Charing Cross is essentially the centre of London. Close by is the point where all distances are measured.
It’s directly across the river from Waterloo, and has platforms that extend on a bridge part way across the Thames. The bridge is a good way of crossing the river to the south bank on foot and is accessible.
Charing Cross is the end of the line from London Bridge and Waterloo East. It serves Kent, so Dartford, Dover, Canterbury, Folkestone and Hastings. Some of these still have ferry services to the continent.
Waterloo station is one of the most famous in the country, and not just for songs by The Kinks. It’s one of the busiest, if not the busiest (though Liverpool Street may contest that). You are warned.
The whole area has many hotels, entertainment venues, and eating places.
Actually, it’s two stations. There’s Waterloo East, which is on the line between London Bridge and Charing Cross.
There’s not much to it, beyond an exit at the far end which gets you, eventually, to Southwark Underground station (Jubilee line). Platforms here have letters, A, B and so on, to avoid confusion.
The main station has a lot of platforms. There’s the famous clock, a bridge to Waterloo East, steps down to the South Bank and it’s not miles to the actual Waterloo Bridge.
In total there are something like 24 platforms. The highest numbered ones, on the right as you look at them, used to be for the Eurostar.
If you arriving here you could have come from the south west, so Portsmouth (for ferries), Reading (for Heathrow), Exeter, Guildford… so many places.
You could well be staying in the area, in which case you are in a good place to get anywhere you need.
Blackfriars is north of the Thames, but barely. In fact, it’s an interesting station as the platforms are on a bridge over the river and you can leave the station from either end, that is on the south bank or the north. The picture below is from the north looking south.
Some trains terminate (ie finish) here, some pass through.
The station has been re-built and modernised quite recently. Trains come in from Kent, and Thameslink serves this station, so Luton and Gatwick airports, Croydon, Brighton, St Alban’s and so on. It’s a busy station during the week, with city workers forming a healthy rush hour.
Underground
Out of the north end platforms and then down to the Circle and District lines, again to Victoria, Bayswater, King’s Cross and so on.
Bus
There’s no bus station, but the 40 and 63 go past outside.
The 40 goes to Elephant and Castle and Dulwich in the south and Farringdon (for Elizabeth Line etc) in the north.
The 63 goes to King’s Cross in the north and Peckham in the south.
Taxi
This may be the best choice for central London. It’s not so far, and the ride is scenic.
It’s pushing it a bit to say there is a taxi rank at the front of the station, but there is a dedicated and marked space for taxi cabs, so look there. The roads nearby are busy so taxis should be plentiful.
On the north bank is historic London. St Paul’s Cathedral, The Old Bailey (criminal courts), lots of old and lovely pubs, Fleet Street… so much to enjoy and maybe worth a visit anyway.
