Hidden beneath a busy east London roundabout lies one of the capital’s most unexpected design gems – an underground station that wouldn’t look out of place in the heart of Moscow. Sleek symmetry, glowing barrel vault ceilings and a stately sense of calm make this unsuspecting stop feel more like a cathedral than a commuter hub.
Welcome to Gants Hill, the London Underground station affectionately known as “Moscow Hall.”
The London Tube station that looks straight out of Russia
From street level, Gants Hill is modest – tucked beneath a roundabout on the Central line in Zone 4. But step below ground and you’ll find interiors that could easily fool you into thinking you’ve wandered into Moscow’s grand Elektrozavodskaya Metro station, the Soviet-era masterpiece known for its soaring art deco arches.
Designed by modernist architect Charles Holden, the man behind much of the Underground’s iconic look, Gants Hill’s story begins in the 1930s. But with the outbreak of World War II, construction halted, and the station was repurposed as an air raid shelter before finally opening to passengers in 1947.
During this time, Holden had travelled to Moscow as a consultant – and what he saw underground clearly left its mark. Inspired by the striking marble corridors and domed ceilings of the Russian Metro, he brought a touch of that grandeur back to London.
The only Tube station of its kind in London
Unlike many of Holden’s other designs, Gants Hill’s platform hall has no surface-level buildings. Instead, a smooth series of tiled passageways draw you into an elegant central concourse framed by those now-famous curved ceilings. It’s a layout so distinctive that transport enthusiasts have campaigned for it to be officially listed.
Architectural writer Joshua Abbott, author of Modernism in Metroland, once noted that Gants Hill is “unique among Holden’s stations due to its Moscow Metro-influenced platform design and lack of surface buildings.” It’s little wonder that locals and transport buffs alike have dubbed it London’s hidden Soviet treasure.
And if you’re planning a visit, it couldn’t be easier – simply hop on the Central Line heading east towards Essex, and you’ll find Gants Hill between Redbridge and Newbury Park.