Your Route to Real News

Inside hidden tunnel under UK's busiest streets where you can spy on commuters

582     0
Another abandoned station is often used in TV shows and movies
Another abandoned station is often used in TV shows and movies

CREEPY hidden tunnels hidden under Britain's busiest streets allow visitors to spy on commuters.

However, many who have walked along the secret passages around one London underground station wish they had never entered.

A London transport guide walks in the tunnels of the abandoned Down Street underground station in central London eiqrziqhhidtzprw
A London transport guide walks in the tunnels of the abandoned Down Street underground station in central LondonCredit: Richard Pohle - The Times
Inside Charing Cross, the secret abandoned tube station used in Bond, Sherlock, Luther and Bourne blockbusters
Inside Charing Cross, the secret abandoned tube station used in Bond, Sherlock, Luther and Bourne blockbusters
On Down Street tunnel lay disused until WW2 when it was covertly transformed into a bomb proof bunker in which Winston Churchill used
On Down Street tunnel lay disused until WW2 when it was covertly transformed into a bomb proof bunker in which Winston Churchill usedCredit: Richard Pohle - The Times
There are still posters on the walls from the time the station was closed to the public
There are still posters on the walls from the time the station was closed to the publicCredit: AFP

London Transport Museum opened the passages in 2022, allowing people to walk the abandoned sections of select tube stations.

Some of the tunnels have been closed to the public for decades - having been used for maintenance, storage, and evacuations.

One travel influencer, Dan Thomas, toured the tunnels underneath Shephard's Bush tube station.

Spectacular New Year fireworks light up London sky as huge crowds celebrate across UK for first time in three yearsSpectacular New Year fireworks light up London sky as huge crowds celebrate across UK for first time in three years

In a TikTok, Thomas showed abandoned parts of the station including a large staircase used for maintenance and evacuations.

He also revealed a section of the station where you could see commuters through a metal gate.

Thomas said: "In quite a few places there are spots where you can spy on unsuspecting passengers."

Tourists might even catch a look of passengers evacuating a train walking between platforms.

However, most people who enter the secret tunnels are only there because of emergency evacuations.

One 2016 evacuation saw roughly 350 passengers trapped inside the peak-time train for 40 minutes before train crews and police led them in single file back to a train platform.

Tourists walking through the tunnels will be surrounded by cables hanging on the wall, blackened concrete, and plenty of metal.

They might even catch a look at historic posters or signs from when an abandoned station was last in use.

London Transport Museum now offers the tours at 10 stations, including Piccadilly Circus, Baker Street, and Clapham South.

Baker Street will be popular with history buffs as the station includes 160 years of history and a look at the earliest days of the underground.

Robbie Williams poised to launch his own brand of energy drinks to rival PrimeRobbie Williams poised to launch his own brand of energy drinks to rival Prime

Meanwhile, Down Street has a bomb shelter that was used by Winston Churchill during WW2.

Charing Cross station will be a fan of film buffs as an abandoned platform was used in Bond, Sherlock, Luther and Bourne blockbusters.

Before the tours, most people who entered the area wished they hadn't as the tunnels were mostly used for evacuations.

Dan toured Shepherd’s Bush station, which was first opened in 1900 as the western end of the Central London Railway.

In one clip, he can see commuters walking through a station in between he holes in a large metal grate.

The railway was seen as pioneering at the time, as it provided a transport link between areas of West London and the City of London.

Clapham North's Deep-Level WW2 air raid shelter
Clapham North's Deep-Level WW2 air raid shelterCredit: Alamy
Visiting Charing Cross will allow tourists to see signs from when the station was last open
Visiting Charing Cross will allow tourists to see signs from when the station was last openCredit: London Transport Museum
Central London's Piccadilly Circus station
Central London's Piccadilly Circus stationCredit: London Transport Museum

James Halpin

Print page

Comments:

comments powered by Disqus