Hidden London - Aldwych Tube Station

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Hidden beneath the bustling streets of the West End lies Aldwych Tube Station, a preserved time capsule of London's subterranean past. Opened in 1907 as the terminus of a short Piccadilly line branch from Holborn, it was originally named Strand Station. Despite its grand design by architect Leslie Green—featuring the iconic oxblood red-tiled façade—it struggled with low patronage from the start, serving only about 450 passengers a day at its peak. The station’s history is defined by its remarkable adaptability. During the Blitz in World War II, it was officially closed to trains to serve as a public air-raid shelter for up to 1,500 people, even providing a library and basic medical care. Its tunnels were simultaneously used to protect national treasures, such as the Elgin Marbles from the British Museum and artworks from the National Gallery. After nearly a century of intermittent service, Aldwych finally closed in 1994 because the cost of replacing its original 1907 lifts was deemed uneconomical. Today, the station enjoys a "second life" as a premier filming location for productions like Sherlock, Darkest Hour, and Atonement, and music videos by Prodigy and The Kinks. The Hidden London tours, operated by the London Transport Museum, offer the only way for the public to step inside this Grade II listed landmark. Led by expert guides, these 75-minute tours provide exclusive access to the original Edwardian ticket hall, abandoned platforms frozen in time with vintage advertising, and the deep tunnels that once sheltered thousands. It is a rare, behind-the-scenes journey that bridges the gap between London's transit heritage and its cinematic present.

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Mercedes G Wagon and Landrover Defender outside the closed Aldwych Tube Station on the 26th February 2026.