Whitechapel tube station
District line and Hammersmith & City line · Zone 2 · Tower Hamlets
About Whitechapel station
Two railways built stations side by side here. The East London Railway opened first, on 10 April 1876, and its three-storey façade on Whitechapel Road, unlike any other on that line, is still the main entrance. The District Railway added its Whitechapel (Mile End) station next door in 1884, at the end of an eastern spur from the line that completed the Circle, and renamed it Whitechapel on 13 November 1901. After rebuilding for the Whitechapel and Bow Railway, District trains ran on east to East Ham from 2 June 1902. Today’s sub-surface platforms occupy the site of that 1902 station, designed by Cuthbert Arthur Brereton, while the smaller 1884 District entrance has been a shop since 1904.
The Crossrail rebuild, designed by Building Design Partnership and Arcadis, restored the 1876 entrance, which reopened on 23 August 2021, and placed a new concourse and ticket hall above the live Overground tracks, along with a public north–south route through the station. Estimated at around £830m against an early forecast of £110m, it was called by Crossrail chief executive Mark Wild one of the most challenging Elizabeth line stations to build. Since March 2022 the platform signs have also shown the name in Bengali, reflecting the area’s large Bengali community.
First and last trains from Whitechapel
| Line and direction | Mon–Thu first – last | Friday first – last | Saturday first – last | Sunday first – last |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| District towards Richmond, Ealing Broadway or Wimbledon | 05:34 – 00:21 to Ealing Broadway | 05:34 – 00:21 to Ealing Broadway | 05:34 – 00:21 to Ealing Broadway | 06:50 to Richmond – 23:46 |
| District towards Upminster, Barking or Dagenham East | 05:42 – 00:58 | 05:42 – 00:58 | 05:42 – 00:58 | 06:31 – 00:22 |
| Hammersmith & City towards Hammersmith (Circle and H&C lines) | 05:21 – 00:28 | 05:21 – 00:28 | 05:21 – 00:28 | 06:46 – 00:05 |
| Hammersmith & City towards Barking or Plaistow | 05:38 – 01:00 | 05:38 – 01:00 | 05:38 – 01:00 | 07:29 – 00:37 |
Times are TfL’s published timetable departures from this station; on Saturday the list follows TfL’s “Saturdays and public holidays” timetable.
At the busiest hour on a weekday there are up to 20 District trains an hour per direction and 8 Hammersmith & City trains an hour per direction from Whitechapel, counting both directions separately.
Next stations from Whitechapel
Running times between Whitechapel and the adjoining stations, from TfL’s timetable.
| Line | Next station | Time |
|---|---|---|
| District | Aldgate East | 2.1 min |
| District | Stepney Green | 2.2 min |
| Hammersmith & City | Aldgate East | 2.1 min |
| Hammersmith & City | Stepney Green | 2 min |
Connections
- Tube: change here between the District line and Hammersmith & City line.
- Elizabeth line at this station.
- London Overground: Windrush line.
Station facilities
What is near Whitechapel station
The station stands behind the street market that shares its name, with Whitechapel Road Market about 40 m from the entrance, and opposite Tower Hamlets Town Hall. The Royal London Hospital is about 230 m away, with the Royal London Hospital Museum at roughly 250 m and Queen Mary University’s Whitechapel Campus around 230 m. The Whitechapel Idea Store library is some 150 m off and Vallance Gardens about 210 m. Underground trains run west to Aldgate East, while the Elizabeth line runs west to Liverpool Street.
| Place | Walk from the station |
|---|---|
| Whitechapel Road Market | 40 m |
| Royal London Hospital | 230 m |
| St Philip's Church Library | 260 m |
| Whitechapel Idea Store | 150 m |
| Vallance Gardens | 210 m |
| Queen Mary Universtiy Whitechapel Campus | 230 m |
| Royal London Hospital Museum | 250 m |
| William Booth (bust) | 300 m |
Frequently asked questions
Because of the large Bengali community in the area. Since March 2022 the platform signs have carried ‘Whitechapel’ alongside its Bengali equivalent, installed ahead of Bangladesh Independence Day on 26 March. It is one of relatively few stations in England with bilingual signage, though the signs have also faced political opposition.
It is the original East London Railway façade of 1876, a three-storey building unlike any other station on that railway. It was restored during the Crossrail works and reopened on 23 August 2021; for the five years it was closed, a temporary ticket hall off Court Street kept the station open.