Historic street that was once the ‘gateway to London’ reveals new renovation plans
A LONDON street once said to be the gateway to the city has revealed plans to regenerate the area.
St John Street runs to Charterhouse Street in Isliington.
It has been called the “once gateway to London” by local authorities, with people heading into the main city using the roads.
It remains a busy area with the nearby Farringdon Station having 1.2million monthly travellers.
However, the area is set to be revamped.
This includes more greenery and seating, with trees, rain gardens and plants as well as benches.
It also hopes to make the busy area quieter for a peaceful spot in the city.
Larger pavements, new cycle lanes and “historical details” will also be added.
Cllr Rowena Champion, Islington Council’s Executive Member for Environment, Air Quality, and Transport told local media: “We’re committed to working closely with the local community to create vibrant, people-friendly streets.
“These improvements to St John Street will help to create attractive, accessible space for all, making it safer for people walking, wheeling and cycling.
“St John’s Street has a historical significance to this area, and we want to ensure that it is a well-used space today as it was way back when, and this project aims to pay homage to that.”
The plans are open to the public to comment until December 15.
The London area also has a secret English woodland barely anyone knows about.
Barnsbury Woods is a tiny nature reserve in Islington open to the public.
It’s only open two hours a week so you will have to plan ahead.
And a new floating lido could open near Islington.
Swim City Basin has revealed plans for an outdoor swimming pool on top of Regents Canal.
It would be between Angel and Old Street, with a sauna and cafe too.
The website states: “Islington is one of the only London boroughs without an outdoor public swim facility or lido.”
History of London train stations
19th Century:
- 1836: London Bridge Station, the first railway terminus in London, opens. Initially serving the London and Greenwich Railway.
- 1837: Euston Station opens as the terminus of the London and Birmingham Railway.
- 1838: Paddington Station opens as the terminus for the Great Western Railway, designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel.
- 1841: Waterloo Station opens as the terminus for the London and South Western Railway.
- 1846: The original King’s Cross Station opens as the terminus for the Great Northern Railway.
- 1864: Charing Cross Station opens, serving the South Eastern Railway.
- 1868: St Pancras Station opens, designed by George Gilbert Scott, serving the Midland Railway.
- 1874: Liverpool Street Station opens, serving the Great Eastern Railway.
- 1899: Marylebone Station, the last of London’s mainline stations, opens, serving the Great Central Railway.
20th Century:
- 1926: The Southern Railway’s new station, Waterloo East, opens, connected to the main Waterloo Station.
- 1986: The Docklands Light Railway (DLR) opens, connecting to several mainline stations, including Bank and Tower Gateway.
21st Century:
- 2007: St Pancras International reopens after extensive renovation, becoming the London terminus for Eurostar services to continental Europe.
- 2021: The Elizabeth Line (formerly known as Crossrail) is set to open, connecting new and existing stations across London.
Elsewhere in London, the busiest train station – London Liverpool Street – has revealed its latest renovation plans.
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