London Necropolis railway station

London Necropolis railway station was a funeral train terminal in Waterloo with dedicated mortuaries, private waiting areas, and a hydraulic lift to carry coffins down to platform level. The building stood on a side street near the main lines and connected to the general network through a branch track.

The terminal opened in 1854 as part of a network carrying deceased individuals from central London to Brookwood Cemetery in Surrey. German bombing raids in April 1941 destroyed much of the building and ended operations after 87 years.

The tracks led to separate platforms for mourners depending on faith and social position, with walls and doorways marking boundaries between groups. Families waited in different rooms before departure and met again only at the cemetery.

The terminal stands near the current Waterloo station and can be viewed from outside, though it no longer operates. Information about its history appears on commemorative plaques in the area and in local archives.

Throughout its working life at least one train left the terminal daily with coffins and mourners for the journey to Surrey. In total over 200,000 funerals were handled, with Anglican and Nonconformist ceremonies departing on separate tracks.

Location: London Borough of Lambeth

Official opening: 1854

GPS coordinates: 51.50306,-0.11139

Latest update: December 17, 2025 09:04