Hidden London Hangouts

In this episode, Chris and Alex explore behind the scenes of an unusual Northern line station to discover some rare surviving original features. Meanwhile, Siddy and Laura enjoy a wealth of classic posters promoting travel to Chalk Farm from the Museum collection.

The team return with an exploration of a busy station with a long history and plenty of hidden gems in both public and secret areas. Once the home of the busiest exhibition centre of London, the station has seen many rebuilds and reuses, revealed through a wealth of photos and posters in our collection.

In this episode the team go behind the scenes at a station that has been rebuilt many times including after a direct hit from a bomb in the Second World War. Chris and Siddy unlock a river in a cupboard for Alex and Laura enjoys the classic artwork used to promote the station.

The team visit Holland Park, a true survivor of the Central London Railway on the trail of original features lost at neighbouring stations on the Central line. Chris and Alex get the keys to find the secrets and Siddy and Laura guide us through the images, artwork and opera associated with the station.

Chris and Alex head north to Glasgow to ride the Subway – the third system of it’s type in the world. Laura helps us pick through the differences and similarities of the Subway and the Underground as well as some important culinary decisions.

In this episode the team travel to Rotherhithe for a very rare opportunity to walk through the Thames Tunnel, whilst London Overground had stopped trains for scheduled upgrade works. Chris demonstrates how a tunnelling shield was key to the success of building this as the first underwater tunnel in the world in 1843. Siddy uncovers stories about the Brunnel dynasty who masterminded this engineering feat. Laura explains who we turned this into a Hidden London public tour and Alex turns shop keeper for one morning only.

In this bumper Christmas episode, the team are given rare special access to explore the intricate engineering marvel of the Northern line’s Camden Junctions. Built nearly 100 years ago, the junction allows trains to switch between all of the branches of the line and is normally strictly off–limits for access to film. Featuring in-cab footage and a night-time track possession, this is a special tour behind the scenes including a bonus track walk to the nearby disused station, South Kentish Town.

In this epic exploration Laura and Chris get behind the scenes and uncover the secrets of a very old Tube station with its origins in the City & South London Railway and the Great Northern & City line. In the final stages of an upgrade the station is a fantastic mix of modern architecture and forgotten passageways and tiling gems.