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Date(s)
This is a recurring event:
  • Repeats Daily on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday all day until Sunday 26 May 2024
  • Repeats Daily on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday all day until Sunday 30 June 2024
  • Repeats Daily on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday all day until Sunday 15 September 2024
  • Repeats Weekly on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday all day until Sunday 31 March 2024
Upcoming dates:
  • Wednesday 20 March 2024, all day
  • Thursday 21 March 2024, all day
  • Friday 22 March 2024, all day
  • Saturday 23 March 2024, all day
  • Sunday 24 March 2024, all day
  • Wednesday 27 March 2024, all day
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About the tour

Get an intimate peek into one of London’s most intriguing hidden spaces.

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 headquarters.

Experience the warren of narrow tunnels where the nation’s railways were coordinated, and where Prime Minister Winston Churchill secretly took refuge at the height of the Blitz.

Why not treat yourself to a delicious afternoon tea in stunning surroundings at the nearby Athenaeum Hotel before or after your tour? Details and how to book can be found here.

Key information

Duration: Approx 90 minutes
Times: 10:15, 12:25, 15:20, 17:30 Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays
10:15, 12:25, 15:20 Fridays and Saturdays

Location: Meet at the Hyde Park Suite, Athenaeum Hotel, 116 Piccadilly, W1J 7BJ
Tickets*: £90 / £85 concessions

Gallery

Black and white photo of the entrance to Down Street station
A silhouette of a person walking down a dark narrowed tiled corridor
A photo of the back of a person walking through a dimly lit tunnel in Down Street station

Quote

Amazing evening yesterday experiencing the old disused London Underground tunnel at Down Street. The @ltmuseum tour which which around the old rooms talked through how the site was used in the Second World War and what went on there. Some proper history!

Upgrade your Down Street experience

Add to your day of exploring London’s secret history by booking our combined experience, with our classic Hidden London tour of Down Street followed by an exclusive Churchill-themed cocktail and tasty nibbles in a stylish hotel bar nearby, where spies were once rumoured to meet.

A bar with dark wood-panelled walls and dark leather furniture

Tour information

*As well as your tour, the ticket price includes:

  • Free one-day entry to London Transport Museum (within a month of your tour date). No need to pre-book, just come to the Museum during our opening hours with proof of your tour ticket.
  • 10% discount on all full-priced products at our shop (online and in store), within one month of your event date.

These offers cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. 

  • Where is the meeting point?

    The meeting point for this tour is inside the Athenaeum Hotel, 116 Piccadilly, W1J 7BJ. Please ask to be directed to the right suite by a member of staff.

    To plan your journey to the meeting point, we recommend using TfL’s Journey Planner or downloading the TfL Go app

    Please arrive 15 minutes before the time on your ticket.

  • What should I wear?

    Visitors must wear flat sturdy shoes. Guests wearing open toe sandals or shoes, or high-heels, will be refused entry due to health and safety restrictions. Sturdy walking shoes are recommended as there are uneven underfoot conditions throughout the tour.

    Do not bring large or heavy bags as there are no cloakroom facilities.

    Please also bring with you photo ID and your email confirmation to be permitted entry.

  • Are children allowed?

    Children under 14 are not permitted on the tour.

    All under 18s are eligible for concession tickets.

    14 to 16-year-olds must be accompanied by an adult.

  • How long will the tour last?

    Your tour will last for 75 minutes and will involve walking for most of this time, including 122 stairs connecting the entrance at street level to the platforms.

  • Are there toilets or cloakrooms on the tour?

    There are no cloakroom facilities or public toilets available on the tour. Please do not bring large or heavy bags.

  • What is the tour like? Are there stairs or lifts? Is it accessible?

    There is no step-free access on the tour and there is no lift on site. There are 122 stairs connecting the entrance at the ground level to the Down Street station. It is advisable therefore that you should have an adequate level of fitness to undertake this tour. You may be refused entry if you appear to not meet this requirement.

    The tour will include access to confined areas which may be unsuitable for people with claustrophobia. There will be areas which have low lighting and may be dusty.

    Due to the nature of the tours, we are unable to accommodate visitors with wheelchairs.

  • About your tickets

    Once you’ve booked your tickets, you will receive your order confirmation to the email address you provided at checkout. This may take up to 24 hours - please check your junk mail folder after this time, and if you have still not received confirmation, contact the Museum booking office via our Contact form

    Tickets are non-transferrable. Please bring your email confirmation and ticket (preferably on an electronic device) as well as photographic ID for each ticket holder to be permitted entry.

Terms and conditions

Please ensure you have read the Hidden London terms & conditions before booking your ticket.

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Location

The Athenaeum Hotel
116 Piccadilly
Mayfair
London
W1J 7BJ
United Kingdom

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