The London Transport Museum has announced a fresh series of tours of disused tube tunnels and buildings, with tickets going on sale next week.
Note, if you sign up for their newsletter, you get early bird access to the tickets, which is worth while as some of their tours sell out very fast.
The tours:
Euston station: The photography tour
An opportunity to take the photographs you want of the heritage features of the traditional Leslie Green station, capturing its unique architecture and style. You will gain access to the inside of a large operational fan room to see how old transitions to new. Then head underground where you will be able to explore the old passenger corridors, walk under the old lift shaft and discover hidden ventilation tunnels.
Especially designed for photographers who want time and access to these unique underground spaces.
- Dates: Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 14, 15, 16, & 17 December 2017
- Tour duration: 2.5 hours approx.
- Tickets: Adult £100; Concession £95 (+ £1.50 booking fee per transaction)
- More information here
55 Broadway: London’s first skyscraper
Join TfL experts and enthusiasts for a tour inside London’s first skyscraper, 55 Broadway. Considered radical and offensive when unveiled in 1929, this Grade I listed structure is now a marvel of Art Deco London. Your tour will give you elite access to London Underground’s former headquarters and a new perspective on the capital city as you journey up 14 stories of detailed offices, grand meetings rooms, and stunning rooftops views.
- Dates: Saturday, Sunday, 21-22 October, 4-5 November, 9-10 December 2017
- Tour duration: 90 minutes approx.
- Tickets: Adult £33.50; Concession £28.50 (+ £1.50 booking fee per transaction)
- More information here
Clapham South: Subterranean shelter
Journey 180 steps underground to explore one of eight deep-level shelters that exist across London. Opened to the public in July 1944, Clapham South deep-level shelter has over a mile of subterranean passageways that reveal the extraordinary stories of those who sheltered here, from Londoners seeking refuge during the Blitz, to hopeful Caribbean migrants arriving on the Empire Windrush, and even thrifty visitors to the Festival of Britain.
- Dates: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday, 25 – 27 & 29 October 2017
- Tour duration: 75 minutes approx.
- Tickets: Adult £36.50; Concession £31.50 (+ £1.50 booking fee per transaction)
- More information here
A version that includes a historical film screening in the tunnels is here
Down Street: Churchill’s secret station
Located in Mayfair between Hyde Park Corner and Green Park stations, Down Street had a short life as a working station from 1907 to 1932, but became critical to winning the Second World War when covertly transformed into the Railway Executive Committee’s bomb-proof bunker. Experience the warren of narrow tunnels where the nation’s railways were coordinated and Prime Minister Winston Churchill took refuge secretly at the height of the Blitz.
- Dates: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 10 November – 3 December 2017
- Tour duration: 90 minutes approx.
- Tickets: Adult £85:50; Concession £80.00 (+£1.50 booking fee per transaction)
- More information here
There is also an afternoon tea option here
Highgate: Wilderness walkabout
Discover a station reclaimed by nature. Redeveloped with Charles Holden architecture in 1941 Highgate was set to be a bustling interchange as part of the Northern Heights project. Find out why it now lies in a secluded vale as an urban wilderness home to protected species.
- Dates: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, 3 August – 3 September 2017
- Tour duration: 60 minutes approx.
- Tickets: Adult £31.50; Concession £26.50 (+ £1.50 booking fee per transaction)
- More information here
Charing Cross
Explore the disused areas of Charing Cross Underground station. Go behind closed doors to exclusive areas not accessible to the public, walk under Trafalgar Square and see the London Underground from a different angle. Closed to the public since 1999, the Jubilee line platforms are now synonymous with movie and TV filming.
- Dates: Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, 21 September – 15 October 2017
- Tour duration: 75 minutes approx.
- Tickets: Adult £36.50; Concession £31.50 (+ £1.50 booking fee per transaction)
- More information here
Booking Details
Tickets will go on sale to the general public at 10am on Wednesday 12 July 2017.
However…
You can receive priority booking for Hidden London tickets by signing up to the Museum Newsletter by midnight on Sunday 9th July 2016.
A priority booking link will be sent out to all newsletter subscribers on the Tuesday morning.
The prices are ridiculous. The first 3 or 4 times they did tours, their system failed and I couldn’t get tickets. But the prices went beyond ridiculous, especially Down Street and the photography tours, so I don’t care about the tours any more.
We need to take back this money machine for ordinary Londoners.Highest fares in Europe.Who is TFL for- the rich and wealthy tourists.We need to take it back for Londoners.I spent double on fares today than on food.Take it back by force if necessary.
100% agree.
The prices are ridiculous! Not me – pass.
I agree – I was very interested until I saw the pricing – ridiculous.
Would love to do many of these tours, but the prices are far too high. Real pity.
I couldn’t agree more with the above comments. The prices are beyond ridiculous to the point where they become insulting. TFL all over. Greedy, suck the last drop of marrow opportunists.
I love underground structures, especially the ww2 tours but the prices are insane.
Ludicrous, I was excited until I read the ticket fee,. What a joke,.
The money earned from these tours goes to support the museum and other TFL activities, so at least it is put to good use. However, whoever dreamed up these prices is a fantasist and clearly not someone who is interested in sharing the treasures with London. No way does having a few members of staff (already on the payroll and possibly volunteering their time ‘out of office hours’ anyway) take people round a disused station that’s been sitting there for the last 100 years warrant a fee of £85. It’s 100% pure profit, so they could be more realistic, make the price more accessible and run more tours. This greed will do them no favours.
My husband and I are very interested to go on these underground tunnel tours,but when I discovered the costs,I am speechless that the tours are so EXPENSIVE,even with concessions.It is indeed insane and really ludicrous of TFL to charge such an exorbitant price for all who is interested.
Was really interested in these tours as have an uncle and a nephew who are obsessed with the underground and would love to visit the disused tunnels and stations. Especially the chruchill one. But the prices are ridiculous. Not affordable for a family to go. Only the rich or those who haven’t really worked out what they are paying for will sign up. Becomes inaccessible for true Londoners and train enthusiasts. I know they need to support the museum but far too much profit being made out of these. Make them cheaper and run more tours and people will go.
How sad, Mr and Mrs average are excluded from going on these tours due to such high prices and certainly your average family can’t go!
£100 for a tour?? I expect they will sell the tickets but not to true enthusiasts.
100 Quid!!!! I’d like very much to know exactly how this breaks down, who gets what and why. How does it represent value for money?
The prices are insane. No thanks.