In the bustling city of London in the United Kingdom is the major railway station known as Liverpool Street Station or London Liverpool Street. 

Liverpool Street Station is the southern terminus of the Great Eastern Main Line (GEML) and is also connected to the London Underground Station.

This convenient and extremely busy station is the core departure point from London to the East of England, servicing those locations not served by the East Coast Main Line from King’s Cross. 

Liverpool Street Station offers commuter service to parts of East London and Essex, such as Chelmsford, Clacton-on-Sea, Witham, and Norwich, and is able to transport travelers to the London Stansted Airport by way of the Stansted Express.

Liverpool Street Station happened to be the very first location in London that was hit by a German Gotha bomber aircraft during the brutality of World War I. In fact, this May 1917 bombing killed 162 people.

But with that scary piece of past history aside, Liverpool Street Station is alive and well and is a burgeoning travel hub in London. 

Before you enjoy secure luggage storage in Liverpool Street to safely allow yourself to not be weighed down during your trip, consider these seven things that you may not know about Liverpool Street Station.

Refugees Arrived at the Location of Liverpool Street Station 

There is a noticeable statue of refugee children at the Liverpool Street entrance to the station, representing those that arrived in London from abroad, who were, unfortunately, facing persecution from their governments in their own countries and fled for safety.

Between 1938 and 1939, 10,000 Jewish children from Germany and Austria showed up in London via the Liverpool Street station. They made it over to the United Kingdom by boat at Harwich. 

The statue called Kindertransport: The Arrival was created by Sculptor Frank Meisler, who himself was also brought to London from Germany by Kindertransport. It was unveiled in 2006. 

All the Caffeine You Could Ask For 

Liverpool Street Station has three branches of Starbucks, and if that is still not enough coffee for you to consume, there is yet another Starbucks nearby on Sun Street, another on Finsbury Square, and yet another on Brushfield Street that can all be reached with an easy five-minute walk from the station. 

Became a Replacement for Bishopsgate Station 

Bishopsgate station may not exist today, but it previously stood near the site where Shoreditch High Street station now is. It closed a long time ago as a passenger station in 1875 but continued to be used as a freight terminal until 1964, which is unfortunately when a fire destroyed it.

Great Eastern Railway took over the Eastern Counties Railway in 1862, and it jumped up in passenger numbers. Being that Bishopsgate station wasn’t large enough, Great Eastern Railway began operating out of Fenchurch Street station as well. 

But believe it or not, eventually, that was too small, so it built a bigger station that is now Liverpool Street Station. 

Baths of Fresh Seawater 

The hotel that is situated beside the Liverpool Street Station, known as the Great Eastern Hotel when it opened, has now been consolidated into the Hyatt hospitality chain. It was originally designed by Charles Barry Jr, son of Charles Barry, who happens to be the designer of the House of Parliament. It has been said that guests were able to bathe in fresh seawater, which was brought to the railroad daily by the railroad. 

Harwich House 

If you look above the war memorial, there’s a long stone Great Eastern Railway plaque. The stone was apparently salvaged from Harwich House, which was demolished to make room for an extension to the station to take place in the 1980s. 

Now you know what the intricate stonework carvings under the railway arches are when you are seated on a train traveling into Liverpool Street.

Extremely Busy 

Liverpool Street Station happens to be one of the busiest stations in the United Kingdom, the third busiest in London, and serving over 123 million people each year. 

Monopoly Board Game 

Liverpool Street Station is the fourth rail station after Go in British Monopoly. It is named after London Liverpool Street Station.

Its American equivalent is the Short Line.

Other railroad properties in the British Monopoly set include: 

  • King’s Cross Station
  • Marylebone Station
  • Fenchurch St Station

Bethlem was Known as ‘Bedlam’ 

When heavy rush hour traffic is absolutely nuts, and it feels like no one is getting anywhere fast, it’s not uncommon to hear the station described as ‘Bedlam.’ 

Bethlem Royal Hospital, from which the use of ‘Bedlam’ describes madness is derived, is a mental health hospital and excellent museum in Beckenham. 

The hospital’s history is traced back to 1247, when it was founded on the site where Liverpool Street station now exists and was previously referred to as the Priory of St Mary of Bethlehem. It has been through several incarnations and locations before it reached its current site.