Aldwych station is probably the best-known disused tube station on the London Underground network. There are occasional opportunities to visit the station for tours organized by the London Transport Museum.
There are around 26 disused tube stations in London, but you may have already seen the inside of Aldwych Station without realizing it, as it is a popular filming location. It was used for The Patriot Games , V for Vendetta , Atonement , 28 Days Later, and many more movies. The video for The Prodigy’s Firestarter was also shot here. More recently, the Aldwych station has been used in the Mr. Selfridge television series.
History of the station
The Leslie Green-designed station opened in 1907 as Strand Station (named after the nearby main road) and was intended for trips to Theatreland. Before the station opened, the short line merged with the Piccadilly line and it soon became apparent that it had a low number of passengers as it became a short route from Holborn.
In 1915, the station changed its name from Strand to Aldwych (the actual road the station is on) as the nearby Charing Cross station was called the Strand (since it is at the other end of the road).
The eastern platform was not used for train services since about 1917 and when the German bombardment began in World War I, the platform was used as emergency storage for 300 paintings from the National Gallery.
In 1922, the Reservations Office closed and tickets were issued in the elevators. Interestingly, a bell operated at the Holborn station rang in the Aldwych elevator to warn the elevator attendant that he had two minutes to get off and pick up passengers.
During the Blitz, the Aldwych station was used as a bomb shelter at night. Up to 1,500 people could request tickets to sleep inside and entertainment was even offered. Many people went to work every day and spent the nights at the station.
The station was also used as a deep-level storage for the treasures of the V&A and the British Museum, including the Elgin marbles.
The low number of passengers continued and since there were nine minutes between trains, it was faster to walk. The station closed completely in 1994 when the cost of restoring the original 1907 rosters could not be justified.
The Aldwych station is Grade II listed and some original features still remain, including a 1907 basin in the ladies’ room.
A visit to Aldwych station
Today, there are some unfinished tunnels that have been opened that have never been seen by visitors before. Unbelievably these were dug by hand, but were left due to lack of funds and no requirements. There were also additional lift shafts, again dug by hand, which were never used as the station was underused from the start.
A visit to the station includes the Ticket Hall area, the 160 steps and the two disused platforms, the elevators (although not in use), and any other area available at the time.
There are many rules to follow when visiting and these are the terms and conditions of Transport for London, so even though the London Transport Museum runs the tours, the rules must be followed. Most of it is the obvious health and safety things, like flat-toed shoes and awareness that there is no free access. But there is no food or drink allowed either as the Aldwych station is vermin-free, unlike other stations on the network.
Excellent tour guides take you around the station (in groups, for safety reasons) and have a wealth of information to share, as well as some fascinating photos. LTM friends generally guide the tours and are true experts.
Keep an eye out for the posters on the platforms, but keep in mind that they are not all old as many are added for filming and are made to look old. Hanging over platform 2 you can see calcite straws hanging down.
How to plan a tour
Tours of Aldwych Station do not run regularly, but check the London Transport Museum website for event and tour news. For more information on disused subway stations, see Abandoned Subway Stations and Underground History.
