Russell Square tube station

Russell Square is a London Underground station. It is located opposite Russell Square on Bernard Street, Bloomsbury, in the London Borough of Camden. The station is on the Piccadilly line between Holborn and King's Cross St Pancras stations, and is in Travelcard Zone 1.^[8]

Russell Square
Station entrance
Russell Square Location of Russell Square in Central London
Location	Bloomsbury
Local authority	Camden
Managed by	London Underground
Number of platforms	2
Fare zone	1
London Underground annual entry and exit
2019	12.27 million[1]
2020	2.74 million[2]
2021	3.66 million[3]
2022	8.59 million[4]
2023	7.82 million[5]
Railway companies
Original company	Great Northern, Piccadilly and Brompton Railway
Key dates
15 December 1906	Station opened
Listed status
Listing grade	II
Entry number	1401730[6][7]
Added to list	20 July 2011
Other information
External links	TfL station info page
Coordinates	51.52306°N 0.12444°W / 51.52306; -0.12444
London transport portal

Russell Square Station is not far from the British Museum, the University of London's main campus, Great Ormond Street Hospital, Russell Square Gardens and the Brunswick Centre.^[9]

The station is the work of London architect Leslie Green and is example of the Modern Style (British Art Nouveau style).^[10][11]

History

The station was opened by the Great Northern, Piccadilly and Brompton Railway on 15 December 1906.^[12] The station was designed by Leslie Green.^[13] In 2001, the station was closed for 13 months for refurbishment, reopening in February 2002.^[14]

2005 London bombings

Ambulances at Russell Square following the attack

Main article: 7 July 2005 London bombings

On 7 July 2005, in a co-ordinated bomb attack, an explosion in a train travelling between King's Cross St. Pancras and Russell Square resulted in the deaths of 26 people.^[15] Another bomb later exploded on a bus at Tavistock Square.^[15]

A plaque remembering the victims, identical to the one at King's Cross St Pancras tube station, is located at the station.^[16]

Station listing

On 20 July 2011, English Heritage gave the station buildings Grade II listed status, describing it as:

a good example of a station designed by Leslie Green to serve the GNP & BR, later the Piccadilly Line, retaining original tiled lettering. The interior, while altered, features of interest survive at lower levels including tiling and directional signage. The Yerkes group of stations designed by Leslie Green illustrate a remarkable phase in the development of the capital's transport system, with the pioneering use of a strong and consistent corporate image; the characteristic ox-blood faience façades are instantly recognisable and count among the most iconic of London building types.^[6]

The station today

The station is a Grade II listed building.^[6][7]

Russell Square station has three lifts,^[17] which are all fifty-passenger lifts built by Wadsworth.^[18] There are no escalators but the platforms can be reached using a spiral staircase with 176 steps. ^[19]

The station has seven gates and a Wi-Fi service. ^[20]

Platform level tiling

The distinctive platform level tilework

The stations on the central part of the Piccadilly line, as well as some sections of the Northern line, were financed by Charles Yerkes,^[21] and are famous for the Leslie Green designed red station buildings and distinctive platform tiling. Each station had its own unique tile pattern and colours.

Services and connections

Russell Square station is on the Piccadilly line between Holborn to the west and King's Cross St Pancras to the east. Train frequencies vary throughout the day, but generally operate every 4–7 minutes between 05:56 and 00:28 in both directions.^[22][23]

Preceding station	London Underground			Following station
Holborn towards Uxbridge, Rayners Lane or Heathrow Airport (Terminal 4 or Terminal 5)		Piccadilly line		King's Cross St Pancras towards Cockfosters or Arnos Grove

London Buses routes 14, 68, 91, 168, 188, limited Superloop route SL6 and night route N91 serve the station.^[24]

In popular culture

Russell Square tube station was used as the location for the 1972 horror film Death Line,^[25] which starred Donald Pleasence, Christopher Lee and Clive Swift.^[26][27]