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Hidden London: the Exhibition

Hidden London: the Exhibition

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Londonist

The front door of Hidden London: the Exhibition

Our 5-star exhibition

Hidden London: the Exhibition took visitors on an immersive journey into some of London’s most secret spaces in the oldest subterranean railway in the world. These ‘forgotten’ parts of the Tube network have incredible stories to tell about Britain’s wartime past - such as the Plessey aircraft underground factory which had 2,000 members of staff, mostly women, working in the two 2.5 mile-long tunnels on the eastern section of the Central line during the Second World War.

The exhibition featured the largest number of rare archive photos, objects, vintage posters, secret diagrams and decorative tiles from disused stations ever brought together in one location. 

It revealed stories about how Churchill took shelter at the height of the Blitz in the Railway Executive Committee’s bomb-proof headquarters deep underground at Down Street station. It showed how shelterers at Clapham South lived, where they slept and how they kept entertained, including some archive photos showing shelterers down in the tunnels. 

Visitors could also explore other iconic locations recreated in our Global Gallery, including the historic abandoned ticket hall at Aldwych station with an original 1930s ticket booth, and its famous Leslie Green tiles.

This exhibition has now closed.

Discover the exhibition

Step into Hidden London: the Exhibition, which was open in the Museum between October 2019 and July 2023, with this new self-guided virtual tour.

Explore the objects which were on display and the stories and tours which inspired the exhibition. 

We are grateful to ABM for supporting us in producing this 3D virtual tour.

Exhibition preview

Take a sneak peek at some of the objects that were on show…

The exhibition uncovered why these ‘lost’ quirks of the Underground network exist; changes in population, new and expanding Underground lines resulted in lower passenger numbers at certain stations such as Aldwych, economic priorities and political pressures have all led to spaces being abandoned. But they rarely stay that way. While some sections of the Tube system lie ‘forgotten’, many have been repurposed for new activities and are used for special Hidden London tours, growing salad leaves, and for filming locations.

With thanks to

Discover Britain - official media partner

Discover Britain magazine reveals the iconic history, hidden treasures and rich culture of the British Isles through stunning photography and expert guides.

The exhibition took place in the Global Gallery which is sponsored by Global, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment groups. It is Europe’s largest radio company and one of the leading outdoor companies in both the UK and Europe. We are grateful for Global’s longstanding support.

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