Lambeth North

Lambeth North is one of those Zone 1 stations that many Londoners walk straight past when they have a choice. On the Bakerloo line between Waterloo and Elephant and Castle, it serves a South Bank neighbourhood that is quieter than you might expect for this part of central London, and better positioned than many visitors realise for a couple of genuinely outstanding attractions. The Imperial War Museum is a five-minute walk. Lambeth Palace, the London residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury, is fifteen minutes on foot along the Albert Embankment. And the Florence Nightingale Museum, tucked into St Thomas' Hospital, is reachable in about the same time in the opposite direction.

The station itself opened in 1906 and the original Edwardian surface building on Lambeth Road is still recognisable, albeit altered over the decades. It is a considerably quieter station than Waterloo or Elephant and Castle, which makes it a more relaxed entry point to this part of south London if you are heading to the museum or the South Bank.

Station Overview

Lambeth North Underground station opened in 1906 as part of the Baker Street and Waterloo Railway. It is a deep-level station on the Bakerloo line, situated in Zone 1. The station has no step-free access. It is served by the Bakerloo line only, running between Harrow and Wealdstone in the north and Elephant and Castle in the south.

Lines and Connectivity

The Bakerloo line (brown) connects north towards Waterloo (one stop), Embankment and Charing Cross, continuing towards Oxford Circus, Paddington and eventually Harrow and Wealdstone. Southbound, the line reaches Elephant and Castle where passengers can change to the Northern line or National Rail Thameslink.

Facilities

Lambeth North is a small station with limited facilities. There is a travel information point and ticket machines. The surrounding area on Lambeth Road has cafes and small shops within a few minutes' walk. The nearby St George's Circus has a small street market on Fridays.

Accessibility

Lambeth North does not have step-free access. The station has stairs between street level and the platforms with no lift or escalator. Passengers with mobility requirements should use Waterloo (one stop north, step-free on multiple lines) or Elephant and Castle (one stop south, step-free) instead.

Travel Tips

• The Imperial War Museum is about a five-minute walk south-east along Kennington Road. Entry is free and it is one of the most thorough Second World War museums in the world.
• Lambeth Palace and Archbishop's Park are about fifteen minutes on foot south along the Albert Embankment. The park is a calm, largely overlooked green space.
• For the Florence Nightingale Museum at St Thomas' Hospital, walk north from the station and then along the Albert Embankment. About fifteen minutes on foot.
• The walk along the South Bank from here towards Waterloo and beyond is excellent on a clear day, following the river with views of the Houses of Parliament opposite.
• No step-free access at this station. Plan accordingly if travelling with a pushchair or wheelchair.

Nearby Attractions

Imperial War Museum - five minutes walk south-east. Free entry. Among the finest military history museums in the world, with powerful permanent galleries on both World Wars and a Holocaust exhibition that takes about two hours.

Lambeth Palace - fifteen minutes walk south. The London residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury, occupying a site on the Thames since the 13th century. Limited public access but the building is visible from the embankment.

Archbishop's Park - fifteen minutes walk south. A quiet, largely tourist-free park adjacent to Lambeth Palace with good benches and river proximity.

Timings and Best Time to Travel

Bakerloo line services at Lambeth North run from approximately 05:30 to midnight Monday to Saturday and 07:00 to 23:30 on Sundays. Night Tube runs on the Bakerloo line on Friday and Saturday nights, meaning 24-hour service through Lambeth North on those nights. The station is quietest mid-morning and mid-afternoon.