The Abandoned Platforms of London
- marketing782207
- Sep 12
- 2 min read
London’s transport system is one of the busiest in the world, moving millions of people every day. But hidden beneath the streets and behind closed doors lies a forgotten network of stations and platforms that once served the capital, only to be abandoned, left empty, or repurposed for new uses.
Why Do Stations Get Abandoned?
You might assume that once a station is built, it’ll be there forever, but the Underground has been evolving for more than 160 years, and things don’t always go to plan.
Some stations were simply too quiet, and running them wasn’t worth the cost.
Others were too close to busier neighbouring stations, so passengers naturally skipped them.
A few suffered wartime damages and never reopened.
And sometimes, London just outgrew them; people moved, new lines were built, and the old stations were no longer in the right place.
Lost Stations of London:
Aldwych (Strand Line) – Opened in 1907 but never attracted enough passengers and closed in 1994. Today it’s a popular filming location.
Down Street – Closed in 1932 due to low usage, but during WWII it was converted into a secret shelter and office space for Winston Churchill. The station remains closed to the public.
York Road – Opened in 1906 near King’s Cross and shut in 1932. The station building still stands, though it has never reopened.
Brompton Road – Closed in 1934 and later used by the War Office. Its distinctive red façade can still be seen on Brompton Road today.
Finding ‘Lost’ Stations Today
Even if you can’t go inside, London still bears visible traces of these lost stations:
Disused entrances hidden in plain sight.
Old tiling and ventilation shafts above ground.
Faded station names and “ghost signs” on brickwork.
Next time you’re walking through central London, keep your eyes peeled, you may be passing by a piece of transport history without realising it.
What Happens to Abandoned Stations?
Not all disused stations sit empty forever. Many are repurposed as:
Film and TV sets.
Emergency training centres for TfL and the fire brigade.
Heritage sites, occasionally opened to the public for tours.
Looking Ahead
London’s ghost stations remind us that the city never stands still. As new lines open and old routes change, some parts of the network inevitably fall silent. These places are more than leftovers from the past; they are chapters in the story of how London has grown and adapted over time.
Looking forward, the focus has to be on caring for the infrastructure we rely on today. By maintaining and investing in it, we can make sure the network continues to serve future generations and keep London moving long into the future.