London Transport Museum is adding an exclusive new tour of Shepherd’s Bush Underground station to its popular Hidden London series, which take ticketholders to fascinating secret locations across the capital’s Underground network that are usually off limits to the public.
For the first time, ticketholders will be able to explore historic sections of the original Shepherd’s Bush station dating back to 1900 that lie concealed behind unassuming doorways and grilles of the modern day station.
Stepping through these secret gateways to the past, visitors will see examples of early Central line station design features – such as corridors and lift shafts lined with the station’s original white glass tiles. As they explore, guests will learn why Shepherd’s Bush was once west London’s most important transport hub and discover what the station’s early 20th century ticketing system had in common with today’s Oyster card.
The new tour will be the first Hidden London location on the Central line, with expert guides ready to impart fascinating stories about London’s third oldest deep-level railway and its evolution over the years to accommodate today’s Londoners.
In-person tours of the disused sections of Euston, Moorgate and Piccadilly Circus Underground stations will also go on sale, offering visitors the chance to go where few have ventured before and explore underground locations with unique stories to tell about London’s past.
The new tour season includes locations featured in UKTV’s popular TV Secrets of the London Underground series, as seen on the Yesterday channel and available to watch on UKTV Play. Fans of the show can follow in the footsteps of presenters Siddy Holloway and Tim Dunn to explore these special sites for themselves.
Led by expert guides with a wealth of fascinating facts and tales to share about these ‘forgotten’ parts of the London Underground, visitors will explore disused tunnels, platforms and lift shafts that lie concealed just a stone’s throw away from unknowing modern day commuters.
Tours for Shepherd’s Bush Underground station will run from 5-30 October 2022, with more tour dates to be announced later in the year. Tickets go on public sale Wednesday 3 August 2022 via ltmuseum.co.uk/hidden-london
Tickets will be available to London Transport Museum’s enewsletter subscribers ahead of general release, sign up via ltmuseum.co.uk for priority booking.
A new season of virtual Hidden London tours will also be available to book, with a vast array of experiences to pick from. Join from anywhere in the world via Zoom to get up close to out-of-bounds areas on the capital’s transport network that tell incredible tales about London’s past and present. From explorations of the highly restricted King William Street station – closing in 1900 to become the first ‘disused’ deep level Tube – to behind the scenes tours of some of London’s newest stations on the Elizabeth line.
Expert guides will share the history of these mysterious parts of London’s transport system through a gallery of contemporary photos, videos, never-before-seen footage as well as archival images from London Transport Museum’s collection. Access to many sites on the virtual tour roster is so restricted that in-person Hidden London tours will never be possible, making these virtual experiences particularly special.
For those who prefer their cultural experiences above ground, a new season of Hidden London walking tours of Covent Garden, Kingsway, Lincoln’s Inn Fields and Victoria Embankment will also be on sale. Explore these areas with expert guides who reveal fascinating little-known historical tales and titbits about the area and its transformation over the last 200 years.
Hidden London tour information and dates
.
In-person tour – Shepherd’s Bush: Suburbs to the City
Selected dates between 5-30 October 2022 inclusive (additional tour dates to be added later in the year).
Tickets: Adult £44.00, Concessions £39.00
Today Shepherd’s Bush would struggle to make the top 20 of London’s busiest Underground stations, but when it was designed in the late 19th Century, it was with huge numbers of passengers in mind. Opening in 1900, Shepherd’s Bush Underground station was the original western terminus of the Central London Railway (today’s Central line), cutting through the centre of the capital to provide an essential commuter link from London’s western suburbs to the City of London. Discover how it has transformed over the years and marvel at original Central line design features that remain frozen in time, just out of sight of modern-day commuters.
In-person tour – Euston: The Lost Tunnels
Selected dates between 12-31 October 2022 inclusive.
Tickets: Adult £44.00, Concessions £39.00.
Discover a secret side to a station you think you know on a tour that explores a century of Euston’s history. Wind through a labyrinth of atmospheric passageways beneath the present-day station that were once used by the travelling public. Glimpse a bygone era through a gallery of vintage advertising poster fragments, and see the original Leslie Green station facade before the site is transformed for the arrival of HS2.
In-person tour – Moorgate: Metropolitan Maze
*As seen on UKTV’s Secrets of the London Underground series*
Selected dates between 31 August and 25 September 2022 inclusive.
Tickets: Adult £52.50, Concessions £47.50.
Explore the many wonders of Moorgate station, one of London’s first Underground stations. See an original Greathead Shield left abandoned from a planned tunnel extension in 1904 – the only complete one of its kind on the Underground network. Explore a maze of disused tunnels and track left behind from station upgrades through the years, glimpse corridors lined with original glass tiles of the City and South London Railway – the world’s first deep-level underground railway – and discover how long-disused areas of the station have been ingeniously repurposed for a modern London.
In-person tour – Piccadilly Circus: The Heart of London
*As seen on UKTV’s Secrets of the London Underground series*
Selected dates between 14 September and 2 October 2022 inclusive.
Tickets: Adult £44.00, Concession £39.00
Visitors to Piccadilly Circus will be able to experience hidden areas of the station that have been closed to the public since 1929, as well as uncover the history of this iconic Grade II listed building and the famous architects responsible for its creation. Located directly underneath the celebrated landmark, Piccadilly Circus station opened in 1906 but was extensively modernised between 1925 and 1928 to meet passenger demands. This station is an engineering marvel and boasts one of the finest examples of subterranean architecture on London Underground.
Hidden London Virtual Tours
Join a Hidden London virtual tour from anywhere in the world via Zoom to get up close to out-of-bounds areas on the capital’s transport network.
Tickets: Adult £20, Concession £17.50. Visit ltmuseum.co.uk/hidden-london for individual tour dates and details.
· Virtual tour – Elizabeth line: Tottenham Court Road
Virtual tour – Elizabeth line: Liverpool Street
Virtual tour – Aldwych
Virtual tour – Brompton Road *As seen on UKTV’s Secrets of the London Underground series*
Virtual tour – Euston *As seen on UKTV’s Secrets of the London Underground series*
Virtual Tour – Holborn (Kingsway) *As seen on UKTV’s Secrets of the London Underground series*
Virtual Tour – King William Street *As seen on UKTV’s Secrets of the London Underground series*
Virtual tour – York Road *As seen on UKTV’s Secrets of the London Underground series*
Hidden London Walking Tours
For those who prefer to stay above ground, a Hidden London walking tour is just the ticket.
Tickets: Adult £20, Concession £17.50. Visit ltmuseum.co.uk/hidden-london for individual tour dates and details.
Walking tour – Secrets of Central London
Discover the secrets of London on a walking tour of Covent Garden, Kingsway, Lincoln’s Inn Fields and Victoria Embankment.
