Southwark tube station

Southwark station stands on the Jubilee line of the London Underground, between Waterloo and London Bridge. It sits at the corner of Blackfriars Road and The Cut in the London Borough of Southwark. The station opened in 1999 as part of the Jubilee Line Extension. It is Grade II listed for its architectural importance. The site was cramped, with platforms beneath a Victorian viaduct. Two concourses at different levels were built to overcome the difficult conditions. The station’s design is praised for its engineering and artistry. The upper concourse is a tall space with a glass roof and a striking 40-metre glass wall made of 660 blue glass pieces. This was created by artist Alexander Beleschenko. The architects, MacCormac, Jamieson, Prichard, drew inspiration from a 19th-century stage set by Karl Friedrich Schinkel. The lower concourse connects the platforms and is lit by glass and steel beacons. Platform screen doors prevent objects from falling onto the tracks. Visitors enter through a modest low-rise building intended for future development. The station links to Waterloo East main line station, though its only National Rail interchange is there. Nearby are Shakespeare’s Globe, the Young Vic and Old Vic theatres, and Tate Modern. Day and night buses serve the station, making it a busy local transport hub.