Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Turkmenistan Gates of Hell Darvaza crater
Turkmenistan • 10 days, 9 nights
Turkmenistan & the Gates of Hell
from
Slovenia mushroom foraging
Slovenia • 6 days, 5 nights
Forest to Table in Alpine Slovenia
from
View all trips
Loading...
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
A slice of cake is the perfect coda to a meal at Piatto Romano.
Piatto Romano
Crunchy and supremely satisfying, suppli might be the ultimate street food snack.
Supplizio
The pedigreed pistachios here are from Bronte.
Gelateria dei Gracchi
This tiny hole-in-the-wall serves one of the world’s most magnificent sandwiches.
Er Buchetto
Seafood features prominently on the menu.
Dakar NOLA
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United Kingdom England London Aldwych Tube Station
AO Edited

Aldwych Tube Station

This Underground station has been a popular filming location for decades, even before it closed.

London, England

Added By
Fred Cherrygarden
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
The station entrance/exit on Surrey Street.   Inselmann/CC BY-SA 3.0
The station entrance/exit on Surrey Street.   Inselmann/CC BY-SA 3.0
Aldwych station’s roundel, 2014.   Steve Brown/CC BY-ND 2.0
Old advertisements at Aldwych station.   Steve Brown/CC BY-ND 2.0
The disused platform of Aldwych Station, 2011.   Harry Metcalfe/CC BY 2.0
The tube station used as a shelter during the Blitz in 1940.   Unknown/Imperial War Museums/Public Domain
Aldwych shortly before its closure on 30 September 1994.   Phillip P/CC BY-SA 2.0
Strand Station Entrance   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  rbenn250 / Atlas Obscura User
Side entrance   jooniur / Atlas Obscura User
Who are you gonna call ?   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Arguably one of the most famous closed underground stations in London, Aldwych was originally opened in 1907 as Strand station. Construction of the station began in 1905 and the building that once stood here was the Royal Strand Theatre. The red-tiled frontage was the trademark of the young architect Leslie Green (1875-1908), who was responsible for this iconic material being used on over a dozen Tube Stations. It served as the terminus of the short Piccadilly line branch from Holborn. 

Passenger numbers were very low from the 1920s on, and along with the branch it was considered for closure from time to time. During the both World War I and World War II, the empty parts of the station and its tunnels were used to shelter artwork from London's public galleries and museums (including the famous Elgin marbles) and the general public from the Blitz bombing.

Service was offered only during weekday peak hours from 1962, and thanks to it the station was often used as a film set. In 1994, the station was finally decommissioned, when it was considered too expensive to replace the lifts, compared to the income it generated. Its use in film production did not cease when the station was closed for good. Some of the films shot here include Superman IV (1986), The Patriot Games (1992), V for Vendetta (2006), Atonement (2007), Fast & Furious 6 (2013), and Darkest Hour (2017), among others. Fans of the television series Sherlock may also recognise it as the fictional "Sumatra Road" station.

The station also appeared in a 2002 episode of the paranormal reality show Most Haunted, as some say it's haunted by a number of spirits.

Related Tags

Train Stations Underground Subterranean Film Locations Subways

Know Before You Go

The station can be visited in some of the "Hidden London" tours held by London Transport Museum.

A smaller entrance facade can be located on The Strand, around the corner.

Community Contributors

Added By

Fred Cherrygarden

Edited By

SEANETTA, Monsieur Mictlan, rbenn250, jooniur

  • SEANETTA
  • Monsieur Mictlan
  • rbenn250
  • jooniur

Published

May 9, 2020

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aldwych_tube_station
  • https://britmovietours.com/bookings/aldwych-strand-station-tour/
  • https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/enrich-the-list/leslie-green/?fbclid=IwAR2TAFhmiJHhgWnaFTIcS6wToKkxeh1RXhNBmEN1lhIliQlS6m_CXOGMCtY
Aldwych Tube Station
35 Surrey St
London, England, WC2R 2ND
United Kingdom
51.51204, -0.115666
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Strand Lane 'Roman Baths'

London, England

miles away

The Deadhouse

London, England

miles away

Twinings Tea Shop

London, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of London

London

England

Places 536
Stories 108

Nearby Places

Strand Lane 'Roman Baths'

London, England

miles away

The Deadhouse

London, England

miles away

Twinings Tea Shop

London, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of London

London

England

Places 536
Stories 108

Related Stories and Lists

The Ultimate Guide to Stunning, Surprising, or Hidden Filming Locations

List

By Michelle Cassidy

Related Places

  • Naples, Italy

    Stazione Neapolis

    A special area of the National Archaeological Museum of Naples is located inside a metro station.

  • The room that was previously part of the subway tunnel.

    Brooklyn, New York

    Le Boudoir

    Just your average Marie Antoinette–themed speakeasy in an abandoned 19th-century subway tunnel.

  • Radio booth.

    Mexico City, Mexico

    Museo de la Radio (Radio Museum)

    A Mexico City subway station boasts a hidden museum, complete with a working radio booth.

  • London logo with Mexico City train.

    Mexico City, Mexico

    Metro Auditorio

    This Mexico City subway station will make you feel like you've been transported to the London Underground.

  • Old driver’s uniform.

    Mexico City, Mexico

    Museo del Metro (Metro Museum)

    This underground museum highlights the history of Mexico City's subway system.

  • Crystal Palace Subway.

    London, England

    Crystal Palace Subway

    A relic of Victorian grandeur hides beneath a busy South London road.

  • Covent Garden labyrinth.

    London, England

    London Underground Labyrinths

    A labyrinth hides in plain sight at each of the city's 270 Tube stations.

  • Section of the sewer.

    Madrid, Spain

    Caños del Peral Archaeological Museum

    This small museum tucked within a subway station holds pieces from Madrid's past.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.