Holborn: The Secret Platforms
- Repeats Weekly on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday all day until Sunday 29 September 2024
- Wednesday 31 July 2024, all day
- Thursday 1 August 2024, all day
- Friday 2 August 2024, all day
- Saturday 3 August 2024, all day
- Sunday 4 August 2024, all day
- Wednesday 7 August 2024, all day
About the tour
Join us to uncover the secrets of Holborn station, a busy interchange at the heart of London with much more to explore than first meets the eye.
Originally opened in 1906 as a complex of four platforms to serve the Piccadilly line, this station had a pivotal role in turning the surrounding area from a land of ill repute into a prime business district for London.
Step behind concealed doors with one of our expert tour guides and into the expansive disused areas that lay behind, some not seen by the public in nearly 30 years. Enjoy an unexpected view of the Piccadilly line and explore the two closed platforms of the former Aldwych branch, complete with vintage posters, original Leslie Green Edwardian design, and an original early 20th century signalling cabin.
Along the way you’ll relive the twists and turns of the 20th century as you hear how these spaces came to be used in surprising ways over the years, including as scientific laboratories, providing shelter for London Transport staff in wartime, and even housing a model rail club.
You’ll learn how staff members may have felt working there during the height of the Blitz, how the big modernisation project of the 1930s led to the closure of nearby British Museum station, and how the station is still playing a key role in the future of the London Underground today as part of a massive upgrading project of the signalling system.
Key information
Tour times:
Wednesdays - Fridays 10:55, 13:00, 15:05
Saturdays & Sundays 10:10, 12:15, 15:05, 17:10
Duration: Approx 85 minutes
Location: Holborn Station
Tickets*: £45 / £42 concessions
London Transport Museum is a charity. Profits from your Hidden London ticket helps us to continue conserving and sharing London’s transport and design heritage.
Tour information
* As well as your tour, the ticket price includes:
- Half price 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. Booking fee of £1.50 per transaction applies.
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Where is the meeting point?
The meeting point for this tour is on the corner of Gate Street and Kingsway, WC2B 6AA.
What3Words: ///towers.rift.forest.To plan your journey to the meeting point, we recommend using TfL’s Journey Planner or downloading the TfL Go app.
A member of the Hidden London team will meet you on arrival. Please arrive 15 minutes before the time on your ticket. -
What is the tour like?
There are a number of steps on the tours and we therefore cannot guarantee step free access. It is advisable 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.
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How long will the tour last?
Your tour will last for 85 minutes and will involve walking for most of this time. Seating will not be available.
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Are children allowed?
Children under 14 are not permitted on the tour. 14-16 year olds are eligible for concession tickets, and must be accompanied by an adult.
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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.
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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.
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About your tickets
Once you’ve booked your tickets, you will receive confirmation and e-tickets 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.
You will be sent an event reminder email up to a week before your event with all the information you need to arrive on time and enjoy the tour. Please contact London Transport Museum if your contact details change after you purchase your ticket(s).
Tickets are non-transferrable. Please bring your email confirmation and ticket as well as photographic ID 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
Holborn Station
Kingsway
London
WC2B 6AA
United Kingdom