the “old lady” and being impressed with that building
Rumour has it there are tourists from the 90s still trying to find their way out of Bank
Thankyou. Very interesting
Great blog Geoff – it brought back memories of all the streets I had to visit while working for 10 years for stockbrokers “Osborne Smith” – confirming share deals etc.
One job in between, and then I was at Barclays Leytonstone – where you had the honour of my company -Lucky you !!!
Ha ha……and what an honour it was too Del – and still an honour 50yrs on mate….(half a bloody century!!!)
Take care mate
GEOFF
Fantastic article Geoff – reminded me of my time working in Gresham Street in the late 80s. Got a bit teary thinking about that life and the optimism of the decade. In Cornwall now but always a Londoner at heart.
Glad you enjoyed the article Paula – once a Londoner ALWAYS a Londoner
There are a load more blogs that are based around the City – published on my London Shoes website – they may bring back memories for you.
Have a trawl through the menu when you get some spare time.
Kind regards
GEOFF (www.londonshoes.blog)
Enjoyed reading this. I was looking for the exit number for Cannon Street. Coincidentally I worked at 9 Gracechurch Street when it was Barclays Bank in 1990
Exit no 2 is Princess Street and Threadneedle Street isn’t it, rather than Poultry?
I haven’t been here since the station had the upgrade it is certainly a maze of an interchange.
The fabulous historic buildings still remain even if they are in different use after many banks migrated to canary wharf.
There have been a lot of new skyscrapers built since i last went all blending in with the old an interesting mix.
A hidden gem in this area is the bank of england museum accesses from the side of the bank a history of the bank and money itself you can handle a real gold bar the entry is free.
As well as the amazing crosse keyes wetherspoons which i have been into several times there is the counting house a fullers pub on cornhill another historic old bank sympathetically converted with all the balconies and woodwork still in place it used be the bank of Dimsdale Fowler and company which eventually became nat west.
Part of the banks foundations sit on a 2000 year old roman basilica.
Your article on this fascinating part of London is an enjoyable insight into an area full of history thanks Geoff.
Many thanks for the feedback/comments Martin – very much appreciated – and I’m glad you enjoyed the blog.
I used to work up in St. Swithens Lane in the early 2000’s – so, like you I’m guessing, I have a lot of memories from that little part of the City.
The Crosse Keyes used to be Barclays International – and I think Spoons have done an amazing job with its conversion – always packed in there.
The Counting House is another pub that has tastefully been converted – I guess it helps being a Listed building.
My London Shoes will be publishing a blog about ‘The Royal Exchange’ in a week or so – so keep your eyes open for that one, as I think you’ll enjoy that read too.
regards
GEOFF (www.londonshoes.blog)
Having seen the exit signage, I am somewhat confused. The are 9 exits, but each sign only shows 8; I assume that the “missing exit” in each case is actually at the sign itself?