Barbican tube station - Definition and Overview

Barbican tube station

Barbican is a London Underground and mainline rail station serving the Barbican Centre in the City of London. It is on the Circle, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines between Farringdon and Moorgate. It is in zone 1. Thameslink trains on their way into Moorgate also stop there, but not when outbound from Moorgate and the platform which would have been used for this purpose is closed and looks derelict.

The station when first open was called "Aldersgate Street", this being the name of the street on which it stands. This changed to "Aldersgate" then "Aldersgate and Barbican" before settling on the present name.

The modern entrance shown in the photograph gives access, through a 1990s building, to the much older station platforms which include an old signal box of interesting design. The remains of the supporting structure for a glass canopy over all four platforms (removed in the 1950s) may still clearly be seen.

From the far (western) ends of the platforms may be seen the beginnings of the complex of tunnels leading under Smithfield meat market. Livestock for the market was at one time delivered by rail and there was a substantial goods yard under the market.

Barbican Tube from the west. Inset: former roof support