The most random and surprising things you'll find at one of London's biggest National Rail stations from a magical platform to h...

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The most random and surprising things you'll find at one of London's biggest National Rail stations from a magical platform to h...

London Bridge train station, located in central London, is a bustling transportation hub. The interchange opened in 1836, and after more than 100 years of service, in the 1960s and 1970s, the station underwent a significant modernisation program led by architect Sir Robert Matthew.

The old Victorian train shed was replaced by a new brutalist-style building, which included a 300-metre-long concourse and a pedestrian walkway known as the "Hay's Galleria." In the 2010s, London Bridge station underwent another major redevelopment project to accommodate increasing passenger numbers and improve facilities.

The Thameslink Programme involved the construction of a new street-level concourse and additional platforms.

READ MORE: Mayor says he is ‘not anti-car’ but hopes Outer Londoners will ditch petrol and diesel after ULEZ expands

GV of London Bridge Station, Southwark, London, c1920-c1930
A view of London Bridge station in the 1920s

Away from its core function as a central piece of London’s infrastructure, commuters will come across a heartwarming bronze statue depicting the characters from E. Nesbit's famous book - The Railway Children. It pays tribute to the children who waved goodbye to their father at the station.

Elsewhere, fans of the Harry Potter series will be delighted to know that there is a Harry Potter-themed installation at the station. Look for the sign indicating Platform nine and three quarters, reminiscent of the magical platform from the books and films.

For railway enthusiasts, there is an engineering marvel. The Bermondsey Diveunder is a section of the railway track near London Bridge station that has been ingeniously built beneath the existing tracks, which allows trains to pass over or under each other, improving capacity and reducing congestion.

There's also rumour that the house used in Bridget Jone's Diary, where Renée Zellweger's character famously made her three-course meal of blue soup, an omelette, and marmalade, is surrounded by railway tracks leading out of London Bridge station.

Under all of this is a network of hidden tunnels and chambers known as The Vaults. These spaces are occasionally used for art installations, immersive theatre experiences and other unique events.

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