One of its busiest and most culturally vital stations in London long overdue for change is finally on track for a transformative upgrade.
Handling over 30 million passengers yearly, it’s the busiest Tube station without step-free access, serving the Science Museum, V&A, and Natural History Museum.
London 13th busiest Tube station is set for a massive transformation
South Kensington, the Grade II-listed station has long frustrated wheelchair users, parents with buggies, and those with mobility issues, with TfL estimating 500,000 missed journeys annually due to barriers.
As London’s 13th busiest station and a hub for museums, hospitals, and universities, its inaccessibility hampers tourism and daily life.
What is going to be upgraded at South Kensington station?
- New step-free entrance on Thurloe Street with lifts to District, Circle, and Piccadilly line platforms.
- Reactivated eastbound platform to boost capacity and ease congestion.
- Refurbished shopping arcade plus 53 new homes (35% affordable) and the ‘Bullnose’ building with ground-floor food/drink spots and upper offices.
- A joint TfL-Places for London and Native Land venture, the £110 million scheme received planning permission in late 2023 and is now accelerating.
When can we expect work to begin?
It is set for a late-2026 start, transforming the station into a ‘jewel of the tube network’ per TfL’s Scott Anderson.
Backed by Kensington and Chelsea Council and the Exhibition Road Cultural Group, it aligns with TfL’s push – over a third of Underground stations are now step-free.