Archaeology and Heritage

The construction of Crossrail through the heart of London will result in one of the most extensive archaeological programmes ever undertaken in the UK. Crossrail will manage over 20 worksites throughout the central section and archaeological investigations will be carried out at each site ahead of main construction works to build the central stations.

One of the core objectives of the Crossrail archaeology programme is the dissemination of archaeology information to the wider archaeological community, together with a focused education and outreach programme for local communities.

The new railway passes through the heart of the West End of London and along the north edge of the Roman and Medieval city and has the potential to encounter important and interesting remains including prehistoric, Roman and Medieval artefacts.

To communicate information to local communities on works taking place at each major construction site Crossrail provides regular updates through community newsletters and site hoardings, as well as engagement with local schools as part of our wider Young Crossrail programme.

School visits to archaeological excavations have been organised to provide a mixture of hands on educational activities, such as the Museum of London Dig Box project in Stepney Green, and public tours of excavations provided by our lead archaeologists.

As construction progresses throughout the route Crossrail will continue to engage with local communities to share the important and exciting finds at each location. Information will be published here on the Crossrail website.

In addition to this, wherever possible we are retaining and reusing historic assets within the final design of the scheme and carefully looking for opportunities to incorporate presentation of archaeological finds in the finished station areas. Dedicated teams within the Crossrail project are working to identify where the rich history of the project sites revealed by archaeological and historical research can be permanently celebrated in the finished railway.

Click on the links below to discover more about archaeology projects which have already taken place at our worksites in Liverpool Street, Tottenham Court Road and Stepney Green.

For further information our environmental management system and commitments click here.

Key Points

An archaeological strategy (known as the generic Written Scheme of Investigation or WSI) has been prepared in consultation with English Heritage and relevant County and local authority archaeologists to ensure a consistent approach across the route and throughout the life of the project;
Crossrail is employing a team of archaeological specialists to investigate and record archaeology and to archive and report on findings;
Only one of the more than 350 listed buildings along Crossrail’s route will be demolished;
Crossrail has entered into agreements with local authorities where works affect listed buildings.