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Hidden London Underground Tours

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Spooky tours of disused Underground stations and closed-off tube tunnels

London Transport Museum has a new 2022 season of its ever-popular Hidden London tours of unseen parts of the capital’s vast transport network, including some new places they’ve never visited before.

They take place on selected dates between October 12 and December 30 . 

Highlights include tours of Charing Cross and Down Street stations. The Jubilee line platforms at Charing Cross have been inoperative since 1999, and since used for lots of film and TV productions. Down Street station, meanwhile, was shut down way back in 1932 because of low passenger numbers (locals presumably all travelled by Rolls-Royce). In WWII, it was used as an air raid shelter and, intriguingly, was used by Winston Churchill during the Blitz.

Another perennial favourite are the tours of Aldwych tube station on the Strand near Somerset House, and there are also in-person tours of Shepherd’s Bush station’s hidden nooks and crannies, and the same at Euston Square .

Virtual tours allow visitors a behind-the-scenes look at the new  Elizabeth line  stations at Tottenham Court Road and Liverpool Street , as well as a look at the closed Kingsway Tunnel areas of Holborn.

Selected dates between October 12 and December 30. 

Full details of all the tours are here .

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Hidden London Tour Review – Charing Cross and Aldwhych

• February 23, 2021 April 13, 2022
• by Elite Travel Blog

Reaching the top of the abandoned escalators, I have a sudden urge to slide down the silver ‘in between’ bit of the escalators like James Bond in Skyfall.

‘They won’t be able to stop you, you’ll be too fast’, the devil on my shoulder whispers in my ear. ‘What a cool story that would be to tell’.

After a moment of contemplation, I shake him off and rejoin the group.

He’s back again when we see the ladders Daniel Craig climbs down into darkness.

The only thing stopping me replicating 007 scenes (like I could if I tried) is the fact I want to go on the other hidden London tours (this Charing Cross tour being my second).

>>> Read this next: 10 facts and stories about Trafalgar Square <<<

What happens on a Hidden London tour?

In groups of around 20 people, you go behind closed doors normally restricted to the general public.

Even if you’ve never wondered what was behind those silver doors on your way to the Northern Line from Charing Cross (I found out!) I’m sure you’ll find the history and stories fascinating, how the station was built, it’s purpose then, now and more.

At the very least you’ll get some photos of old elevators, signs and platforms for your Instagram and some fun facts about the underground.

ou can tell the tour guides are genuinely enthusiastic about the tube and it’s history. My Charing Cross tour guide tells us she was working for the TFL for 35 years before her hidden London job. They’re extremely knowledgeable, I’m not sure how they keep all the dates in their heads.

>>> Read this next: Best scavenger hunts in London << <

Why buy a ticket to a Hidden London tour?

If you think £45 is too much money for a tour, you receive half price entry to London Transport Museum (adult ticket is £16.50 usually). The money also funds the LTM museum too, which is also a charity).

Hidden London tours are the only way you’ll gain access to these stations too (unless you’re filming there of course…). How many people can say they’ve stood under the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square?

For more James Bond in London, read my review of Bond in Motion at the London Film Museum where you can see all the cars from the movies up close.

>>> Read this next: Tips On How To Save Money On Food, Theatre & Tickets In London <<<

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Hidden London Charring Cross tour - London Transport Museum

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Hidden London Charring Cross tour

Geoff Rowe and the enthusiastic team at LTM really have created something special here. Hidden London is series of guided tours to non-operational parts of the underground network. Suitable for most, you venture behind the scenes - sometimes looking down from ceiling vents on unsuspecting commuters on the active platforms below. Detailed histories are presented articulately by the guides and references to the many films and TV shows that have used these ghost stations for location work are discussed. A great combination of history, engineering, modern culture and exploring all put across so enthusiastically.... Great stuff!

I am interested in history and this place shows how the public transportation in London has developed. I enjoyed it and spent a couple of hours. At the café we got the most lovely cappuccinos decorated with the Tube Station logo. I had one complaint and that is the noise from many video installations. When you want to dig down in one area of the exhibition you get disturbed by the noise from the surrounding show cases. There are more than one play ground for small children who are too young to understand history. I was struck by the beauty of the design of some of the buses and even the newest of them seen in the street. Also that a lot is done for cyclists and for a clean environment.

Having paid £34 for myself and my wife I was certainly expecting more vehicles to view than are actually there. Far too many children's activities and not enough exhibits! I understand the need to engage children but this place is ridiculous. More of a glorified crèche than a museum. Would not recommend unless you have children.

We visited as a family with our kids 9 &11 and had an enjoyable couple of hours. This not the biggest of museums but is well laid out taking you through the history of transport in London. There was plenty of bits for the kids to touch and interact with. We also visited the upper deck cafe and had a nice spot of lunch. So would recommend a visit. We used a voucher for 2 for 1 from the train ticket.

I had wanted to go the transport museum for ages and had high expectations! When I arrived I looked around as everyone had children with them and I thought it might not be aimed at adults. But I was wrong. The museum is great, very interesting and informative. The staff are friendly and eager to answer any questions. The museum takes about 2 hours to go around and there are picnic spots if you go over a lunch time. It costs £17 for an adult but this is an annual ticket so you can go back as much as you like within the year. I would definitely recommend this museum to anyone visiting London and to anyone who is interested in transport! I guarantee it will not disappoint.

We brought the kids here during Easter holidays. The kids really enjoyed following the trail and getting their card stamped. There were many interactive activities throughout the museum. They particularly enjoyed the secret journey story telling session. Try to bring your own food or snacks as the cafe is very expensive.

These London Tours Explore Abandoned Tube Stations And Other Secret Spots Of The City

Early 2024 tickets for the London Transport Museum's award-winning Hidden London tours will be released tomorrow (November 8).

Here at Secret London , we sure do love a bit of transport talk . Tubes , trains, buses , bikes; you name it, we’ve written (and had an extensive conversation) about it. So, you can imagine how enthusiastic we are about the London Transport Museum – and more specifically, their Hidden London tours. I mean, who doesn’t love discovering hidden gems of London’s historic Transport Network?

Luckily for us (and our fellow transport-lovers), the ever-so popular Hidden London tours will be returning to the capital at the start of 2024 , and you can secure your space as early as tomorrow (November 8). Yippee!

What is a Hidden London tour?

The historical experts over at the London Transport Museum have curated these fascinating tours based on the museums extensive archive and collection. The exclusive tours will uncover the whats, whys and whens of some forgotten London locations . You’ll be taken along by expert guides, learning interesting facts by the bucket-load as you go. A variety of tours are running from January 10 until the end of March , each giving a unique glimpse into London’s history .

Granting visitors behind-the-scenes access to locations on the transport network that are usually closed to the public, Hidden London tours were voted ‘ Best Hidden Gem in the World ‘ at the Tiqets Remarkable Venue Awards last year. So they’re certainly doing something right, hey?

What tours are on offer?

There will be seven in-person tours on offer, ensuring that there’s something for everybody to enjoy. Discover deserted passageways and original design details of Piccadilly Circus station or explore the exclusive (and usually, no-entry) areas of Charing Cross . Be transported back in time at Baker Street and adventure into the disused parts of London’s first underground station . Uncover a labyrinth of dark and dusty passageways in Euston , unveil the secrets of Shepherd’s Bush , or head underground to the subterranean WWII shelters, built deep beneath the streets of Clapham South .

A virtual tour, retracing the 160-year history of the London Underground will also be taking place and a new experience will be available; combining a tour of Piccadilly Circus with a delicious meal at the Hard Rock Café.

If all that still leaves you wanting more, super-fans can also subscribe to Hidden London Hangouts , a regular series hosted on London Transport Museum’s YouTube channel. Watch as the series takes viewers behind the scenes of some of the Hidden London tours , as they explore various nooks and crannies of the transport system and share their thoughts and findings. Count me in.

Find out more and book your Hidden London tour here .

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Charing Cross Station Tour

In partnership with the London Transport Museum / Hidden London we are delighted to be able to offer an exclusive behind-the-scenes Charing Cross Station Tour. The tour of the London Underground Station features spots regularly seen on screen and stands in for a working tube station.

On this Charing Cross Station Tour, you’ll see the empty platforms, tunnels and escalators of this now empty station and visit areas not accessible to the general public.

Although it has been closed to the general public since 1999 productions to have used this station include the 23rd James Bond film, Skyfall , Thor 2 ,  The Bourne Ultimatum and it was also seen in the first episode of Series 3 of BBC’s Sherlock with Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman. In the second series of Killing Eve a scene was filmed on the platform with Eve (Sandra Oh).

Please note:

• There are 20 places available on each Charing Cross Station tour.
• Access to the tour is by static escalator only, and there is no step-free access.
• There are no public toilet facilities available once on the tour.
• A member of the LTM / Hidden London team will welcome you and register you on the Charing Cross Station tour, talk through the Health and Safety requirements, issue guests with a hi-vis jacket, and check that everyone has appropriate footwear.
• Please contact Brit Movie Tours if your contact details change after you purchase your ticket(s).
• You will be sent an event reminder email up to a week before your event with all the information you need to arrive on time and enjoy the tour. Please contact us if your contact details change after you purchase your ticket(s).

Important information

• Age restrictions: Children under 14 years of age are not permitted onto the tours due to health and safety restrictions and the tour narrative is designed for an adult audience.
• Clothing: Visitors must wear flat sturdy shoes. Guests wearing open toe sandals or shoes, or high-heels, will be refused entry due to health and safety restrictions.
• Terms and Conditions: Terms & Conditions for each tour, including joining instructions, health and safety requirements and ticketing information, are available on the individual tour pages of the LTM website www.ltmuseum.co.uk and will also be sent via email with your tickets.
• Ticket price: The following groups are eligible for Concession tickets: Senior citizens (60+), students (with valid student ID card), those in receipt of state benefits, and 14-16 year olds.
• Booking Confirmation: If you don’t receive your e-ticket(s) email within 24 hours, please contact us.
• Access: Each member of your group must bring a photographic proof of ID (drivers’ licence or passport) along with their ticket to be permitted entry. This is for security reasons. There is no step-free access on this tour. The tour involves walking and may involve long stairwells (of up to 180 steps), static escalators, low lighting and uneven surfaces underfoot.
• See the escalator that Bond and Silva slide down in Skyfall
• Learn how the station has stood in for other London Underground stations
• Climb down into the huge ventilation shaft that was used in BBC Sherlock
• Walk under Trafalgar Square

About this tour

Morning departures (Wed-Sun) 10am and 11:55am

Afternoon departures (Wed-Sun) 2:35pm and 4:30pm

When selecting your departure time you may be allocated another time within the time period subject to availability

Adult (16 – 59 years) : £45

Meet where?

Inside the Northern line entrance of Charing Cross Underground station, opposite the gate line.

Ends where?

Charing Cross Station

Inclusions?

Professional guide

Exclusions?

Gratuities (optional)

Other Tour Options To Consider

James Bond Film Locations Walking Tour in London

2 ½ hour guided walking tour of James Bond film locations in London including Skyfall, Die Another Day, SPECTRE, No Time to Die and real-life spy sites.

Aldwych Station Tour

Join the Aldwych Station Tour for a 75 minute guided tour of one of London’s oldest disused tube stations that has featured in several screen productions.

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Hidden London: Charing Cross Guided Tour in London

Hidden london: charing cross guided tour.

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Charing Cross: Hidden Tube Station Tour + All Areas Access

Embark on an exclusive tour with expert guides from the London Transport Museum to uncover the hidden spaces of the Charing Cross Underground station. Gain access to areas that are typically off-limits to the public, including tunnels beneath Trafalgar Square. Delve into the station's rich history since its inauguration in 1906. Explore the forgotten Jubilee line platforms and corridors, which ceased public access in 1999 but have since served as filming locations for popular TV shows and blockbuster films such as Killing Eve, Skyfall, and Thor: The Dark World. All Hidden London tours are meticulously curated by historical experts from the London Transport Museum, drawing from the museum's extensive archive and collection. It's a unique opportunity to unearth the captivating story of London, its residents, and its intricate transport network in a whole new light.

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Disused Tube Station Tours by Hidden London

London’s Tube system has 157 years of history and many hidden secrets in the 250 miles of tunnels under the expansive metropolitan. Stations have opened, closed and been altered many times throughout the years; and the constant state of flux has frozen many stations in set time periods.

Have you ever wondered where they filmed Tube scenes for movies? When they have a track involved it’s usually either the closed platforms for Jubilee Line at Charing Cross Station for modern movie scenes or the closed Piccadilly Line extension at Aldwych Station for vintage movie scenes.

London Transport Museum has done an incredible job in mapping out the different types of tours, ensuring that each one has a different focus and feel. I’ve been on 5 different tours with them and each one was unique and fascinating. I can highly recommend booking a tour with them when you’re in London. You will have to book it in advance but it will be worth the effort.

The tours are not always available year round, so please double check the Hidden London website for most up to date information on available dates. The more popular ones, such as Aldwych and Charing Cross, have frequently available dates. And it’s critical to book in advance as the tours with lower availability sell out very quickly.

I’ve taken 5 of the tours available over the years and here is how I would rank them, and a summary of my experiences. London Transport Museum often is updating and adding their tours to include new experiences or locations, so these are by no means a conclusive offering from Hidden London.

I’ve ranked them in order of my appreciation for each of the tours. All the tours hold a special place in my heart and each was thoroughly enjoyable. Since I’ve been on the tours they’ve also issued other variants, such as the Film Tour, for example, so this list is by no means conclusive.

1. Aldwych Station

Aldwych Station was active until the late 1990s as a single stop on a Piccadilly Line extension from Holborn. After the lift in the station broke TFL determined that it would cost more to repair it than it was worth as an operating station.

Since it’s closure it has been used as a film set for several TV shows and films, mostly period pieces that require a more vintage looking Tube station. The design is one of the traditional Leslie Green stations, with it’s gorgeous tiling and beautiful vintage motif. The history however goes back much further than it’s closure. The station was used to store and house many of the treasures from the British Museum during the Blitz.

The tour involves climbing up and down the nearly 300 stairs at the station, since the lifts are out of commission, but provides a great view into a disused tube station. It was the first station that London Transport Museum chose to open for visitors and is the longest running of their available tours.

It’s also an unusual station since it has been used to test new initiatives for the Underground – from glow tape meant to show the way out in a power cut to new insulation techniques for the tunnels.

2. Down Street Station

Down Street Station was originally a stop along the Piccadilly Line in Mayfair – situated between Green Park and Hyde Park Corner. Located in Mayfair it was eventually closed in 1932 due to it’s proximity to the other two stations and it’s unique location in the middle of a residential neighborhood.

During the Second World War the station was converted to be the headquarters of British Rail; a secure and underground location from which they could organize and control the flow of goods throughout the country during war time. It was also believed to be a shelter for Winston Churchill during the war as well.

The tour involves a tour of a closed station, including the rush of Piccadilly trains moving down the blocked off tunnels. The wonderful part of this tour is being able to visualize the underground headquarters of the rail and network, with views of their housing situation, and where they would have setup during the war. Though all of that has been taken down over the years, and the walls painted a lifeless gray, it’s a unique experience to get to walk these halls.

3. Charing Cross Platforms

The closed platforms at Charing Cross were once the terminus point of the Jubilee Line, before the extension expanded it all the way through to Stratford. When the Jubilee Line was expanded across the River Thames the platforms for Jubilee Line were closed.

The platforms have been used for modern based TV and films – including scenes from Skyfall, Thor 2, and Killing Eve. It provides a modern juxtaposition compared to the more vintage looking Aldwych Station.

The interesting element of this tour is not just viewing the more modern platforms and disused portion of the station, including not working escalator. But the real point of interest is the part of the tour that enters the ventilation shafts, which gave an incredible view of the behind the scenes elements of the London Underground.

4. Clapham Deep Level Shelter

The deep-level shelters at Clapham are not quite disused tube stations, but fits in with the theme and nature of the tours that Hidden London have organized.

During the Second World War many Londoners used the Tube Stations in the evenings of shelter during the Blitz. They were built in response to the demand for shelter space in London, and also after one of the south London tube stations was flooded after a water main burst following a bombing. The deep level shelters provided more security from such incidents.

Though no one ended up staying in the shelter during the Second World War, shortly after the war it was used to house the first immigrants who came over via Windrush to help rebuild the country. And later was used as a hotel for Festival of Britain.

The tour is not for the faint of heart as the shelter is 11 stories underground and there is no lift. The tour is really well thought out and tells the different history of the shelter over the years. It also gives a really strong feeling for just how large the shelter is.

5. Euston Tunnels

The tour of the Euston Tunnels involves visiting the disused passage ways that existed between the Tube lines at Euston Station and it features a hallway of vintage advertising and movie posters from the time when the tunnels were closed. The hallways were also done in the beautiful vintage Leslie Green design of tube stations, with the gorgeous and unmistakable green tiles.

The “lost” tunnels provide a different experience to some of the other stations which focus more on the disused station or closed platforms.

The tour visits several different areas within Euston, starting with the old entrance to the Tube Station, and snaking its way through the lost tunnels to view a variety of different elements within the station.

I did enjoy the tour but I would recommend either not partaking in this one or making it one of your first. By the time I reached Euston I had seen all of the various components that it had to offer elsewhere, and in better condition.

More Disused Tube Station Tours

The 5 disused tube stations that I’ve reviewed are the most popular and longest standing of the offerings from Hidden London. But there are a handful more locations that they offer tours to:

• Baker Street : This tour is unique as it allows access to the city’s first underground station when steam trains connected Paddington Station in the west of London and Farringdon Station in the east of London.
• Kingsway Tram Tunnel : This tour features a glimpse into London’s tram which has been closed for over 50 years, and much of the original tunnel remains intact.
• Moorgate : This tour features access to a station tha was built upon over and over again, creating a maze of tunnels closed to the public, but open for Hidden London.
• Piccadilly Circus : This tour features one of the most iconic of the London Underground stations and highlights the history of wartime London.
• Shepherd’s Bush : This tour highlights the importance of one of the first suburban connections for the Underground in western London.

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Comments (40).

I’ve done a couple of these tours and I really enjoyed them!

Love hearing that! Any particular that you would recommend?

This is seriously awesome! I’ve been to London loads of times (I’m from Canada but have family living south of London!) but I had NO idea you could so this! Every time we come and visit I am so surprised at how much there is to do – but I really want to do this tour, especially the Clapham Deep Level Shelter (I love all this WW2 history). Thank you for sharing!

The Clapham Deep Level Shelter one is great – they’ve put a lot of effort into surfacing the history and bringing it to life. Be prepared for stairs!

Wow this is really cool! I’ve visited London a few times but didn’t know about these tours. I’ll definitely be checking them out when I visit again.

They’re really unusual and fun! You’ll want to book in advance because there are limited slots, but I’ve never had any issues getting the dates I wanted (weekends fill up fast though).

Wow, this is amazing. I live in London and didn’t even know these tours existed! Must be so cool to see the behind the scenes of how the tube works. Definitely going to keep this in mind as something to do in the future! Thanks so much for sharing this! 🙂

The Charing Cross tour was really eye opening for the “behind the scenes” element. Actually got to see down to the platform from the air vent shafts. I appreciate all the nuances of tube engineering better now!

This is SUCH a cool post, I didn’t even know that you could do something like this in London! I will absolutely need to do this when I eventually go back!

It’s been a well kept secret for several years now, but I try and book in tours for friends and family when they travel here. I think because there’s no physical location to book at, and requires pre-booking, sometimes tourists don’t naturally find it.

I LOVE things like this!! I think there’s a Royal Mail railway (Mail Rail) that you can visit too. I’ll have to check one out next time I’m in London!

There is! It’s been on my wishlist but haven’t had a chance to sort out a visit. I have heard fantastic things about it though!

This is such a cool idea. I love the London Underground and would love to take a tour like this

Thanks Emma, I can definitely recommend it. The history that they highlight is pretty incredible as well.

Wow this is so cool, i have never done this, but definitely on my list now – might have to do one per visit ! Thanks for the information

I love that plan! There’s still 1 or 2 I’ve not done so will have to make it a priority 🙂

I’ve been to London twice but never heard about these kind of tours. Absolutely love the idea! I will try them next time I go to London! Thanks for the recommendation.

The tours are definitely great; not sure if you’ve visited the London Transport Museum during your visits but it also has great displays on the history of the Tube and they’re partners in providing these tours.

This looks like a really cool tour to make. I didn’t know that these are available in London, and definitely want to take one when I visit London again. it’s mysterious, scary, and interesting!

The mystery was fantastic, and the guides really played well to his factor.

I love this post. Those are totally different attractions and I would love to see some of those. A few years ago I visited a defunct airport in Berlin and that was real interesting too.

These types of defunct tours really tell a story of history, and I appreciate that. I visited the old air field in Berlin, but not the airport, something to keep in mind for future trips!

it’s so eerie seeing the tube stations so empty, especially as they are typically rammed! It’s so interesting to learn the history of them, particularly as they play such an important role in the day to day life of London. It’s so cool that down street station was once the headquarters!

The eerie-ness was particularly strong at Charing Cross, because it was a modern looking station and very familiar feeling.

Well, this is something else! My city doesn’t have underground connections, so I would never even think of such tour! Thank you so much for sharing this unique experience!

The tours of the disused tube stations sound really fascinating. Such a vast area lying down below which was once the hub of activity must make for an intriguing experience. Aldwych and Charing Cross had my attention riveted.

It was a very unique and intriguing experience. Both of those tours were fantastic, really appreciated the perspectives presented in each one since they were so different from each other.

This is so cool! If we had known about it two years ago, we would have visited a few of these disused tube stations in London! But we’ll keep it in mind for our next trip to London then!

Definitely give it a go for the next trip – but you’ll want to book in advance!

This is a different tour I must say. Visiting disused tube stations underneath the city of London with an interesting history associated with each of them must be fascinating. Will include this in my list when I will visit London. Thanks for sharing.

My pleasure, hope you enjoy visiting! Given the lengthy history for London this is an incredible opportunity to visit these spaces.

I’ve always been fascinated by the London tube, having seen it so much across popular media! These tours sound fantastic – what a great way to get to know these stations. Especially love the Clapham Deep Level Shelter for all its history.

As your appreciation is founded in media – you might want to consider the Charing Cross or Aldwych Tours for sure, since they have featured in films and TV shows.. But Clapham Deep Level was one of the more unusual ones in the group.

I’ve been on the tube many times over the year and had no idea about these stations and tours. What an interesting idea.

I love the behind the scenes ones – as a regular tube rider I never noticed those spaces but you could see right to the platform from them, was really fascinating.

These look soooo fun! I already love London (I lived there for yeeears) but I had no idea you could go on tours to these old stations! It would be great for rainy days!!

p.s. I have a feeling you might also like the tours into the tunnels from the Brunel Museum.

I’m going to have to give those a tour, Josy, thanks for the shout out. I’m also keen to get to the Underground Passages in Exeter as well. I’ve seen St Mary’s Close in Edinburgh too! Love all these hidden spaces in the cities.

This is SUCH a unique and awesome thing to do in London! I suppose I never really thought about what happens to tube stations once they’re closed, or how they can be used for so many things including a hiding place for Winston Churchill! I love that you not only get to see a cool part of history, but sometimes it doubles as a movie scene too. Thanks for sharing!

I love Rail history and WW11 history. I had heard of these Tours but didn’t know where to get information or book. Next time I visit London I will contact London Transport Museum and enquire. I live in Australia.

I appreciate the way you’ve uncovered the rich history and secrets of these underground treasures. Thanks for sharing this unique and fascinating adventure with your readers!

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Subterranean London: The unmissable Underground Tours

A re you looking for a slightly different view of London? Although many of the city’s most notable sites are above ground, you will find that there is a lot of history, remarkable works of engineering, and stories to be told, underneath the Earth.

In an underground tour of London, you can walk behind the scenes of the oldest metro in the world, take a quick peek into former air-raid shelters used during the second world war, and walk the dusty passageways that were once used by former British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill.

If riding in black cabs and queuing at Madame Tussauds is not your thing any more, then try looking below the surface to escape the crowds.

To help you out, I’ve listed some of my favorite underground London tours that take you through lost tunnels and uncover parts of London you didn’t know were there.

1. Cabinet War Rooms

2. chislehurst caves, 3. the london bridge experience and london tombs, 4. tour of the london underground, 5. brunel’s underground tunnel, 6. the hidden london tours by london transport museum, tours of london, more london travel tips.

Planning your trip to London last-minute?

Don’t forget to plan ahead when  visiting London ! Here are some of the top tours, hotels, and useful items you may need before your trip!

Top Experiences and Tours in London

• River Thames Cruise (a great way to see the city skyline!)
• The Tower of London Entry Ticket w/ Crown Jewels Exhibit (an unmissable attraction in London!)
• Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour (to keep the kids happy!)
• London Eye Entry Ticket (to avoid long queues)

Top Accommodation and Hotels in London

• The Londoner Hotel (5* Hotel in Westminster, Ideal Location near Parliament)
• Radisson Blu Edwardian Vanderbilt Hotel (4* Hotel with Family Rooms in Kensington)
• The Assembly Covent Garden (3* Hotel in Leicester Square, 2 minutes to the metro and theatres)

The Best Underground London Tours

You’ll discover a hidden world of secret tunnels, terrifying tombs, elaborate train routes, and ancient cave systems on one of these underground London tours.

Immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the Blitz with a trip down into the historic Cabinet War Rooms.

This warren of tunnels and bunkers under Whitehall was the headquarters for Britain’s war effort during WW2.

The tour starts by exploring the War Cabinet Room from where Winston Churchill planned Britain’s next move.

You can actually see the chair (complete with scratch marks on its arms) which he used during highly stressful meetings.

In the Map Room, nothing has changed since 16 Aug 1945, when the lights were finally switched off.

Wartime maps, colour-coded telephones, and even rationed sugar cubes remain exactly as they were when the war ended.

Check prices and availability for the Cabinet War Rooms tour here.

This network of 8000-year-old caves in the greater London area is an unexpected treat. The caves, which extend for 20 miles, were initially created as a result of flint and chalk mining.

You can take a lamp-lit tour deep into this labyrinth and explore the caves’ varied history; from their origins as mines to their subsequent use as an ammunition depot and then as an air raid shelter during WW2.

You can read more and check prices and availability here.

This spine-chilling historical tour takes you through the early days of London.

Begin by discovering the most haunted bridge in the world – London Bridge – then you’ll be taken through Roman, Viking, and Victorian times and you can watch Queen Boudicca defeat the Romans in battle and see the great fire of London erupt before your very eyes.

For a really frightful time, you’ll need to go deeper underground into the depths of the London Tombs.

This former plague pit has been given a Hollywood-inspired makeover and now boasts state-of-the-art special effects and live actors, to bring London’s bloody history to life.

Although The London Bridge Experience doesn’t have any age restrictions, all children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult. The London Tombs is not suitable for children under 11.

We visited the London Bridge Experience with our 14- and 10-year-old. It was one of our teen’s favorite things to do in London . Our tween was a little scared. but she still loves sharing her memories from it.

Check prices and availability for the London Bridge Experience and London Tombs tour here.

You’re sure to have a renewed respect for the tube after this two-hour tour of the world’s oldest underground metro system.

This feat of engineering has been transporting passengers for 150 years and you’ll be able to see its original plans along with the steam engines that were first used.

Along your route, watch out for the ghost station at the British Museum and discover the secrets behind the original hand-dug tunnels.

Check prices and availability for the Underground Tube Tour here.

Discover how Isambard Kingdom Brunel helped his father Marc build one of the world’s first tunnels under a river.

The Thames tunnel, which is 170 years old, was originally designed to allow people and horses to cross the Thames without obstructing the passing ships.

Once known as the eighth wonder of the world, the tunnel was reopened in 2010 as part of the London Overground.

You can now descend into The Grand Entrance Hall at the tunnel shaft and even discover a secret chamber.

Tours can be organized through the Brunel Museum.

READ MORE: 15 of the best views in London (from above and below)

If you want to get off the beaten path, then the London Transport Museum, operated by Transport for London, have several underground tours you can take part in.

The tours are designed to take people to disused stations and secret sites, it’s an urban explorer’s dream come true.

You can choose to visit any of the following stations on a small group walking tour:

• Aldwych Station , which opened in 1907 but closed in 1994, and was the former “end of the line.” It was used as a shelter during the Blitz and is now an abandoned tube station. It has been featured in several film and television, such as Sherlock and Atonement. 
• Charing Cross , which is still in use today but became famous after it was used in the James Bond movie, Skyfall. This tour takes you to closed-off areas and the disused spaces of Charing Cross where you can learn about the station’s history and use in movie sets.
• Clapham South which opened after world war II and consists of eight deep-level shelters and miles of passageways.
• Down Street Station , also known as Winston Churchill’s secret station. It’s located between Green Park and Hyde Park Corner stations and was used as an air-raid shelter for the prime minister and was also the Railway Executive Committee’s bomb-proof headquarters.
• The lost tunnels of Euston . You can walk down the passageways and tunnels from Euston Station that are no longer in use, and still see vintage advertising posters adorning the walls.
• Go behind the scenes at Shepherd’s Bush station , one of the popular stations in London’s suburbs.
• Learn about modern day engineering with a behind-the-scenes tour of the Elizabeth Line from Tottenham Court Road.
• Kingsway trams tunnel tour. Before trains, the city used trams which consequently closed down. You can walk down the only remaining tram tunnel in London on this tour.

Tickets for the London Transport Museum tours are released throughout the year, so you will need to check their website and sign up for their newsletter to find out when tours are happening.

Final Thoughts on Underground Tours of London

I bet you didn’t realize how much of London’s underground world was accessible to tourists? I was pleasantly surprised too.

If you think about it, much of London’s history was served underground. During the 6-months of the Blitz, these underground stations were a place of refuge and safety.

Instead of being disused stations, they have been turned into attractions so tourists can see the city’s engineering triumphs and historical landmarks.

Whether you’re looking for a fun activity for a Saturday night or you’re curious about the history of the world’s oldest metro system, these tours are sure to be a highlight of your London trip.

Save Money on London Attractions

Get Your Guide has an incredible variety of tours, activities, tickets and passes with a list of handpicked tours and things to do in London.   Like this original Harry Potter Guided walking tour

• The London Sightseeing Pass: Our favorite of the tourist discount cards is the London Sightseeing Pass for their flexibility and diversity. They offer entry to top London attractions, plus quirky local tours, and discounts on shopping and eating out. S ee more information and get your pass here.
• The London Pass By GoCity : gives you free entry to 60+ top London attractions, Hop on and Off sightseeing tour, and fast track passes at popular London attractions.  Get your London Pass here .

Are you planning a trip to London but need more inspiration for your trip? Then you may find these other guides helpful…

• Things to Do in London
• London Travel Tips
• Ultimate guide to getting around London
• Arriving in London Alone and Without Any Money
• 5 of the best accommodation options in London from budget to luxury
• Why you should plan a London vacation
• Is the London Eye worth it?
• 21 Places to visit in London
• 3 Day London Itinerary

Have you explored London’s underground before? What do you recommend? Let us know in the comments.