Exploring the Disused Aldwych Underground Station in London

This post is originally posted on 8 November 2014 in our old blog.

The Aldwych Underground Station Tour hosted by London Transport Museum is always in popular demand. Since we enjoy exploring historic buildings close to heart of their residents, we wouldn’t pass on the rare opportunity to visit this infamous Grade II listed (heritage protected) disused red brick station.

The Aldwych Station is closed to the public due to the change in the tube expansion plan. As London’s underground network grew denser, some stations could not attract enough traffic to sustain its operation. Aldwych is one of such stations.

We were excited to enter the Aldwych Station and felt like we were bringing life back to this disused station. We crowded the platform and listened to the tour guide’s elaborated history just like we were waiting for an approaching train to come. The tour brought us to the art deco platform similar to other stations on the Piccadilly Line as well as the incomplete tunnel and platform extension.

Many vintage posters were left on the wall of the completed platform. Since the station is frequently used for period filming, film props are mixed with the real vintage posters.

The incomplete section of the tour was accompanied with ghost stories. Due to safety reasons, we only explored this part of the station briefly. Although the tunnel seemed unfinished, the lighting and safety are connected and in good working condition. We wonder what these tunnels are used for now.

This 1-hour tour in Aldwych Station is like going into an underground maze to discover what has left in time. The station is well kept and the tunnels are used often for events and maintenance. The station is left behind in its tunnel expansion, but it is far from being abandoned.