elsiegee40 Posted November 30, 2016 Posted November 30, 2016 (edited) So... starting this thread has been a bit of a fudge, but it seems that several of us enjoy this type of tour so I thought I’d try to collect them all in one place. I am sure they exist outside London too so tell us about ‘em! For example TfL’s Hidden London tours https://www.ltmuseum.co.uk/whats-on/hidden-london Let thread merging begin! Edited March 9, 2019 by elsiegee40 1
6Foot2 Posted December 2, 2016 Posted December 2, 2016 Link: The Postal Museum For more than 75 years, it was a vital artery in Britain’s communication network, hidden from view. See our breathtaking tunnels for yourself... We're opening up the now deserted ‘Mail Rail’ tunnels to the public for the first time - as an immersive ride. When we open next year, you’ll be able to take a 15-minute journey through the original tunnels and station platforms under Mount Pleasant in central London, on a specially-made train. Travel back in time through a theatrical audiovisual show to find out how and why the railway came to exist and its vital role in keeping friends and family in touch across the world from its 1930s heyday to the present day. And expect a few surprises along the way! 1
tg12 Posted November 29, 2018 Posted November 29, 2018 Just managed to buy some tickets for the Hidden London tours I've hoped to get on for years. I am fascinated by the secret areas of the London Underground and so I've got the chance to go through all the closed off areas of Charing Cross, and the closed station of Aldwych. Really looking forward to it! 2
bald_pig Posted November 29, 2018 Posted November 29, 2018 Just managed to buy some tickets for the Hidden London tours I've hoped to get on for years. I am fascinated by the secret areas of the London Underground and so I've got the chance to go through all the closed off areas of Charing Cross, and the closed station of Aldwych. Really looking forward to it! Are they the Geoff Marshall ones? Should probably try and get some as a present for the missus!
elsiegee40 Posted November 29, 2018 Author Posted November 29, 2018 Just managed to buy some tickets for the Hidden London tours I've hoped to get on for years. I am fascinated by the secret areas of the London Underground and so I've got the chance to go through all the closed off areas of Charing Cross, and the closed station of Aldwych. Really looking forward to it! I have been on several of them and they’re excellent. @robk and @john have been on several too 1
tg12 Posted November 29, 2018 Posted November 29, 2018 Are they the Geoff Marshall ones? Should probably try and get some as a present for the missus! Possibly. They're run by the London Transport Museum. I signed up for the newsletter so got early access to the tickets but I think general sale is tomorrow morning! Not cheap but I think worth it for the chance to explore somewhere normally off limits!
robk Posted November 29, 2018 Posted November 29, 2018 I have been on several of them and they’re excellent. @robk and @john have been on several tooI can certainly recommend them if you can actually get tickets. They tend to sell out very quickly.
bald_pig Posted November 29, 2018 Posted November 29, 2018 Possibly. They're run by the London Transport Museum. I signed up for the newsletter so got early access to the tickets but I think general sale is tomorrow morning! Not cheap but I think worth it for the chance to explore somewhere normally off limits! They're live now, just having a look, contemplating getting the Charing Cross ones for the missus xmas prezzie. 2
EliteCommander Posted November 29, 2018 Posted November 29, 2018 They're live now, just having a look, contemplating getting the Charing Cross ones for the missus xmas prezzie. Me to, you can better afford it though pig, since you don't need to upgrade your work pc. Congrats on the win.
elsiegee40 Posted November 29, 2018 Author Posted November 29, 2018 Just managed to buy some tickets for the Hidden London tours I've hoped to get on for years. I am fascinated by the secret areas of the London Underground and so I've got the chance to go through all the closed off areas of Charing Cross, and the closed station of Aldwych. Really looking forward to it!They're live now, just having a look, contemplating getting the Charing Cross ones for the missus xmas prezzie.There's a risk of me running into both of you it seems. Mr gee40 has just got home from work and tells me he has booked both Charing Cross and Aldwych! 1
tg12 Posted November 29, 2018 Posted November 29, 2018 There's a risk of me running into both of you it seems. Mr gee40 has just got home from work and tells me he has booked both Charing Cross and Aldwych! I feel like I've really started something with my post this morning! I'll be very amused indeed if it does transpire we've picked the same sessions.
bald_pig Posted November 30, 2018 Posted November 30, 2018 There's a risk of me running into both of you it seems. Mr gee40 has just got home from work and tells me he has booked both Charing Cross and Aldwych! I forgot to buy yesterday, now all the weekend tickets are sold out
tg12 Posted January 27, 2019 Posted January 27, 2019 Went on the first of my Hidden London tours yesterday. Getting to see some hidden secrets of Charing Cross was fascinating. The old Jubilee Line platforms were very cool to be down in. And as sad as it sounds, it was really cool to go into the ventilation tunnel and go and look down on the Northern Line platforms all while nobody below knew I was there... 4
robk Posted January 27, 2019 Posted January 27, 2019 Went on the first of my Hidden London tours yesterday. Getting to see some hidden secrets of Charing Cross was fascinating. The old Jubilee Line platforms were very cool to be down in. And as sad as it sounds, it was really cool to go into the ventilation tunnel and go and look down on the Northern Line platforms all while nobody below knew I was there... [ATTACH]51936[/ATTACH]Nothing sad about that... Having done that tour I know exactly what you mean! Enjoy the others you have booked. 1
tg12 Posted January 27, 2019 Posted January 27, 2019 Nothing sad about that... Having done that tour I know exactly what you mean! Enjoy the others you have booked. It’s great, isn’t it? I’m sorely tempted to do this tour again if I get a chance, it was really enjoyable. Aldwych next month, which the tour guides said is always the hardest to get tickets for. Rather excited for that one!
elsiegee40 Posted March 9, 2019 Author Posted March 9, 2019 (edited) So... starting this thread has been a bit of a fudge, but it seems that several of us enjoy this type of tour so I thought I’d try to collect them all in one place. I am sure they exist outside London too so tell us about ‘em! For example the London Transport Museum’s Hidden London tours https://www.lot museum.co.uk/whats-on/hidden-london Let thread merging begin! Having already done Down Street, 55 Broadway, Euston and Clapham South, today we visited Aldwych. Best tour guide yet. Really enjoyed the trip. Tickets are back on sale now. We have rebooked Charing Cross which I was unfit for last month and also booked Highgate to complete the set There’s an Open Weekend at the Acton Depot where they store 90% of the museum’s artefacts on April 27/28 which might be worth a visit too https://www.ltmuseum.co.uk/whats-on/museum-depot/open-weekends Edited March 9, 2019 by elsiegee40
elsiegee40 Posted March 10, 2019 Author Posted March 10, 2019 Some more that we have been on that may interest others: Mail train ( the postal museum on the other side of the road is interesting too) https://www.postalmuseum.org/discover/attractions/mail-rail-ride/# The Old Operating Theatre and Herb Garret (in the roof of a church right next to London Bridge Station) http://oldoperatingtheatre.com/ The Globe Theatre. If you are a member, there’s a special tour that goes even further behind the scenes. https://www.shakespearesglobe.com/whats-on-2018/guided-tours-and-exhibition Denis Sever’s House (near Spitalfields) - a house from the 1700s with the interior intact https://www.dennissevershouse.co.uk/
tg12 Posted March 10, 2019 Posted March 10, 2019 Can recommend Mail Rail! Not great if you’re not good with small spaces but it’s really fascinating. Wish it was longer! 1
elsiegee40 Posted July 15, 2019 Author Posted July 15, 2019 There’s a new Hidden London tour of Piccadilly Circus with the first tickets due on sale imminently https://www.ltmuseum.co.uk/whats-on/hidden-london/piccadilly# We went on the Highgate tour on Wednesday and were told that more new tours are in the pipeline with launch anticipated for this autumn and winter. 2
tg12 Posted July 16, 2019 Posted July 16, 2019 I'll add for the benefit of anyone reading this thread that if you're at all interested in the Hidden London events, or the London Transport Museum depot, well worth getting yourself on the mailing list for their newsletter! As well as obviously getting updates on new tours etc, you usually get to book tickets ahead of the actual release date. 1
elsiegee40 Posted September 22, 2019 Author Posted September 22, 2019 Yesterday we took advantage of Open House London to see lots of places free of charge. TfL did tours of South Kensington tube station to explain the changes and see the disused bits. Hidden London tours are better in my opinion, but it was interesting nonetheless (and free) We also did the paid for Hidden London Piccadilly Circus tour yesterday which was very good. Hidden London has now added two architecture tours to its offer https://www.ltmuseum.co.uk/whats-on/hidden-london/station-architecture-tours 1
elsiegee40 Posted August 28, 2020 Author Posted August 28, 2020 Hidden London is starting virtual tours of places they would never be able to do as a physical tour. We have just done both Brompton Road and King William St/Bank extension. I personally preferred the latter, but they were both interesting https://www.ltmuseum.co.uk/whats-on/hidden-london/virtual-tours 1
MrFlibble Posted August 29, 2020 Posted August 29, 2020 Hidden London is starting virtual tours of places they would never be able to do as a physical tour. We have just done both Brompton Road and King William St/Bank extension. I personally preferred the latter, but they were both interesting It's not true to say it would never be possible; I've visited Brompton Road station! Not accessible to the masses is a different matter.
elsiegee40 Posted August 30, 2020 Author Posted August 30, 2020 (edited) It's not true to say it would never be possible; I've visited Brompton Road station! Not accessible to the masses is a different matter. Seeing as you are being a pedant: It’s not true that I said “it would never be possible.” I said “they” (as in Hidden London) would never be able to do a physical tour. My statement is completely accurate even without what I am about to say next. I did both tours last week and learned: - the recent purchase of a large chunk of Brompton Road by some oligarch for purposes unknown means archive material has to be used to see parts of the former station for this virtual tour. - King William Street has been cut through by the current Bank extension works so part of that has been destroyed. You were very lucky to be able to visit one of these stations when you did. Edited August 30, 2020 by elsiegee40
tg12 Posted August 30, 2020 Posted August 30, 2020 Did the open day at London Transport Museum’s Acton depot with @BKGarry yesterday. Fascinating and definitely want to go back! 1
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