Southfields tube station

Southfields station stands on Wimbledon Park Road in the London Borough of Wandsworth. It serves the Wimbledon branch of the District line, positioned between Wimbledon Park and East Putney stations. The station sits in London fare zone 3 and is the closest Underground stop to the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. During the Wimbledon Championships, passenger numbers rise to more than three times the usual level. The station’s brick façade still bears the LSWR acronym and the year of its opening, 1889. The station opened in 1889 when the District Railway extended its line from Putney Bridge to Wimbledon. Electric trains began running in 1905 after the route was converted from steam. Main line services ended in 1941, though the line remained in British Rail ownership until 1994. A major upgrade in the early 2010s added a lift for step-free access ahead of the 2012 Olympic Tennis Tournament. The station’s original design closely resembles Wimbledon Park station, though Southfields has seen more changes due to heavy Wimbledon crowds. Visitors find a ticket office relocated to street level and a lift connecting to the platform. The platform is repainted each year for the tournament, often with themed advertising by companies such as American Express and HSBC. A footbridge once closed as storage has been reopened as an exit. No enclosed waiting area remains on the platform, as part of the building now houses staff rooms. The station is served by London Buses routes 39, 493 and 639, and a shuttle bus runs to the tennis courts during the tournament.