City Thameslink to Close for Months - Where to Go Instead
City Thameslink station in central London will close for more than seven months next year, forcing passengers to use a nearby stop. Network Rail and Thameslink confirmed on 29 October that the station will shut on 17 May 2027 for a complete escalator replacement. Thameslink trains will still run through the station, but nobody will be able to board or get off there until it reopens.
Where to Go During the City Thameslink Closure
- Closure: 17 May to late December 2027.
- Trains: Thameslink services continue through City Thameslink without stopping.
- Best alternative: London Blackfriars.
- Walk: From Blackfriars, six minutes to City Thameslink’s Ludgate Hill entrance or 11 to Holborn Viaduct.
- Accessibility: Blackfriars offers step-free access between street and platforms.
- Farringdon: Around 12 minutes from Holborn Viaduct, but not recommended because of crowding.
- Assistance: Extra staff at Blackfriars.
All ten escalators at City Thameslink are more than 35 years old and increasingly unreliable. Two at the Holborn Viaduct end were damaged beyond repair by flooding in 2025. Network Rail says closing the underground station completely is necessary for safe access and emergency evacuation, and should prevent years of piecemeal restrictions. About 7.6 million passengers use the station each year.
Blackfriars is the closest recommended replacement, particularly for passengers heading towards Ludgate Hill. Those bound for the northern end of City Thameslink should allow for the longer walk from Blackfriars. Farringdon may look equally convenient on a map, but Thameslink warns that it is already crowded, especially at peak times. Both Blackfriars and Farringdon have step-free access, though only Blackfriars is recommended.
"We know closing City Thameslink is a significant change and we're sorry for the disruption it will cause. This is not a decision we have taken lightly. We have looked long and hard at every possible option and, although none of them are without impact, a single closure is the least disruptive and most efficient way to carry out this vital work."
Anyone booking accommodation or planning a work trip near City Thameslink for summer or autumn 2027 should use Blackfriars as their rail stop. The closure will not interrupt trains travelling across central London; it changes where people board and alight. Check Thameslink’s dedicated closure page for updates before travelling, particularly if carrying luggage or needing step-free access. A precise reopening date has not been announced.