Blackfriars served as the new eastern terminus of the Metropolitan District Railway when their line was extended from Westminster. The construction of this MDR section was coordinated with the development of the Victoria Embankment, employing the cut and cover method to roof over a shallow trench.
Now the station spans the River Thames, occupying the entirety of the Blackfriars Railway Bridge. Since December 2011, there have been station buildings with passenger entrances on both sides of the river. Previously, only the north side had buildings and entrances. Adjacent to the rail bridge runs Blackfriars Bridge, a road bridge that runs parallel to it.
Blackfriars is named after a central London area in the southwest corner of the City of London. Its name dates back to 1317 and originates from the black capes (cappas) worn by the Dominican Friars. These friars relocated their priory from Holborn to the area between the River Thames and Ludgate Hill in 1276.
