Down Street Underground Ghost Station

Рет қаралды 812,765

9 жыл бұрын

Down Street is an abandoned station on the Piccadilly line, which TfL is considering opening up to the public.
We got to explore it, one of the many 'ghost' stations on the network, discovering stairs that haven't been used for decades, a World War Two typing pool, and .. .hang on! Is that Winston Churchill's old bath?

Пікірлер: 445

@G1NZOU 8 жыл бұрын

Would be awesome if they had a bar down there, with the access to the lines featuring windows so you see the trains go past.

@timothytt547 7 жыл бұрын

People would be so wasted that they can't get back up the steps :)

@imrmalibuz5145 7 жыл бұрын

i dont think being wasted prevents you from being taken up with a lift or something

@richardclarke376 6 жыл бұрын

one of the few commercial operations you could cram in to that confined space I would have thought

@flipperbear9 4 жыл бұрын

Brilliant, drunk people getting creamed by trains

@G1NZOU 4 жыл бұрын

@@flipperbear9 I don't mean having a bar right on the platform with no barrier to the lines, something like a floor to ceiling window would be amazing though if the platform was used, and the rest of the platform access tunnels could be used.

@Larwood. 8 жыл бұрын

So the only place they got the number of steps right was in a station that's not in use. Typical.

@Liam_ 9 жыл бұрын

I wish a lot of these abandoned stations were given a bit of a clean, then opened to the public as museums or something. I'd love to go on a tour around loads of abandoned stations - but none of them are ever open...

@Liam_ 8 жыл бұрын

***** Oh, wow. I didn't know that. Cheers for letting me know!

@1Cineworld 8 жыл бұрын

+Geofftech £75 a ticket seems a bit much.

@jwenting 4 жыл бұрын

@@1Cineworld more than most people would pay, less than it would take to make the idea cost neutral...

@limeyosu2000 3 жыл бұрын

I nearly booked a tour till COVID shit everything down!

@Larry 7 жыл бұрын

It's great they're re-opening it. I think they'd make for great museums for both London Transport and for London itself. They should consider doing it for Aldwych too.

@eduardopascoal7893 7 жыл бұрын

Larry, you are everywhere

@alfiewhittaker3763 7 жыл бұрын

finally some one on the same page as me

@CyberLink70 6 жыл бұрын

Not an amazing idea, Larry. It's not the safest station.

@AndRewUK24 6 жыл бұрын

I keep bumping into you Larry in the comments. I believe they should use this in a Winston Churchill film about the war cabinet.

@eyeseesoldchannel144 5 жыл бұрын

Yeah, it be nice for Aldwych to open with an other line there and to have Aldwych Branch Line but it would be extended since its way too small

@mentalshell8670 6 жыл бұрын

I went on this tour yesterday and WOW nothing can describe the feeling of being down there, the tour guides are excellent and even admit that they are still finding things out themselves and always seem excited to talk about the new finds

@peterbuckley265 4 жыл бұрын

WHAT TOUR, THERE WAS NOTHING PUBLICISED TO EVERYONE OF US WHO OWN ALL EQUALLY OWN THIS THIS HERITAGE !!.

@mentalshell8670 4 жыл бұрын

@@peterbuckley265 open your eyes, well you know of it now, stop living under a rock!!!

@jerryhill007 3 жыл бұрын

As a fellow ‘underground’ enthusiast, I get so much from your videos. I really appreciate the efforts you and your cameraman go to to deliver such informative and interesting videos. Please please please post more!

@alicesimpson8973 Жыл бұрын

I just came across this it would be great if yall could keep the tiles that was my great grandfather's brother that the tiles were made by & constructed. This just great. I went back to my madin name after my divorce. I love history just like you & to see this on 3*12*2023 is just amazing 😵😵😵💯💯💯💯

@carolineburnley7760 8 жыл бұрын

I get so excited over underground tiles! Probably the strangest thing I will ever comment :/ love Regent's Park entrance

@craigycraig85 6 жыл бұрын

same im a big fan of the undeground

@curlycob5033 7 жыл бұрын

I use to work in this street between 1966 and 1968 and knew it was an 'Underground property from the tiling so very interesting to finally see inside. Thanks.

@JoelHudson 6 жыл бұрын

103 steps approx. 15 floors?

@fancandyman 6 жыл бұрын

Yup 🤣

@clickrick 5 жыл бұрын

Exactly.

@itmkoeln 5 жыл бұрын

It is the equivalent of a 15 storey building. not approx...

@philfifield7699 5 жыл бұрын

It's an old TfL joke

@JonWylan 5 жыл бұрын

I watched this video right after the '15 floors' one, and when I saw the sign with the 103 steps, scrolled down immediately to find this joke :D

@Nile_TV 4 жыл бұрын

As an Electrician that loves history this would be a perfect contract for me!

@anonandon71 3 жыл бұрын

Geoff NEVER fails to deliver.

@graffitijunkiejfk 9 жыл бұрын

Think WC was for Winston Churchill rather than Water Closet...

@graffitijunkiejfk 9 жыл бұрын

As far as I'm aware only Churchill had the luxury of a bath in this bunker and the initials were probably put there by an Urban Explorer I suspect. May be wise to verify that info though as I'm just some bloke on KZfaq with a little knowledge on a lot of subjects.lol. However I am very envious of your job...

@soberhippie 4 жыл бұрын

He scratched his initials into the dirt he washed of himself in that bath.

@thomasmann9216 4 жыл бұрын

Could have been aliens saying "we're coming".

@ShiruKitty 3 жыл бұрын

@@thomasmann9216 I think it is the aliens.

@HenrysAdventures 5 жыл бұрын

Very interesting! 103 steps, so that's how many steps there are in a 15 story building!

@ActionAdventureTwins 3 жыл бұрын

This is amazing, europe has so much hidden literally under the streets. Me and my brother will go there to explore one day!

@mudslide-md2uz 4 жыл бұрын

When I used to test the signal system at Down Street, I was scared going there by myself.

@stevenharrison488 3 жыл бұрын

Hi just watched this video I worked in the station did some brickwork just at the bottom of the staircase later on we put the mesh grills and gates in and I can honestly say Down street was the spookiest place I’ve ever been in my life 🥴👍👍

@richardpotter712 3 жыл бұрын

Down St used to have a special platform entrance for War Cabinet Members, inside the tunnel. So members couldn't be followed by spies, they would knock on the driver`s door with a code and the driver would let the WCM into the drivers compartment. The driver would stop at Down St and push the head of the train into the tunnel at the end of the platform, in line with a special door and the WCM member would get out.

@scorism1760 9 жыл бұрын

Very good. As a teenager me and a couple of friends climbed up from the canal and along into the old Lords station. There was nothing at all historical feeling about it left. Anyway, would love to go to Down Street. I always enjoy your videos. Keep up the good stuff. Cheers.

@satoshiaaron 7 жыл бұрын

The W.C. on the bath is no just because Winston Churchill was using the station during the war, it was actually the bath tub he used frequently.

@graffitijunkiejfk 9 жыл бұрын

I've said it before but I'll say it again. You sir have the best job in London...

@svamarnath 7 жыл бұрын

ffr1Ai

@georgeknowles5327 4 жыл бұрын

These videos of abandoned tunnels and other underground facilities always provide a scary thrill for me. I have done lots of exciting things in my long life including mountaineering, rock climbing, mountain biking, backpacking, winter camping, desert travel, skiing, and caving. I was never that comfortable with caving and still have bad dreams about some of situations I experienced when underground, so I think I must be claustrophobic. Trouble is these videos are addictive so keep them coming.

@ws4488 9 жыл бұрын

Very cool. Your enthusiasm is infectious. I kind of want it opened up but I kind of want it there as a time capsule undisturbed and seldom accessed. I remember a Billy Connolly documentary where he got off the train at Down Street and explored it. Great video Geoff as always.

@pressatoanime2440 4 жыл бұрын

Warren Saunders better still, someone should buy it and keep it as it is but make it a history-preservated bar

@disconellie 8 жыл бұрын

Your whole series of videos is both fascinating and excellent. I am looking forward to visiting Down Street next month

@keithbillinghurst9320 6 жыл бұрын

Just had a tour of Down Street. Fantastic place. Go there you won’t be disappointed.

@shaunfoster7223 4 жыл бұрын

I Remember using Aldwych daily back in the ‘70’s when I was about 16. I work as a post room boy for a solicitor in the Aldwych called Amery Parks.

@christophersimpson-brooker840 9 жыл бұрын

Your Videos are Fantastic, Well done Geoff.

@NigelFortune 9 жыл бұрын

Fascinating stuff!

@GaryCameron780 7 жыл бұрын

Is anyone else impressed that Geoff's step count matches the sign? (Other videos seem to indicate that this is often not the case.)

@Londonistvids 7 жыл бұрын

Gary, we later found out the the 103 is down to the lift level only! It doesn't include the 19 steps (which Geoff is sat on talking about the dust) down to platform level. In total at Down Street now, there are 122 steps from street to platform level!

@dangergamercfchd102 7 жыл бұрын

+Londonist Ltd I'm an absolute train nerd I know the most in my town!!!

@isaiahkennis-carr129 7 жыл бұрын

Londonist Ltd are you a fan of trains cause I'm a huge fan of trains are you the same as me with your love of trains

@isaiahkennis-carr129 7 жыл бұрын

like if your a fan

@AndrewTiffin 9 жыл бұрын

I thought you were going to wear your Piccadilly line shirt, Geoff!

@Lisbonized 9 жыл бұрын

Been there too! It's by far the most interesting disused station ever!

@kat71580 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much' a step back in time.. i hope they find a way to open this treasure chest of history..

@bigtoe89 4 жыл бұрын

I'm from 2057 it's still not open beep bloop

@johndufton9686 4 жыл бұрын

TFL finally found a tenant in 2525. A believe a Mr Zager and Ms Evans signed the lease.

@Taffy064 4 жыл бұрын

Ooooh, please tell me what happens to Donald trump and boris Johnson.

@metro_ken 4 жыл бұрын

Visited 3019. Aldwych is open, the Circle Line goes somewhere on its own and this station is open. Phone has a broken camera so couldn’t get any pictures or videos sorry

@alexcantlow2920 4 жыл бұрын

@@Taffy064 people stoped being snowflakes wiped the slate clean and started again. Both sides are a mockery.

@nihalrg 4 жыл бұрын

It is the year 123456 and London is the world. There are 41325 stations and the most popular one is Gudhxbduhbxeduhbxuhdebxuhdebxuhedbxuhedbxuhedbxuhdebxuhedbxuhedbxuden Street with 100 billion people each day.

@pauldixon1000 8 жыл бұрын

They should reopen these stations for regular Underground use, especially Down Street as it is a neighbourhood badly in need of a Tube station.

@lethe56 6 жыл бұрын

It's in Mayfair... there's nothing in Mayfair but expensive houses and flats. And their inhabitants mostly don't use the Tube. Tourists rarely go there (except the ones who wander down from Oxford St., presumably lost), so why on Earth would it need a Tube Station?

@timrollpickering 5 жыл бұрын

It's really too close to Green Park and Hyde Park Corner to get much usage justifying another stop and all the costs - and I say that as someone who sometimes goes to stuff near Down Street's surface building. (Originally Green Park was called Dover Street with the lifts coming up there, but the switch to escalators moved the entrances closer to Down Street, dooming the latter.)

@QuarioQuario54321 3 жыл бұрын

@@lethe56 To make the residents cheaper

@hettyscetty9785 3 жыл бұрын

I did a tour of Glasgow Central Station when I was in college and there was one point where you could actually see the in use part of the lower level line (platforms 16 and 17 respectively), lines that take you East toward Motherwell and Coatbridge and West toward Partick and onto Clydebank.

@greentorm5467 3 жыл бұрын

You have a nice presenting style, coherent!

@MontytheHorse 7 жыл бұрын

The bunker was built for the Railway Executive Committee, who were responsible for running, well I'm sure you can guess. The Cabinet used it secretly during the night until the Cabinet War Rooms were ready. They needed somewhere in Central London when it became clear that the Paddock bunker at Dollis Hill was unsuitable for every day use.

@___spiritofadventure___ 5 ай бұрын

I've got a great suggestion for a commercial use for it - as a tube station again!

@AndrewTGreen 9 жыл бұрын

Brilliant!

@djlawlz4041 4 жыл бұрын

If I remember correctly, this was the first video I had ever seen of you. There are some really good film work and editing in this video!

@XNA2NW3 9 жыл бұрын

Delightful. Thanks for sharing that.

@mattvjmeasures 9 жыл бұрын

Great video. Fascinating place.

@jackiebrown7229 4 жыл бұрын

I'd love to visit this place. How atmospheric! 😀

@liamscanlonscanlon1584 7 жыл бұрын

great show ,you should def do guided tours,thanks

@brucegoatly 7 жыл бұрын

Not to forget that a scene in Neil Gaiman's TV series Neverwhere was filmed on Down Street platform, with live Tube trains whizzing past. (At the time there was a news article about passengers being surprised to see a ghostly tea-party through the windows, but I can no longer find the scan!)

@petersheil641 5 жыл бұрын

It's fascinating seeing this video after I've been on the station tour. The changes done have not taken away from the character of the station and I'd say it is worth going on the tour it if you can afford it.

@ParkerTyler 4 жыл бұрын

Peter Sheil have the opened the station up?

@WilliamHBaird-eq2hp 4 жыл бұрын

The disused Tube Stations are fascinating like "Strand" etc!

@FarlandHowe 9 жыл бұрын

Most entertaining. Enjoyed it.

@KasabianFan44 8 жыл бұрын

"Winnie woz 'ere" xD

@AlisonBryen 7 жыл бұрын

I would love to explore an abandoned tube station...not alone...With others...but I think it would be amazing!

@chrisstaples1299 7 жыл бұрын

U can, London Transport Museum do tours called "Hidden London" at Down Street I went yesterday it was amazing! Tickets are sold out now but u might be lucky next time. Be warned thou tickets sell out very fast! They where sold out within a day of release for Down Street!

@acciid 5 жыл бұрын

Indeed. There are a few stations you can go to, including Aldwych as someone else has spoken about in these comments. In Down street you get to see a bit more than Geoff did and they have posters on the walls explaining the history and so on. It's all guided too. Worth every penny.

@simonbarr9476 6 жыл бұрын

Fantastic. London could do this with so many more of these awesome underground historic sites.

@sarahstrong7174 4 жыл бұрын

Thankyou for sharing.

@nick_koh 2 жыл бұрын

It's January 2022. Wondering if what has become of this project? Did Covid force TfL to shelf this project? Anyone? Thanks for the brilliant video. Cheers.

@user-rq2pu6hi5r 4 жыл бұрын

I have been here on the hidden London tour it was amazing

@Rattlesnake7501 4 жыл бұрын

Opening as soon as 2017...2020 🥴

@jonathancook4022 7 жыл бұрын

Can we get an update of this video? Wanna know if any of these stations are open now for ???? uses,,,,

@peterdonaldhume 2 жыл бұрын

next visit - buy a decent torch

@Gary0557 4 жыл бұрын

Watching this 4 years on, really interesting. Might pay a visit if open.

@paulcarpenter2800 4 жыл бұрын

Fantastic explore. Paul in Lower Boddington

@pamthevan7340 3 жыл бұрын

A long time ago I used to work down the tubes. I was lucky enough to be able to wander around this but sadly being too young to appreciate it. Still had the lettering on the walls and metal lampshades.

@cbgames7317 5 жыл бұрын

Great video!!!

@jsma9999 9 жыл бұрын

Thank You for this Film, And Like They put signs For the workmen to find out which way was which

@strafrag1 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the tour. It makes me wonder why it was built so close to another station? Cheers!

@AndRewUK24 6 жыл бұрын

I believe they should use this in a film about Winston Churchill and the war cabinet. It will make an authentic piece of historical drama. Hopefully the new Winston Churchill film(Winston Churchill's finest hour) uses locations in the abandoned London Underground stations.

@hairyairey 5 жыл бұрын

I think you're referring to Darkest Hour and I believe that used the Cabinet War Rooms for location scenes.

@leonciohernandez 3 жыл бұрын

this is an amazing video

@baruchpinnick811 4 жыл бұрын

Fascinating!

@theprideofbellshill2224 4 жыл бұрын

As a former LUL employee I remember going down there. Is the switch board still there?

@Matthew-it2jw 9 жыл бұрын

Amazing.

@davidferris3586 8 жыл бұрын

Nice video, thanks. Down Street was used by the Railway Executive Committee as a bunker during WW2, not by the War Cabinet. Churchill was here only very rarely, I think probably on just one occasion.

@websitesthatneedanem 7 жыл бұрын

Can't believe you had a once in a lifetime opportunity to go into an unused station and you took only one stupid torch!!!

@websitesthatneedanem 7 жыл бұрын

Thanks Geoff, very Interesting!

@wink1eafc774 7 жыл бұрын

£75 is a bit steep...

@MrEkg98 6 жыл бұрын

Thats not a torch. Its a flashlight!

@jazzlover7434 6 жыл бұрын

so, you're from the States too! I was going to post something like this but you beat me to it. To those folks across the pond, if you told someone to bring a torch here, they'd show up with a propane tank and a nozzle plus match to start a flame. Two nations separated by a common language and all that. We wear boots, they're not back of the car, that's called a trunk over here. And if you spell the former word with a "c" instead of an "n" you'd have truck, which you when you try passing it on a motorway, would call a lorry. And a comedian who is successful in London, "goes down a bomb" whereas, a bad comedian's performance over here would be said, "he bombed."

@jazzlover7434 6 жыл бұрын

but before you say, "this guy is sure stroppy, naff, or just plain tiresome, I'd like to complement you on the video. Down Street, Brompton road, City Road, British Museum station, South Kentish Town, abandoned stations all seem like interesting and unusual places to explore, and for those of us who are a bit far from London, your video takes us there! A good idea for Tfl, would be to removed one of the tiled station names from each station, clean the tiles and then mount them on display in the London Transport museum. And displaying an original or replica of a pre Frank Hick Roundel for these stations wouldn't be so bad either.(although I wonder - was City Road closed before the roundel came into use?)- Anyway,Best Regards, or Cheers,"J" :-)

@blissy1 4 жыл бұрын

Nice clip, maybe bring a bigger brighter torch next time

@julianaylor4351 4 жыл бұрын

It was used to film Neverwhere and I accidently saw them doing it, ie. a flash of a purple cloak. Also I was on a train once when someone camera flash picked out an old poster on its walls, as they took a photograph of their friends, which later got published in a magazine, which I saw.

@TeeBee303 5 жыл бұрын

What a great torch .....

@bermal209 8 жыл бұрын

Can you do some more for youtube. These are my favourite of the Underground videos

@incandescentwithrage 4 жыл бұрын

Time traveller from 2019 here. No idea why this was recommended. Anyway: "I can't go down those stairs, they're damaged". Yup, that's the spirit that helped win the constantly referenced WW2

@griffin2263 3 жыл бұрын

Here in 2020 and in lock down. .......oh to travel and see places again

@chrisredditch 8 жыл бұрын

Good to see Frankie Boyle working for TFL

@lethe56 6 жыл бұрын

THANK YOU! I knew he sounded familiar. Mind you, it's a shame he doesn't work for TFL. The press releases would be hilarious. And impossible to publish.

@ThePetrolheadno1 7 жыл бұрын

Can you do a similar episode of a disused station York Road on the Piccadilly line between Kings Cross and Caledonian Road station?

@Jjtwhite 5 жыл бұрын

So interesting!

@PopeLando 7 жыл бұрын

Dude, W.C. on the bath means Winston Churchill.

@sawahtb 7 жыл бұрын

I think so too

@gcm_uk 7 жыл бұрын

PopeLando it doesn't, a water closet is a toilet

@Atomsk102 6 жыл бұрын

But it isn't on a toilet, it's on a bathtub.

@mikemoreno4469 3 жыл бұрын

@PopeLando, I think that was the joke he was making. Geoff has a really dry sense of humour, like my own.

@officalbrandonperfect 5 жыл бұрын

Did it ever reopen as it's 2018

@wta1518 3 ай бұрын

Fun fact: 103 steps is the equivalent of a 15 story building.

@wisteela 3 жыл бұрын

Fantastic

@danielwhyatt3278 4 жыл бұрын

Now that it’s 2020, what has happened with this project? Has it now been opened or have things been put on hold?

@KeroChuK 9 жыл бұрын

4:37 I believe that WC means Winston Churchill. lol.

@KeroChuK 9 жыл бұрын

***** I think that could be

@danny1884 4 жыл бұрын

Or it could mean water closet

@geoffreyblack5982 4 жыл бұрын

It's 2019 and just seen this clip for the first time, just wondering what happened. Did they open something or it didn't happen?

@WilliamHBaird-eq2hp 6 жыл бұрын

Fascinating! I'm Jealous!

@soberhippie 4 жыл бұрын

It's 2019 now. What happened to this station?

@joarnold448 3 жыл бұрын

Watching this five and a half years later, I can't find any information on the redevelopment. Did it get halted?

@gabrielcoyle9049 4 жыл бұрын

What kind of lifts are there and will they be kept original

@PaulrB1968 7 жыл бұрын

Going down tomorrow with London Transport museum tour

@nicholas3071 5 жыл бұрын

At least I'm not the only one who counts steps.

@711honved 4 жыл бұрын

Back in the 1980's I used to use the wine bar on Down Street. If I remember correctly it was called Downes.

@markpunt9638 5 жыл бұрын

Fascinating

@scr_spotterandvlogger1236 7 жыл бұрын

It's so spooky inside.

@krzysztofnalecz9943 Жыл бұрын

I watched it 7 years ago

@deeyoung50 4 жыл бұрын

Can you imagine the ghosts in there!

@chrism7969 6 жыл бұрын

I am sort of surprised they haven't talked to some cloud based infrastructure companies etc about using the stations as DataCentres Power Readily available. Big tunnels to run big fibre connections to all the key commercial parts of the city.. Nice secure underground Data Centres in the heart of the city.