Disused Tube stations and tunnels are being opened to the public as part of London Transport Museum's Hidden London festival. Visitors can book tours of four locations that are usually off limits, including a decommissioned station that was used as a secret underground bunker by Winston Churchill during the Second Wolrd War.
Down Street station opened in March 1907 on what was then the Great Northern Piccadilly and Brompton Railway. It was never very busy as it lay between the more popular stations of Hyde Park Corner and Green Park. The station was permanently closed on 21 May 1932.
In early 1939, as war looked likely, it was turned into an underground bunker to protect vital government operations from bombing raids. The platform areas were bricked off and divided up into office, meeting rooms and dormitories. Although this shelter was chiefly used by the Railway Executive Committee, Sir Winston Churchill and his war cabinet used it while the Cabinet War Rooms were being prepared. Churchill apparently liked the bunker, affectionately referring to it as "The Barn". A bathtub with the inscription "WC" can still be seen in a disused bathroom.
A guide illuminates part of an old lift shaft inside the former Down Street underground stationDan Kitwood/Getty ImagesA sign points the way out via the stairs in the disused Down Street underground stationPeter Macdiarmid/Getty ImagesA stairway inside the abandoned stationDan Kitwood/Getty ImagesA London Transport Museum employee walks down stairs inside the decommissioned stationDan Kitwood/Getty ImagesA member London Transport Museum staff walks down a tunnelDan Kitwood/Getty ImagesA visitor is silhouetted in a tunnel inside the disused stationDan Kitwood/Getty ImagesA sign inside the disused station points to street levelDan Kitwood/Getty ImagesA worker shines a torch to illuminate a sign inside the disused Down Street tube stationBen Stansall/AFPA tunnel leading to the platforms is seen inside the disused Down Street stationPeter Macdiarmid/Getty ImagesA pedestrian tunnel inside the former Tube stationTransport for LondonModern day signage displays platform information in the disused Down Street stationPeter Macdiarmid/Getty ImagesA worker walks along a tunnel in the former underground stationPeter Macdiarmid/Getty ImagesStairs leading up from platform level are seen in the disused stationPeter Macdiarmid/Getty ImagesA security door between the tunnel and tracks inside the former stationDan Kitwood/Getty ImagesA map hangs on a wall inside Down Street underground stationDan Kitwood/Getty ImagesThe station, designed by architect Leslie Green, has a red glazed terracotta facadeDan Kitwood/Getty ImagesSecond World War era lettering is seen in part of the disused Down Street underground stationPeter Macdiarmid/Getty ImagesA Second World War era sign points the way to the committee roomPeter Macdiarmid/Getty ImagesA derelict bathroom in part of the disused Down Street underground station is lit by torch lightPeter Macdiarmid/Getty Images
Visitors will also be able to see a warren of tunnels underneath Clapham South station. Built during the height of the Blitz in 1941, after the loss of life at several improvised shelters in underground stations, this shelter provided sanctuary for 8,000 people. After the war, the space served as a temporary dormitory for immigrants from countries such as Jamaica.
The tunnels were rebranded as the Festival Hotel in 1951, providing cheap, temporary living spaces for visitors to the Festival of Britain. Clapham South deep-level shelter has over a mile of subterranean passageways.
A worker for Transport for London walks down a large shelter tunnel at Clapham South deep-level shelterChris Ratcliffe/ Getty ImagesA Transport for London worker walks through the recreation and games room at the Clapham South deep-level shelterChris Ratcliffe/ Getty ImagesGrafitti from soldiers and members of the public who took shelter during the Second World War is seen on the ceiling above bunk beds at Clapham South deep-level shelterChris Ratcliffe/ Getty ImagesSigns to shelters named after senior British naval officers at the Clapham South deep-level shelterChris Ratcliffe/ Getty ImagesBunk beds at the Clapham South deep-level shelterChris Ratcliffe/ Getty ImagesAn entrance to Clapham South deep-level shelter seen from street levelChris Ratcliffe/ Getty Images
London Transport Museum is also allowing people to explore a labyrinth of dark and disused passageways under Euston Station. Visitors will see vintage advertising poster fragments that have been concealed for more than 50 years.
Visitors look at preserved vintage advertising poster fragmentsLondon Transport MuseumA visitor explores a hidden tunnel at EustonLondon Transport Museum
The fourth venue being opened up as part of the Hidden London festival is London's first skyscraper, 55 Broadway. Considered radical and offensive when unveiled in 1929, this Grade I listed structure is now a marvel of Art Deco London. London Underground's former headquarters gives stunning rooftops views.
55 Broadway, London's first skyscraperLondon Transport MuseumVisitors admire the view from 55 BroadwayLondon Transport Museum
Hidden London runs from 4 August to 11 September 2016, 24 November to 18 December 2016 and 11 January to 5 March 2017. For priority booking, sign up to London Transport Museum's newsletter by 23.59 on Monday 18 April 2016.
