Aldwych Station Tour

 It’s my birthday soon, I’ll be 50 which is very old 😂.  My sister didn’t know what to buy me as a gift then she came up with the idea to get me a ticket for one of the TFL Hidden London tours and I chose Aldwych Station.


Just for a bit of confusion, it was once known as Strand Station.

So one Saturday me and Ella went off to London and alongside 18 others we went for a tour around the station.  We had 3 tour guides, all really nice and knowledgeable guys.  

There are approximately 163 steps down to the platforms, which is fine until you have to come back up as the lift doesn’t work and neither do my elderly legs when it comes to climbing.  



The old, out of service lifts are original features and the only ones on the network that still have the wood flooring.  I remember when this kind of flooring was everywhere on the underground, on the trains and escalators.  It wasn’t until the fire at Kings Cross that wood flooring was removed and replaced with what we have today.

The station has been used for filming by films like Darkest Hour, Fast and Furious and TV shows like Sherlock and Mr Selfridge.  The Prodigy filmed the video for Fire Starter here as well.  And it is also used by emergency services for training drills which is where Dave comes in sat in his wheelchair.


Due to the filming that has taken place down there there are lots of replica posters on the walls, there are also genuine posters dotted around.




There are two platforms down there, one of which still has trains run through it.  One platform is unusual as the rail does not have a suicide pit and also the conductor’s are rectangular instead of the usual circular ones we see in other stations.



You are given all sorts of information on the tour including stories of how people used to shelter down here during The Blitz where bunk beds and hammocks were placed on the lines. You hear about how people were entertained down here during those dark hours and even hear a recording of a song sung down there.

The tour lasts around 70 minutes but is it worth £50? In my opinion I think that’s a bit steep as other than both platforms you don’t really get to see anything else. I had read reviews where there was an old tube train down there and that you got to see the old toilets and ticket office.  We didn’t see any of these but overall it was an enjoyable experience.

You can see the rest of my photos over here https://www.facebook.com/RXQueen74






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