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The best travel wallets for use in the airport and beyond

By Charley Ward

Much like a quality neck pillow or set of packing cubes , once you invest in a travel wallet, you’ll wonder how you lived without it. The best options are far more than a glorified passport case. Many come with additional pockets for currency, keys, your phone, SIM cards and the odd pen, making them a one-stop solution for keeping all travel essentials away from the mess at the bottom of your rucksack . Some even have RFID-blocking technology to help reduce the risk of credit card fraud while away, while others come with built-in luggage tracker slots for extra peace of mind.

They also make thoughtful gifts for globetrotting loved ones, and many on this list also match our favourite passport holders and luggage tags . Here are our picks of the best travel wallets to shop now.

Stackers’ travel wallet is chic enough to use as a day-to-day purse as well as times you’re headed for the airport. There are multiple compartments for cards, your phone and cash, along with dedicated spots for a passport and boarding pass. We also like the included cosmetics mirror for quick teeth checks. Finally, a wrist strap keeps it safe to hand if you’re using it as a clutch.

Australian luggage brand July has won us over with its sleek selection of well-priced, quality cases (I use the brand’s Volume Plus backpack every day ), and its selection of accessories holds equal appeal. This large nappa leather passport wallet is a perfect buy for anxious travellers. With a built-in AirTag holder and RFID protection, it helps reduce the risk of identity theft and losing your important documents to pickpockets. Of course, there are also three credit card slots, a slip large enough for two passports and additional space for your boarding pass.

This has handy tabs inside for maximum zippiness when fumbling for your boarding pass at the gate. There’s also a secure zip pocket for your currency. As with all Aspinal pieces, it’s made from premium leather, is personalisable and comes available in a selection of refined colours. If you choose this sky blue option, you can save £80, too.

Bellroy’s travel document wallet is one of the pricier options we’ve found, but cleverly designed details make it worth the investment. A rear slip pocket ensures easy access to essentials even while the folio is zipped, there are two passport pockets and a hidden compartment for currency. RFID protection provides peace of mind, there’s a handy mini pen and even a dedicated slot to keep your SIM card and ejector pin safe for times you need to switch yours out while away. It’s made from full-grain leather and comes in two classic shades.

Leave it to Monos to create something both minimalist and extra versatile. The Vancouver-based brand’s PU leather folio is designed to clip onto both the brand’s travel backpack and duffle, making time spent in the airport as seamless as can be. It’s also packed with features, squeezing in pockets for your passport, travel documents, kindle, SD card, and credit cards. There are also elastic pen holder loops, a removable key ring, and an additional zippered pocket for valuables. All that, and it’s available in nine shades. A great choice for family travel.

This nylon organiser is a little light on features in comparison to some of the other wallets on this list, but it’s lightweight, has several compartments for essentials and offers Tumi’s signature high-quality nylon finish. If you have a Tumi backpack, you can clip this inside using the G-hooks, for extra ease of access to your essentials.

Gold leather touches and a smart mock croc faux leather finish make John Lewis’s bifold travel wallet a sophisticated option that belies its £45 price tag. Inside, there are several cardholders, two passport holders, and a zippered currency pocket.

Away’s offering is less of a wallet and more of a pouch. Nonetheless, inside there are multiple handy pockets for your bits and pieces, along with a snap closure to attach it to your Away bag or suitcase. Choose from two sizes.

Beis has made a name for itself as the influencer’s luggage brand of choice thanks to its sleek, stylish approach that doesn’t scrimp on utility (see its popular weekender with a concealed shoe compartment to see what we mean). Its travel wallet is the only one on our list with a crossbody strap. So you can glide from security to the gate with your hands-free for your coffee.

Everyone loves Fjallraven’s Kanken line of bags – you’d be hard-pushed to walk down any high street without spotting at least one of the colourful canvas rucksacks on show. In fact, the brand’s Kanken weekender is my personal bag of choice for short trips – deceptively roomy, with a separate shoe compartment and straps that can be utilised in three ways. This water-resistant travel wallet, with space for your phone, cards, passport and travel documents, will complete your set.

For a lux option that doubles as a keep-forever gift, British brand Cox & Milner creates elegant yet functional leather travel accessories handmade in England. Their travel case is a delight to use, lined in soft suede and with a storage place for everything, from charging cables to earphones, a pen, cards and, of course, your passport. The case comes in three different colour options, including this deliciously rich shade of fig.

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• Luggage & travel gear

• 10 Best Passport Holders and Travel Wallets UK 2024 | Aspinal of London, Joules and More

Whether you're travelling for business or with family, keeping track of your passport, tickets, and coins can be tricky. A product designed to keep your travel essentials safe is one of those things you might not realise you need until you've spent time at the airport searching through bags and pockets for your boarding pass or credit card! 

Enter the passport holder or travel wallet — two vital accessories that'll keep you well organised throughout your trip. We've compiled a list of the best products available at Amazon, eBay, John Lewis and ASOS, including personalised wallets and luxurious leather options from designer brands like Aspinal of London, to keep you cool, calm and collected on your travels!

A recommendation service that carefully researches each product and consults with experts across many disciplines. We are constantly creating new content to provide the best shopping experience from choosing ‘cosmetics’ to ‘food and drink’, ‘home appliances’ to ‘kids and baby’ products, reaching users all across the United Kingdom.

Table of Contents

How to Choose a Passport Holder or Travel Wallet in the UK

• Choose a Passport Holder to Secure Your Passport or a Travel Wallet for More Storage
• Select Materials Such As PU, Canvas, and Leather for Durability
• Get a Passport Cover or Wallet With a Variety of Compartments for Better Organisation
• Pick One With RFID Blocking Technology to Safeguard Against Fraudulent Activity
• Determine If Your Passport Cover or Travel Wallet Can Be Customised

Consider a Cover to Keep Your Passport Protected, or a Travel Wallet to Organise Your Cash, Tickets and Cards

While this article encompasses both passport holders and travel wallets, they are slightly different and serve certain specific purposes . A passport holder (sometimes also called a passport slip or sleeve) does exactly what it says on the tin and usually doesn't have space for anything other than your passport.

In contrast, a travel wallet should have room for not only your passport but your boarding pass, tickets, credit or debit cards and money too. Due to their multiple compartments, travel wallets are bigger than passport holders and are ideal for those who like to keep everything in one place.

Browse our best travel adapters so that you can charge your devices anywhere you go!

Look For Durable Materials Like Pu, Canvas and Leather for a Cover or Wallet That Will Withstand Multiple Trips

The vast majority of affordably priced passport holders and travel wallets are made from polyurethane (also known as PU) or faux leather. PU is a synthetic material that's totally vegan — which is great news for plant-based shoppers!

Sometimes PU is combined with another material such as canvas or polyester if the passport holder or travel wallet is covered in fabric, which can create a softer and more durable finish. 

Premium passport holders or travel wallets, on the other hand, are usually made from leather and may have a suede interior . This creates a luxurious product that will last you many years, but it won't be suitable for vegans.

Prevent stiff neck after long hours of travelling and nap comfortably with our favourite travel pillows !

Choose a Passport Cover or Wallet With Multiple Pockets or Compartments to Keep Travel Tickets, Money and Cards Organised

When it comes to passport holders, the best ones have two slip pockets that you can also fit ticket stubs or cards in, whereas others have multiple compartments such as a pouch for coins or even a section for your phone. This will come in handy especially when you're travelling, when you need to keep everything readily accessible in one place and your hands somewhat free to carry any luggage or bags. 

You also won't have to faff around with multiple items such as a passport holder, wallet, and phone when you need to find something. If you find that you need extra compartments, check the item's specs before buying as they don't always come as standard. Typically, you'll get more variety with travel wallets, although some passport covers will have pockets too. 

Organise all your jewellery in one place with these jewellery cases for travel . 

Opt For a Cover or Wallet With RFID Blocking Technology to Defend Against Thieves While Travelling

RFID technology is used in credit cards and passports to enable devices to scan them from a short distance. Contactless payment is enabled by this system, and there is growing concern that this leaves individuals vulnerable to fraudulent manipulation .

These days, many passport holders and travel wallets are designed to effectively block the illegal scanning of RFID chips that are embedded in our passports and cards, helping to protect you from identity theft and digital crime so that you can carry them around with a peace of mind.

Check Whether the Passport Cover or Travel Wallet Can Be Personalised With Your Name or Initials

Travel wallets often have useful features such as multiple compartments. These may even be labelled, to show you where to securely store your passport, cards, money and more. There are also customisable travel wallets available that will make a lovely gift for the globetrotter in your life, or even for yourself! 

Not only does this make it more personal and unique, it can help you identify who it belongs to from afar or at first glance. Plus, it can also be easily identifiable should it ever get lost or stolen. 

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A Luxury Passport Holder That'll Last For Years

Bring a hint of luxury to your travels with this stunning passport cover by Aspinal of London. Hand-crafted from Italian leather in a classic, sleek black and lined with suede in a contrasting red shade , we predict that this gorgeous accessory will become one of your most prized possessions.

It makes sense to invest in a high-quality passport holder if you're a regular traveller and this one will accompany you on expeditions for years to come. Durable, expertly designed and tactile, it also features a slip pocket for storing your boarding pass stub as well as a grosgrain ribbon page marker. Without a doubt, it's our top pick!

Stackers Classic Passport Sleeve

Functional Passport Sleeve With Space for Credit Cards

Simple yet stylish, this classic passport sleeve by Stackers is available in an attractive range of colours that will appeal to all genders, with our favourite being this lovely, subtle taupe. Perfect for staying organised while travelling, it comes in at under £15 too which is fantastic value considering the quality!

This functional sleeve includes a passport holder and pockets for your debit and credit cards as well as plane tickets. Secured with an elasticated tie in the same muted tone, this accessory is made from synthetic materials that are durable and easy to wipe clean   — exactly what you need if you're a frequent globetrotter!

Portico Designs Alice Scott Travel Wallet

Designer Travel Wallet With a Bright Botanical Theme

Searching for a travel wallet that's not only functional but stylish too ? Look no further than this tropical beauty by Portico Designs that'll entice you to leave work behind and head towards the palm trees!

A pretty pink wallet with a botanical design, it has "OUT OF OFFICE" embossed on the front  —  just in case you needed reminding of that holiday feeling! Unclip the cover to find sections for your boarding pass, passport, tickets and currency , all labelled with golden embossed tabs. There's also a zip-up pocket for any additional bits and bobs. Keep everything in one place, in style.

Aspinal of London Classic Saffiano Leather Travel Wallet

Chic Leather Travel Organiser With Suede Lining

The height of class and luxury, Aspinal of London's classic Saffiano travel wallet may be a bit of an investment piece, but it's worth it if you have the cash to spare. Hand-crafted from Italian leather, with an interior lined with luxuriously soft suede , we reckon it'll be by your side for the long haul.

Upon opening the tab, you'll find an interior with plenty of pockets for all your travel necessities where you can organize your boarding pass, money, passport, and documents in tabbed compartments. There's also a ticket slip pocket. All in all, this is a wallet that you can trust to keep all of your travel essentials in one compact and easily navigable place.

Jocose Moose RFID Passport Holder Wallet Cover

Affordable, Lightweight Passport Case With Multiple Compartments and RFID Blocking

With multiple compartments to keep all your travel essentials and RFID blocking, you would be surprised how lightweight and slim this passport holder is . Precision crafted to fit your passport just right, it is designed to minimise bulkiness too.

All your important documents, such as your passport, cards, cash, or boarding passes will be securely fastened with a snap button to keep everything in place. Plus, RFID blocking means you will be protected from any potential fraudulent activities. Above all, this passport case has a minimalistic design with pretty, bold colours that you can be confident in whipping out at the airport.

Fjällräven Passport Wallet

Practical and Durable Travel Wallet That Will Keep Everything in One Place

For those who love going on adventurous escapades, you will need this travel wallet made from durable G-1000 HeavyDuty Eco material both inside and out, all fitting in a slim format. Besides being durable, it is also waterproof and quick drying.

This travel wallet would make an elegant gift for the adventurous soul in your life. Plus, besides being able to fit your passport, it also comes with additional compartments such as an open pocket for banknotes, a small zippered pouch for coins, as well as several slots to keep your cards safe.

ASOS DESIGN Passport Holder in Diamond Quilt

Stylish Passport Cover With Quilted Design

This passport holder by ASOS DESIGN offers an elegant choice with its unique diamond quilted design on the outside, which makes it look much more expensive than it actually is ! The quilted design is more than just style, as it gives the holder some friction so that it is comfortable to hold. 

With tipped edges, gold detailed corners and multiple compartments, this holder looks great and securely stores everything you'll need on your journey. It's also made from 100% polyurethane, so it's a budget-friendly choice for vegans too , although it may not last as long as a leather case.

homchen Blocking Travel Passport Wallet Holder

Flamingo Passport Holder With RFID Blocking Technology

If flamingos  are your thing, or you simply love a fun, quirky design, you'll want this charming passport holder to keep all your travel essentials. But beyond the unique design, the fabric used is lightweight, durable, and waterproof . 

When it comes to functionality, this holder has it all - 4 Passport and card slots, 1 mobile phone pocket, big zippers to store money, keys or other small items, a pen holder, and a small pouch for coins, which are all protected by RFID blocking technology.

ASOS DESIGN Passport Holder in Monogram Print

Affordable Monogram Print Passport Cover

Let's face it, many of us can't afford a personalised passport holder (or have other things we would rather spend our money on) but you can still enjoy the luxe vibe with ASOS DESIGN's inexpensive printed passport holder .

The all-over monogram motif brings a touch of class and would look super chic paired with vintage-style luggage. Made from canvas and faux leather, this case has multiple compartments and tipped edges for an extra-special finish. A brilliant bargain!

John Lewis & Partners Leather Passport Cover

Smooth Leather Passport Cover With Convenient Card Slots

This passport cover is made of smooth leather, providing added personality and texture. With a leather interior, this cover not only protects your passport, but also features convenient card slots for added practicality. Size-wise, it's compatible with most passports worldwide and features a notch for quick passport removal .

However, one important thing to note is that colour transfer may occur , and is accelerated by moisture or rain. To preserve the longevity of your passport case, avoid contact with light colours and keep out of direct sunshine and heat.

Written and researched by Melanie McPhail

Top 5 Passport Holders and Travel Wallets

No. 1: Aspinal of London ｜ Croc Leather Passport Cover

No. 2: Stackers ｜ Classic Passport Sleeve

No. 3: Portico Designs ｜ Alice Scott Travel Wallet

No. 4: Aspinal of London ｜ Classic Saffiano Leather Travel Wallet

No. 5: Jocose Moose ｜ RFID Passport Holder Wallet Cover

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Best travel wallets to keep your passport and documents in order

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With the holiday season in full swing, many of us are taking to the skies in search of adventure and most importantly, sunshine.

From European city breaks by rail to escapes to far-flung golden sands, there are many destinations to explore and we’re running towards the departure gate.

Having the right certificates and paperwork is no doubt a necessary part of travel. The best way to keep them organised and safe is still the old-school way - with a travel wallet.

Cast aside all thoughts of those dowdy plastic wallets of yesteryear - modern wallets are a design triumph all of their own, worthy of their own mini photoshoot as you gleefully tell your followers of your new OOO status. There are iterations across the board, from high-street labels to high-end designers, meaning you should be able to find a great-looking (and functioning) wallet for your budget.

To help, we’ve sorted through the masses out there to bring you the finest to spend your money on.

See our edit below - and happy holidays!

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Aspinal of London Travel Wallet with Removable Inserts

A travel wallet that adapts to each trip, Aspinal’s design comes with removable inserts so you never need to take anything unless it’s completely necessary.

All sections are clear thanks to markers stamped with ‘Tickets’, ‘Passport’, and ‘Documents’ in gold foil lettering, and there’s also a handy ‘Other’ section for miscellaneous things like receipts and small family pictures.

Personalisation is available as well as luxury gift wrapping if you intend to give this as a gift to your favourite globetrotter.

Smythson Multi-Zip Case in Panama

Slim and compact with playful contrast-coloured zips on either side, luxury stationery Smythson is on hand to help organise your trip with this cross-grain calf leather currency case. There are four compartments within to bring order to receipts, foreign currency, tickets and more, making a quick getaway a streamlined experience. There are seven other colours to choose from, but nothing says Smythson quite like the Lapis.

Anya Hindmarch Bespoke Travel Wallet with Print

Anya Hindmarch’s leather travel pouch is ready for take-off. The cute, crimson design is perfect for European breaks, and has dedicated sections for all your currency and credit cards to keep all your important documents safe and secure. It’s designed to sit within your travel holdall or handbag and features an adorable graphic plane print.

Metier Full-Grain Leather Travel Wallet

Simple in design and wonderfully high in function, this is the travel wallet for business executives. There are three compartments on the front to store documents you want quick access to, with a further two inside to keep the most precious ones safe - think passport and boarding passes. The Italian-made bifold design is plain, save for some subtle branding in metallic silver on the reverse.

Portico Designs Alice Scott Travel Wallet, Brown

Cheap, cheerful and full of carefree holiday vibes thanks to that vibrant palm tree print, this wallet organiser can’t help but spark joy. Gold foil printing on the front spells out the words ‘Out Of Office’, leaving you in no doubt what it’s for.

Inside, compartments are generous enough to slide in a pair of passports as well as cash and your essential documents. There’s also a zipped pocket for foreign coins. Everything is held securely together with the help of the striped strap and gold-coloured popper.

The Alphabet Gift Shop Personalised Off To See The World Family Travel Wallet

If you’re travelling as a family, the number of documents and things you need to keep close to hand goes up by the person and it can become very easy to misplace important items - the last thing you need if you’re on a multi-leg voyage.

Keep them all safe with the most responsible family member with this bumper organiser, which has plenty of space to make use of. Keep up to five passports inside the zipped main compartments, as well as foreign coins, cards, your mobile phone and even a tablet holder in the large back pocket.

Measuring 20 x 23cm, the wallet is crafted from light grey Saffiano fine grain faux leather and can be personalised too, making it an excellent gift idea.

Travel Passport Wallet, Dizdvizd Family Passport Holder Document Organizer - Floral Printed

Know someone who is about to start a travel gap year? Give them a helping hand keeping all their hostel bookings, currency cards, passport and travel tickets in order with this cute floral printed travel wallet which has plenty of space to keep the essentials safe. The generous wallet can actually hold up to three passports, making it a great option for family travel too. There’s even a compartment to stow your handset.

Moleskine Journey Storage Pouch, Sapphire Blue

If you’re on the hunt for an option that won’t break the bank, head to John Lewis, where you can find this gemstone-coloured travel pouch from Moleskine. Granted, the brand is best known for diaries and organisers, which makes this progression into the travel accessory sphere so fitting. The pouch is a mini hard case to keep your phone (on which you’ve probably stored your boarding pass and other travel essentials) as well as a net pocket to hold foreign currency cards and accessories like headphones.

Fjällräven Kånken Travel Wallet Sports Backpack

Makers of those cult backpacks you keep seeing on your commute, Sweden’s Fjällräven also makes this travel organiser that fits in the palm of your hand. Heaving with pockets and dividers, there’s also a fleece-lined pocket for your handset to keep it with the rest of your valuables. Available in green and purple.

If you’re taking your Fjällräven backpack as hand luggage on your travels, the brand’s organiser fits perfectly and transforms the bag into an organiser, complete with a secure laptop sleeve, in a flash, £36.

Anya Hindmarch Bespoke Travel Wallet

Looking to spoil the travel junkie in your life? Upgrade their travel accessories with Anya Hindmarch’s lovely Bespoke Travel Wallet in a vibrant orange hue. Filled with handy sections for boarding passes, tickets, passports, cards and currency, the Capra leather design has space to etch a handwritten note for your recipient.

Further personalisation is available with initials on the front of the wallet and their full name imprinted on the inside too, making it full of personal touches. Gold-tone hardware completes the luxury look.

John Lewis Leather Travel Wallet

One for unfussy shoppers, John Lewis’ croc-embossed travel wallet is a sleek, subtle accessory. Alongside a timeless texture in an ebony hue, it features handy card slots, zipped coin pockets and a double passport slot. Gold lettering and luxurious-grained leather elevate the item’s aesthetic, making for a practical and polished travel wallet.

Stackers Tech Clutch Bag, Taupe

Get all your docs in a row and sorted with help from Stackers’ Tech Clutch bag, an ideal companion for travels big and small. Inside the elegant taupe exterior is a wonderland of compartments, sleeves and zips to organise to your heart’s content. There’s even a holder to keep a pen; bound to come in useful when you’re filling in immigration forms. The uber-functional design is finished with a tassel-charm zip and wrist strap.

Shoppers save £80 on stylish Aspinal travel wallet that keeps passport and documents safe

Typically retailing for £160, head off on your holiday in style with this half price Aspinal travel wallet that has space for your passport, tickets, boarding pass and cards

• 09:00, 17 Feb 2024

Travelling can be stressful at the best of times but it can be made a whole lot easier if you come armed with the right equipment. First things first, you'll want to have the correct cabin bag sorted so you're not having to transfer between bags or pay any extra fees - Mirror travel writer Laura McKenna reports that this £12.50 Dunelm buy 'fits all airlines' .

Then, you might want to consider organising any tickets, passports, documents, and cards you are travelling with so you're not left scrabbling around checking pockets and bags when you get to check-in, security or when boarding. The Aspinal of London Travel Wallets have been slashed in price from £160 to £80 so you can keep everything in check for half price.

Available in 15 different colourways, the shades Latte , Pool Blue , and Fern are included in the impressive price drop, and as Aspinal of London are one Kate Middleton's favourite accessories brands, you can be certain that with one of their travel wallets by your side, you'll be travelling in style.

The Aspinal Travel Wallets are, like many of this premium brand's products, crafted from leather for longevity, and can even be personalised with your initials for an extra fee. They are compact in size so can slip into a handbag, but open up to reveal several handy sections where you can slip in all your travel essentials such as your passport and boarding passes.

Although the front of the travel wallet isn't secured with a zip, it does feature a zip-up pocket to keep any currency you are carrying safe, as well as removable inserts so it can be personalised for your own needs. If you're thinking of getting this as a gift for someone, Aspinal of London will even gift wrap it for you in their signature packaging.

Elsewhere on the Aspinal of London site , they have discounted tons of their designer handbags including the Stella Satchel which was £450 and is now £225 . The black crossbody bag is a versatile option for work or at the weekend, and has a classic feel that will never go out of style.

John Lewis are also running a mega sale covering designer handbags from the likes of Mulberry, Ted Baker and Michael Kors. You can shop the entire John Lewis sale here .

MORE ON Shopping Picks Deals John Lewis Kate Middleton Save money

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Why were so many metro stations in Moscow renamed?

Okhotny Ryad station in Soviet times and today.

The Moscow metro system has 275 stations, and 28 of them have been renamed at some point or other—and several times in some cases. Most of these are the oldest stations, which opened in 1935.

The politics of place names

The first station to change its name was Ulitsa Kominterna (Comintern Street). The Comintern was an international communist organization that ceased to exist in 1943, and after the war Moscow authorities decided to call the street named after it something else. In 1946, the station was renamed Kalininskaya. Then for several days in 1990, the station was called Vozdvizhenka, before eventually settling on Aleksandrovsky Sad, which is what it is called today.

The banner on the entraince reads: "Kalininskaya station." Now it's Alexandrovsky Sad.

Until 1957, Kropotkinskaya station was called Dvorets Sovetov ( Palace of Soviets ). There were plans to build a monumental Stalinist high-rise on the site of the nearby Cathedral of Christ the Saviour , which had been demolished. However, the project never got off the ground, and after Stalin's death the station was named after Kropotkinskaya Street, which passes above it.

Dvorets Sovetov station, 1935. Letters on the entrance: "Metro after Kaganovich."

Of course, politics was the main reason for changing station names. Initially, the Moscow Metro itself was named after Lazar Kaganovich, Joseph Stalin’s right-hand man. Kaganovich supervised the construction of the first metro line and was in charge of drawing up a master plan for reconstructing Moscow as the "capital of the proletariat."

In 1955, under Nikita Khrushchev's rule and during the denunciation of Stalin's personality cult, the Moscow Metro was named in honor of Vladimir Lenin.

Kropotkinskaya station, our days. Letters on the entrance: "Metropolitan after Lenin."

New Metro stations that have been opened since the collapse of the Soviet Union simply say "Moscow Metro," although the metro's affiliation with Vladimir Lenin has never officially been dropped.

Zyablikovo station. On the entrance, there are no more signs that the metro is named after Lenin.

Stations that bore the names of Stalin's associates were also renamed under Khrushchev. Additionally, some stations were named after a neighborhood or street and if these underwent name changes, the stations themselves had to be renamed as well.

Until 1961 the Moscow Metro had a Stalinskaya station that was adorned by a five-meter statue of the supreme leader. It is now called Semyonovskaya station.

Left: Stalinskaya station. Right: Now it's Semyonovskaya.

The biggest wholesale renaming of stations took place in 1990, when Moscow’s government decided to get rid of Soviet names. Overnight, 11 metro stations named after revolutionaries were given new names. Shcherbakovskaya became Alekseyevskaya, Gorkovskaya became Tverskaya, Ploshchad Nogina became Kitay-Gorod and Kirovskaya turned into Chistye Prudy. This seriously confused passengers, to put it mildly, and some older Muscovites still call Lubyanka station Dzerzhinskaya for old times' sake.

At the same time, certain stations have held onto their Soviet names. Marksistskaya and Kropotkinskaya, for instance, although there were plans to rename them too at one point.

"I still sometimes mix up Teatralnaya and Tverskaya stations,” one Moscow resident recalls .

 “Both have been renamed and both start with a ‘T.’ Vykhino still grates on the ear and, when in 1991 on the last day of my final year at school, we went to Kitay-Gorod to go on the river cruise boats, my classmates couldn’t believe that a station with that name existed."

The city government submitted a station name change for public discussion for the first time in 2015. The station in question was Voykovskaya, whose name derives from the revolutionary figure Pyotr Voykov. In the end, city residents voted against the name change, evidently not out of any affection for Voykov personally, but mainly because that was the name they were used to.

What stations changed their name most frequently?

Some stations have changed names three times. Apart from the above-mentioned Aleksandrovsky Sad (Ulitsa Kominterna->Kalininskaya->Vozdvizhenka->Aleksandrovsky Sad), a similar fate befell Partizanskaya station in the east of Moscow. Opened in 1944, it initially bore the ridiculously long name Izmaylovsky PKiO im. Stalina (Izmaylovsky Park of Culture and Rest Named After Stalin). In 1947, the station was renamed and simplified for convenience to Izmaylovskaya. Then in 1963 it was renamed yet again—this time to Izmaylovsky Park, having "donated" its previous name to the next station on the line. And in 2005 it was rechristened Partizanskaya to mark the 60th anniversary of victory in World War II. 

Partizanskaya metro station, nowadays.

Another interesting story involves Alekseyevskaya metro station. This name was originally proposed for the station, which opened in 1958, since a village with this name had been located here. It was then decided to call the station Shcherbakovskaya in honor of Aleksandr Shcherbakov, a politician who had been an associate of Stalin. Nikita Khrushchev had strained relations with Shcherbakov, however, and when he got word of it literally a few days before the station opening the builders had to hastily change all the signs. It ended up with the concise and politically correct name of Mir (Peace).

The name Shcherbakovskaya was restored in 1966 after Khrushchev's fall from power. It then became Alekseyevskaya in 1990.

Alekseyevskaya metro station.

But the station that holds the record for the most name changes is Okhotny Ryad, which opened in 1935 on the site of a cluster of market shops. When the metro system was renamed in honor of Lenin in 1955, this station was renamed after Kaganovich by way of compensation. The name lasted just two years though because in 1957 Kaganovich fell out of favor with Khrushchev, and the previous name was returned. But in 1961 it was rechristened yet again, this time in honor of Prospekt Marksa, which had just been built nearby.

Okhotny Ryad station in 1954 and Prospekt Marksa in 1986.

In 1990, two historical street names—Teatralny Proyezd and Mokhovaya Street—were revived to replace Prospekt Marksa, and the station once again became Okhotny Ryad.

Okhotny Ryad in 2020.

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