Every underground station has evolved. There are disused and reused areas that are usually off-limits which is why the London Transport Museum ‘Hidden London’ tours are so fascinating.
A third of Holborn station is usually out-of-bounds to you and me but we can now enjoy exploring these areas on a ‘Hidden London’ guided tour.
What Will You See?
There’s an unexpected view of the Piccadilly line and the two closed platforms of the former Aldwych branch*. You’ll see vintage posters, original Leslie Green Edwardian design features and an original early 20th-century signalling cabin.
This tour is a culmination of years of exclusive historical research from the museum’s experts, based on findings from the museum’s, TfL, and the national archives.
* Aldwych was a branch line from Holborn that closed in 1994. Holborn station is the ‘bookend’ for the short 800-metre line. There are sometimes tours available of Aldwych station.
In the photo above, you’re looking down the line towards Aldwych station. Notice there’s a closed tunnel on the left? It had a really important job. I’ll explain more below.
The Tour
- You’ll descend the old emergency staircase (180+ steps) and see the original tile colours for the station.
- You’ll go through secret doors on working platforms to reveal hidden areas to old connections.
- You can see the now bricked-up tunnel that stored national treasures from the British Museum and the National Gallery during WWII. (Now look back at the photo above and see the relevance of that long-gone tunnel.)
- The Guides have tips on what to notice throughout the tour as well as lots of insights and history to share.
- You’ll spend time on Platform 6 which was already out of use before WWI. It had accommodation and offices for transport staff with full plumbing which is impressive as this is 40 metres below ground level.
- You’ll hear about a nearby station that closed so the Central line could run through Holborn station (see ‘More tips’ below).
- You’ll find out why some doors are watertight.
- The Guides have some images and video footage which is fun to see such as the 1987 movie Superman IV with Holborn being used as the New York subway. And I liked this 1980s Howard Jones music video too.
This signalling cabin was used to operate the Aldwych branch line. If you can face watching the 2014 horror movie The Creep, this gets featured.
Another good reminder to look all around you on the London Underground is this poster. The amount of flights on the arrow can give you a clue to the age. Before 1933, four or five flights were used. After 1936, three flights were the norm. And by the 1960s, it was one or two.
How To Book
Official Website: www.ltmuseum.co.uk/whats-on/hidden-london/holborn-secret-platforms
Tours run all year around, with about three Hidden London sites open at a time to visit Wednesday to Sunday.
Profits generated from Hidden London tours help fund London Transport Museum’s charitable activities as an education and heritage charity.
This ‘vintage’ poster on platform 5 was promoting a National Gallery exhibition that was on in 2000. Interesting, as the platform has been out of use since 1994.
More Tips
I love seeing ‘ghost’ stations from a train. I often point out York Road which can be seen between Caledonian Road and King’s Cross St Pancras. Look right on the Eastbound Piccadilly line from Holborn and you can see the engineering lights for the long-gone British Museum station.
Down Street station will be out of use for Hidden London tours for a year from 16 September 2024.
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