I hate this station.

This station is a mess. It is difficult to nagivgate at street level and underground where the design of the platforms and corridors are bizzarre. The Northern Line (bank branch) meets the Bakerloo line (southern terminus) here, but changing between the lines is time consuming and difficult so avoid that interchange. As for meeting the Thameslink/First Capitial Connect trains, don't even think about it. The railway station is very seperate (above street level), through the shopping centre and still has barriers to stop you making the change for free if using pay as you go. Then there is the issue with the lifts which are slow and clumbersome, although the stairs should be avioded as they are numerous and feel neverending whether going up or down!

So, are there upsides?

Stranglely, Yes! It is both Zone 1 and zone 2 which you can use to save money as buses are free in zone 1 with a travelcard and E and C can be ideal for getting into the City or getting to South London from the City on the cheap. South Bank Uni/London College of Printing and the Minstry of Sound as just by this stop, as is some very cheap food in the shopping centre.

Like most Londoners, I'm really not a fan of Elephant & Castle. The government is injecting billions into this area to try and regenerate it, but i don't think we'll see any of the effects until 2015 or so. The tube station is busy, urban and smack bang in the middle of really quite a dangerous area after dark. I've had a couple friends pickpocketed in the market next to the station and you often here stories of violence.

Ok, i'm moaning. What about the good things?

1) E&C tube is really near the imperial war museum
2) The station is named after a pub which is pretty cool
3) The bowling alley above station is actually very good + cheap!