Woodside Park tube station
Encyclopedia
Woodside Park tube station is a London Underground
station in Woodside Park
, north London
.
The station is on the High Barnet branch of the Northern line
, between West Finchley
and Totteridge and Whetstone
stations, and in Travelcard Zone 4
. Woodside Park is the last station in an alphabetical list of London Underground
stations.
(EH&LR) and was originally opened as Torrington Park on 1 April 1872 by the Great Northern Railway
(which had taken over the EH&LR). The station was on a branch of a line that ran from Finsbury Park
to Edgware
via Highgate
. The station was renamed within a month of opening, and again in 1882.
After the 1921 Railways Act
created the Big Four railway companies the line was, from 1923, part of the London & North Eastern Railway
(LNER). The section of the High Barnet branch north of East Finchley
was incorporated into the London Underground network through the "Northern Heights" project begun in the late 1930s. High Barnet station was first served by Northern line trains on 14 April 1940 and, after a period where the station was serviced by both operators, LNER services ended in 1941. The station still retains much of its original Victorian
architectural character today.
route 383 to/from Barnet (the Spires) terminates at and departs from the main station entrance on Woodside Park road. This is relatively recent; until about the year 2000 no bus routes served the station. Further buses serve North Finchley High Road, which is a 5-10 minute walk east from the station along Woodside Park road.
The station is above ground. Both platforms are readily accessible from the street by wheelchair. The main entrance, with ticket office, is at the end of a cul-de-sac
(Woodside Park Road), adjacent to the car park entrance. This leads on to the southbound platform. A Victorian
post box
(with the initials VR, Victoria Regina, for Queen Victoria
) is set into the front wall of the station; it seems to date from the construction of the station.
The entrance leading on to the northbound platform is also at the end of a cul-de-sac (Station Road), a turning off Holden Road. There is no automatic ticket barrier at the latter entrance. Just outside this entrance is a small building housing a minicab firm.
To get from one platform to the other it is necessary to cross a footbridge, or to leave the station and make a journey round the adjacent streets. There is a route from the ticket office onto the bridge without going through the ticket barrier, but it is necessary to go through the barrier to get from either the bridge or the ticket office onto the southbound platform.
This bridge may also be used to cross between Station Road and Woodside Park Road without entering the station. There are two sets of stairs at each end, one leading to the platform and the other to outside the station.
The station is unique in the district as it is at the centre of a residential area. There are no retail stores around it other than a small mobile coffee shop which also sells newspapers and sandwiches outside the entrance. This is mainly due to residential pressures against commercial activity in the area.
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London Underground
The London Underground is a rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and some parts of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex in England...
station in Woodside Park
Woodside Park
Woodside Park is a suburban residential development in the London Borough of Barnet, in postal district N12.It is very varied in character. The area to the east of the tube station consists predominantly of large Victorian and Edwardian houses, many of which have been converted into flats...
, north London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
The station is on the High Barnet branch of the Northern line
Northern Line
The Northern line is a London Underground line. It is coloured black on the Tube map.For most of its length it is a deep-level tube line. The line carries 206,734,000 passengers per year. This is the highest number of any line on the London Underground system, but the Northern line is unique in...
, between West Finchley
West Finchley tube station
West Finchley tube station is a London Underground station in the Finchley area of north London in the London Borough of Barnet.The station is on the High Barnet branch of the Northern line, between Finchley Central and Woodside Park stations, and in Travelcard Zone 4.-History:The station was...
and Totteridge and Whetstone
Totteridge and Whetstone tube station
Totteridge and Whetstone tube station is a London Underground station in north London. The station is the penultimate one on the High Barnet branch of the Northern line, between Woodside Park and High Barnet stations, and in Travelcard Zone 4...
stations, and in Travelcard Zone 4
Travelcard Zone 4
Fare zone 4 is a zone of Transport for London's zonal fare system used for calculating the price of tickets for travel on the London Underground, London Overground, Docklands Light Railway and, since 2007, on National Rail services...
. Woodside Park is the last station in an alphabetical list of London Underground
London Underground
The London Underground is a rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and some parts of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex in England...
stations.
History
Woodside Park station was planned by the Edgware, Highgate and London RailwayEdgware, Highgate and London Railway
The Edgware, Highgate and London Railway was a railway in north London. The railway was a precursor of parts of London Underground's Northern Line and was, in the 1930s the core of an ambitious expansion plan for that line which was thwarted by the Second World War...
(EH&LR) and was originally opened as Torrington Park on 1 April 1872 by the Great Northern Railway
Great Northern Railway (Great Britain)
The Great Northern Railway was a British railway company established by the Great Northern Railway Act of 1846. On 1 January 1923 the company lost its identity as a constituent of the newly formed London and North Eastern Railway....
(which had taken over the EH&LR). The station was on a branch of a line that ran from Finsbury Park
Finsbury Park station
Finsbury Park Station is a busy transport interchange in North London. The interchange consists of an interconnected National Rail station, London Underground station and two bus stations. The main entrances are by the eastern bus station on Station Place...
to Edgware
Edgware
Edgware is an area in London, situated north-northwest of Charing Cross. It forms part of both the London Borough of Barnet and the London Borough of Harrow. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London....
via Highgate
Highgate
Highgate is an area of North London on the north-eastern corner of Hampstead Heath.Highgate is one of the most expensive London suburbs in which to live. It has an active conservation body, the Highgate Society, to protect its character....
. The station was renamed within a month of opening, and again in 1882.
After the 1921 Railways Act
Railways Act 1921
The Railways Act 1921, also known as the Grouping Act, was an enactment by the British government of David Lloyd George intended to stem the losses being made by many of the country's 120 railway companies, move the railways away from internal competition, and to retain some of the benefits which...
created the Big Four railway companies the line was, from 1923, part of the London & North Eastern Railway
London and North Eastern Railway
The London and North Eastern Railway was the second-largest of the "Big Four" railway companies created by the Railways Act 1921 in Britain...
(LNER). The section of the High Barnet branch north of East Finchley
East Finchley tube station
East Finchley is a London Underground station in East Finchley in north London. The station is on the High Barnet branch of the Northern Line, between Highgate and Finchley Central stations, and is in Travelcard Zone 3.-History:...
was incorporated into the London Underground network through the "Northern Heights" project begun in the late 1930s. High Barnet station was first served by Northern line trains on 14 April 1940 and, after a period where the station was serviced by both operators, LNER services ended in 1941. The station still retains much of its original Victorian
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
architectural character today.
Transport links
London BusesLondon Buses
London Buses is the subsidiary of Transport for London that manages bus services within Greater London, UK. Buses are required to carry similar red colour schemes and conform to the same fare scheme...
route 383 to/from Barnet (the Spires) terminates at and departs from the main station entrance on Woodside Park road. This is relatively recent; until about the year 2000 no bus routes served the station. Further buses serve North Finchley High Road, which is a 5-10 minute walk east from the station along Woodside Park road.
Local information
The station has a large adjacent area, originally for storing coal and now used as a car park. Until about 2000, there was a second car park. A block of flats has now been built on this area. (The flats are clearly visible in the linked picture of platforms).The station is above ground. Both platforms are readily accessible from the street by wheelchair. The main entrance, with ticket office, is at the end of a cul-de-sac
Cul-de-sac
A cul-de-sac is a word of French origin referring to a dead end, close, no through road or court meaning dead-end street with only one inlet/outlet...
(Woodside Park Road), adjacent to the car park entrance. This leads on to the southbound platform. A Victorian
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
post box
Wall box
Wall boxes are a type of post box or letter box found in many countries including France, the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth of Nations, Crown dependencies and Ireland. They differ from pillar boxes in that, instead of being a free-standing structure, they are generally set into a wall or...
(with the initials VR, Victoria Regina, for Queen Victoria
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
) is set into the front wall of the station; it seems to date from the construction of the station.
The entrance leading on to the northbound platform is also at the end of a cul-de-sac (Station Road), a turning off Holden Road. There is no automatic ticket barrier at the latter entrance. Just outside this entrance is a small building housing a minicab firm.
To get from one platform to the other it is necessary to cross a footbridge, or to leave the station and make a journey round the adjacent streets. There is a route from the ticket office onto the bridge without going through the ticket barrier, but it is necessary to go through the barrier to get from either the bridge or the ticket office onto the southbound platform.
This bridge may also be used to cross between Station Road and Woodside Park Road without entering the station. There are two sets of stairs at each end, one leading to the platform and the other to outside the station.
The station is unique in the district as it is at the centre of a residential area. There are no retail stores around it other than a small mobile coffee shop which also sells newspapers and sandwiches outside the entrance. This is mainly due to residential pressures against commercial activity in the area.
External links
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