Borough. This district is part of ancient London, for here the Romans founded a settlement and built a 'high street' as an approach road to London Bridge. The Borough is a small part of Southwark and although the word borough means 'a fortified place' (Old English burh) the word now has another definition. It also refers to a town with its own local government, for in the late Middle Ages this was the only London Borough both outside the City Wall and sending its own Member to Parliament. It has kept its name ever since.

The station was opened as BOROUGH on 18 December 1890.