Depot Open Days: The Big Build
Event description
This year the Tube is celebrating a major milestone: its 160th anniversary!
On 10 January 1863, the world’s first underground railway opened in London. Its construction using the ‘cut and cover’ method was, quite literally, a ground-breaking feat of engineering.
Discover the story behind this ‘big build’ and how it changed life in London as you explore behind the scenes at our Depot.
See original plans for the Underground on display, and marvel at the different tools used to dig the first Tube tunnels and how they compare to modern machinery. Admire the many historic vehicles, posters, signs and maps in our collection, including the original versions of Harry Beck’s iconic diagrammatic Tube map, first issued 90 years ago in 1933.
For adults, we have a line-up of expert talks to enjoy - and don’t miss this opportunity to explore our Small Object Store.
Meanwhile, families can get creative coding electric toy trains and designing and making Oyster card holders!
Image gallery
What's happening?
Every day
Hidden London Interactive Stall
Come and learn terrific Tube trivia to share with your friends! Try on Hidden London branded clothing to take photos in front of iconic London Underground roundels, and find out about our Hidden London in-person and virtual tours behind the scenes of Underground stations.
Vehicles on show
We’re bringing two historic vehicles out into the yard so you can step inside and get a closer look. Inside, visit the original 1930s District Line Q stock train cars and check out the progress on this restoration project - and enjoy a live demonstration of heritage train signalling equipment.
People from the past
Meet and chat to historical costumed characters who’ll be bringing to life key moments in London Underground’s history; look out for Harry Beck, the designer of the iconic Tube map, and John Fowler, the chief engineer of the Metropolitan Railway - the world’s first underground railway.
Emergency Response Unit
TfL’s Emergency Response Unit is a specialist team that deal with emergency situations across the Tube network. They’ll be demonstrating what they do and how they keep London moving.
Special tours
Join tours of the Depot’s Small Object Store to discover gems from the Museum’s collection.
Food and drink
Enjoy a delicious hot meal from local food vendors Auntie Bonnie’s Jerk Pit, or grab a hot drink and a sweet treat from the Mini Bean Coffee mobile bar.
Shopping
Shop for exclusive gifts and souvenirs from moquette pattern socks, scarves and cushions, to framed posters, limited-edition prints and authentic Underground signs.
-
Friday 16 June
Making a Museum
A talk by the Museum’s Director for 28 years, Sam Mullins OBE, reflecting on the development of London Transport Museum from the closure of the Museum of British Transport in Clapham to today’s busy attractions at Covent Garden and Acton. Sam’s vision has long been to extend the Museum’s reach beyond the walls of our Grade II listed building in Covent Garden to become the world’s leading museum of urban transport. Opening the London Transport Museum Depot in Acton as the first publicly accessible museum store in the UK in 1999 was a major step towards this aim.
Perfect Patterns: A Story of Moquette
A talk by textile designer Emma Sewell of Wallace Sewell, whose moquette fabric designs are currently used on five Tube lines, as well as the Overground, Trams, and the new Elizabeth line. Wallace Sewell have just designed an exclusive collection of accessories, available through London Transport Museum’s Shop, to celebrate the 160th anniversary of the Underground.
Under Night Streets (1958)
Screening of this 20 minute British Transport Films documentary. After the last train at night and before the first in the morning, 800 people are hard at work behind the scenes making London’s Underground fit to travel on - brushing dust from ventilation ducts, ‘fluffers’ cleaning up rubbish, routine rail replacement and fixing a broken rail discovered at 3.30am.
-
Saturday 17 June
Making a Museum
A talk by the Museum’s Director for 28 years, Sam Mullins OBE, reflecting on the development of London Transport Museum from the closure of the Museum of British Transport in Clapham to today’s busy attractions at Covent Garden and Acton. Sam’s vision has long been to extend the Museum’s reach beyond the walls of our Grade II listed building in Covent Garden to become the world’s leading museum of urban transport. Opening the London Transport Museum Depot in Acton as the first publicly accessible museum store in the UK in 1999 was a major step towards this aim.
160 years in 20 objects
Which collection objects will Head Curator Matt Brosnan choose to tell the story of the development and evolution of London Underground? Come to his talk to find out!
Victoria rig demonstration
Step into a Victoria Line driving cab and learn how the trains on the world’s first automatic railway worked.
Learning Zone
Ideal for children aged 8 and older: put your engineering cap on and try coding electric toy trains. Can you get them on the right track? Then get crafty at the Make and Take station as you design and make your own Oyster card holder to celebrate 160 years of the Tube.
Family Zone
Bring your under-7s to join us for Singing and Stories: this weekend we’ll be telling a new story all about the tools that made the Tube.
London Transport Miniature Railway
Ride on our working 7¼ in gauge London Transport Miniature Railway: it’s based on real London Underground locomotives, carriages, signals and signs (tickets sold separately on the day).
-
Sunday 18 June
Victoria rig demonstration
Step into a Victoria Line driving cab and learn how the trains on the world’s first automatic railway worked.
Learning Zone
Ideal for children aged 8 and older: put your engineering cap on and try coding electric toy trains. Can you get them on the right track? Then get crafty at the Make and Take station as you design and make your own Oyster card holder to celebrate 160 years of the Tube.
Family Zone
Bring your under-7s to join us for Singing and Stories: this weekend we’ll be telling a new story all about the tools that made the Tube.
London Transport Miniature Railway
Ride on our working 7¼ in gauge London Transport Miniature Railway: it’s based on real London Underground locomotives, carriages, signals and signs (tickets sold separately on the day).
Under Night Streets (1958)
Screening of this 20 minute British Transport Films documentary. After the last train at night and before the first in the morning, 800 people are hard at work behind the scenes making London’s Underground fit to travel on - brushing dust from ventilation ducts, ‘fluffers’ cleaning up rubbish, routine rail replacement and fixing a broken rail discovered at 3.30am.
SEND Friendly - Early Explorer Hour
We are reserving the 10:00 time slot on Sunday 18 June during our Big Build Open Days for families with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, to ensure a quiet and warm welcome to the Depot.
Explore the Museum’s stores (over 320,000 objects!) in peace, take part in a small storytelling tour or bring the collection to life by borrowing one of our immersive sensory bags (limited supply).
Advanced booking is essential as places are limited, and must be booked online.
Please note: tickets for the 11.00 timeslot are available for the general public to book.
More Acton Depot events
Design icons tours
Discover the stories – and the people – behind some of London’s most enduring designs. From the iconic roundel and font to Harry Beck’s pioneering Underground map.
Art and poster store tour
Immerse yourself in the rich design heritage of London’s transport while exploring a selection of posters from our world-class collection, and rarely seen original artworks.
Depot discovery tours
Learn about the history of London transport as you take a tour round the Depot to see highlights from our collection, from historic vehicles, signs and maps to some unusual and unexpected items!
Location
2 Museum Way
118-120 Gunnersbury Lane
London
W3 9BQ
United Kingdom