Aldwych Station, once part of the Piccadilly line, is tucked away in London’s central Westminster district. Originally opened as Strand Station, it was renamed Aldwych in 1915. Served mainly by a little-used shuttle service, it eventually closed to passengers in 1994.
I visited this station as part of a journey I started earlier this year: exploring a new corner of London every week. Aldwych felt like the perfect stop. History and off the tourist radar. The guided tour lets you step into a piece of London’s hidden underground, from the original ticket hall and vintage lifts to the disused tunnels and one of the former Piccadilly line terminal.
End of the Line: from theatre to tube station
Aldwych Station was built on the site of the former Royal Strand Theatre. Back then, the Strand looked nothing like it does today. Entire slums were cleared to make way for this new extension of the Piccadilly line. The station was constructed by the Underground Electric Railways Company of London (UERL) to serve as the terminus of the Great Northern and Strand Railway. It officially opened on 30 November 1907, connecting to Holborn Station as part of the evolving Piccadilly line network.
Visiting Aldwych tube station
The tour of Aldwych’s abandoned tube station begins in the entry hall and former ticket office. Although this area was renovated later, the granolithic flooring you walk on is original, a direct link to the station’s Edwardian past.
The lifts
In the main hall, you’ll find 2 original lift shafts lined with polished wood panelling. Look up, the ornate ventilation grille above the entrance is another detail worth noting. Also, if one lift broke down, the second was designed to lower to the same level. A hidden door between them allowed passengers to cross over from one to the other, a clever piece of early 20th-century engineering.
Next, the tour takes you down a staircase leading to the platform level, that’s 160 steps, which you’ll need to climb back up at the end of the visit. Consider it part of the experience!
At the bottom of the stairs, you’ll notice metal grates and large open shafts. When Aldwych Station was first designed, planners greatly overestimated how busy it would be, several lift shafts were included in the plans. In the end, however, only two lifts were ever actually built.
Aldwych Station has been closed to passengers for nearly thirty years. Service was permanently discontinued in 1994, when it became clear that the cost of replacing the ageing lifts far outweighed the limited benefits of keeping the station operational.
The tour continues through the tunnels until you reach the first platform.
The station was later used to test new design concepts for the Underground. If you look closely, you’ll spot tile patterns and wall details that were later adopted in other stations — like the ones now seen at Piccadilly Circus.
In 2012, Aldwych Station was used to test emergency and security protocols in case of a terrorist attack during the London Olympic and Paralympic Games. Its isolated nature made it an ideal setting for simulations without disrupting the active transport network.
Vintage Posters
Many of the original advertising posters are still in place. And surprisingly well preserved. I was genuinely glad they kept them. One in particular stood out: a striking black-and-white triangle promoting the Design Centre. Known as the Swingtag, this symbol was introduced in 1964 to represent high-quality British manufacturing. It served both as a marketing tool and a sign of craftsmanship. This poster likely dates back to the 1970s, and it still holds its charm today.
Aldwych tube station as a wartime shelter
Although it was never one of London’s busiest stations, Aldwych has always played a key role in the city’s history. During both World Wars, the station and its tunnels were used as air-raid shelters. It even served as storage for priceless artworks from London’s museums.
I can’t even imagine how cold it must have been down there in winter, and let’s not get started on the health conditions. Over time, efforts were made to improve things: wooden planks were laid over the tracks to make it a bit more “comfortable”. Eventually ,bunk beds were installed to accommodate those sheltering underground.
The tour continues deeper into the tunnels until you reach the second platform.
The second platform was used for a recent film shoot, so the posters you see in the photos aren’t the originals. They were added as part of a movie set, giving the space a slightly different feel than the rest of the station.
Current Use of Aldwych Station
Today, Aldwych Station isn’t just used for guided tours. It also serves as a popular filming location. Movies like V for Vendetta, Fast & Furious 6, Sherlock, and Darkest Hour (2017) were all partially shot here. Remember the British band The Prodigy and their iconic Firestarter music video? That, too, was filmed inside Aldwych Station.
And for video game fans, yes, Aldwych made an appearance in Tomb Raider III: Adventures of Lara Croft. It’s the second level of the London zone, for those who remember battling their way through pixelated tunnels. 😊
Architectural style of Aldwych Station
The façade of Aldwych Station was designed by British architect Leslie Green (1875–1908). He was well known for his distinctive style on the early London Underground. You can easily recognise his work by the signature ‘oxblood red’ glazed terracotta tiles, which also appear on other historic stations like Covent Garden and Holloway Road.
The interior of Aldwych Station is tiled in green and white. Due to budget constraints at the time, it never received the decorative British Art Nouveau motifs. The ones you find in some other Underground stations.
How to visit Aldwych abandoned tube station
Hidden London, a programme run by the London Transport Museum, offers guided tours of disused Underground stations across the city. I chose the Aldwych ghost station simply because the date worked for me. And I wasn’t disappointed! There were about 15 of us in the group, and the tour was well structured and full of fascinating details.
The visit lasts approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes, and you’ll need to show photo ID to verify your booking. For up-to-date information and available dates, check the official Transport for London website (TfL) under their Hidden London Tours section.
