London’s trailblazing transport network is a certified success story. A pioneer in the world of public transport, the legendary London Underground has been ferrying passengers around the city since 1863, and doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon. Well, unless being held at a red signal, of course. But being the first of its kind, there was naturally going to be somewhat of a trial-and-error approach taken in the early days of its construction. And there were bound to be certain parts that were less triumphant than others, right?
Down Street station, for example, served as a stop on the Piccadilly Line for just 25 years before closing the public. But despite not making the final cut of the London Tube map, Down Street went on to play a pretty pivotal role in London’s rich history, and become one of the city’s most fascinating former Tube stations. Grab a cuppa and make yourselves comfy, folks. I think it’s time for a long-overdue Secret London history lesson.
Credit: @tourshistoric via Instagram
The history of Down Street station
Down Street station was opened by the Great Northern, Piccadilly and Brompton Railway on March 15, 1907. The platforms were located 73 feet below the bustling streets of Mayfair, and the Tube stop itself was nestled neatly between Hyde Park Corner and Green Park on what went on to become the Piccadilly Line. Down Street had a pretty measly life span as part of the London Underground, serving as a working station for just 25 years between 1907 and 1932. Its closure came as part of the Piccadilly Line extension, but the station ended up journeying down a different (and rather heroic) career path track.
The station was selected to be covertly transformed into an underground bunker at the start of World War II. A two-person lift was installed, alongside a telephone exchange, bathroom facilities, and dormitories. But unlike other war bunkers, this secret subterranean spot also became the bomb-proof headquarters of the Railway Executive Committee – and was later used as a shelter by Winston Churchill in the height of the Blitz, whilst his Cabinet War Rooms were being reinforced.
Credit: @stephencurtis22 via Instagram
Down Street station nowadays
Down Street station has remained derelict since the end of the Second World War. But there is actually a chance for lucky Londoners to have a nosey around it. As part of London Transport Museums ‘Hidden London‘ programme, guided tours of Down Street station take place every so often. The tour covers the rich history of the site, using archives from the museum‘s collections, giving visitors the unique opportunity to discover the dark, dingy, disused tunnels that once served as a refuge for Winston Churchill himself.
Find out more about London Transport Museum’s tours of Down Street station here.