Earl's Court | Hidden London Hangouts (S08E01)
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- Опубликовано: 8 сен 2024
- The team return with an exploration of a busy station with a long history and plenty of hidden gems in both public and secret areas. Once the home of the busiest exhibition centre of London, the station has seen many rebuilds and reuses, revealed through a wealth of photos and posters in our collection.
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Earls Court 2 was accessed from Lillie Road, at the South end of the site, opposite West Brompton station.
The Exhibition subway was rarely open when major events were on in later years - hence the posters dating back to 2003 despite the Exhibition Centre not closing until 2014, as it wasn't integrated into the main foyer area of the Exhibition Centre. Instead, it was accessed via the basement, which was why the preferred route from the station was via the Warwick Road exit and crossing the road at street level.
I lived in EARLS COURT for years this is my favourite station of all time
Me too between 1983 and 1985, be nice having the team back again.
@@jacksugden8190Earls Court Mansions too I was one of Mike Arlen guys too …. It’s changed so much last time I was there
When I visited this station with my family in 1971, I recall old lifts with gates still being in use.
Love Earl’s Court station. I remember going down the spiral staircase to the Piccadilly line the one you showed and I dropped my mobile phone down the stairs. Luckily it still worked when I got further down great to have you all back and a great start to series 8 love the old looking escalators
Always walk down the spiral staircase.
So pleased you have you all back for series 8. I think I shocked my neighbours when I yelled out “Aldwych” when I saw the poster in the tunnel 😊
I'd forgotten how much I'd missed you guys.
That was an epic episode.
I remember going through the old entrance to the exhibition to the arena with turn styles
So it turns out that Secrets of the London Underground was just the gateway drug to the hangouts. Who knew we would spend afternoons shouting “cut and cover” and “Leslie Green” at the TV! Great to have you back and keep up the good work! 😊
YAYYYY! We are the series Sherpas so Siddles knows the locations. Doubtless Earls Court will be on the next series of SOTLU
Very pleased that we're still getting the key and the secret reference from Alex! We even got it twice this episode. I'll never get bored of it 😂
That song haunts me 😉
Welcome back Alex, Siddy, Chris and Laura. So good to see you all back. Didn't Earls Court have the first ever escalators on the underground. This station looks so good. One of my favourites. The best first eposide of the series.
Well well well welcome back you guys
Great to have you back!
Back in the mid '80s used to change trains at Earl's Court on my way to/from college. Would always ponder how complex the track layout was for the District as the different branches were ducking and diving under one another. I guess it’s a similar complexity to Camden Town on the Northern. Did one time get stuck in a train for a bit that failed on the approaches - I vaguely remember strange raspberry noises as the train stopped, followed by the driver coming back down the train looking under panels in the floor.
My most abiding memory is, however, the station announcer in the mornings… there was just something about the way he said, 'Gloucester Road, South Kensington, Sloane Square' that always put me in mind of Parker from Thunderbirds.
Christmas has arrived early! Made me a happy bunny. Welcome back guys.
One word: epic.
Many thanks for this which brought back memories, From the 50s to the 90s I lived in that part of London and often used the now abandoned tunnels to exhibitions at Earl's Court.
And your early comment on steam trains was not far wrong. In the 50s and early 60s I recall I would quite often see a steam (usually a Midland Region tank) freight train with goods/coal/empty wagons on late evenings passiing through en route to/from a store sidings (?Pontings) accessed via a shunt from Platform 4 at High St Kensington. The sidings and yard are now long demolished and on part of their site is now a hotel.
Saturday nights have become special again - Series 8 !!
What a return, smashed it! Looking forward to the rest of series 8.
Ps the staricase? Mint choc chip!
You guys are the best. It's like chatting with your friends around the fire :)
What a start, spent so much time at Earl's Court during the early 90s, travelling from Ealing Common. Both stations have a special place in my heart. Also, Kew Garden and Richmond, two other station I spent far too much time at due to a change of employment. Would love to see these covered, if anything interesting is behind the scenes? So great to have you back, what a team, warm, friendly, and like chatting with mates over a cuppa or pint.
Great story as always. Missing London and its transit, from Ottawa, Canada!
A simply amazing episode!!
I think it was around 40 years ago that I last used Earls Court station. Then, there were no raised & glazed steel corridors.
Also, I commuted to School in the 1960's, from London Bridge to Old Street. To start with, there were only the Otis manually-gated lifts to the Northern Line. I used to stop off on the way to school to watch the excavations for the first of the escalators.
I remember using that tunnel to Earls Court.
I knew you were coming on, but I buggered up my timing and joined you at 50 minutes in!
That was a trip down memory lane - I remember using that tunnel for several exhibitions - ideal home exhibition, boatshows, motor shows (80’s and early 90’s). Also, used the station when involved with the sale of a telephone exchange building nearby - 2004? I missed you earlier in the year (July) on my first trip back to the UK in over 12 years … where were you?
Great episode - looking forward to seeing more (how about high gate, high level or any of the other northern heights stations that either never made it (eg Elstree) or those that closed (eg Alexandra Palace)?
Keep it up❤
Life is back to normal! Welcome back guys. A great episode to start series 8. Keep up the fabulous work.
Very glad to have all of you back in my online life.
This station tour was incredible- thank you so much ❤
Fascinating start to a new series. Welcome back to the Famous Four( need dog to upgrade to Five). Can't wait for more.
We’ll bring the bitch next time x
Not sure how long that passage to the Exhibition centre has been closed, but I remember using that passageway to get to the Royal Tournament and other events. That would have a cardboard ticket bwtween two specific stations.
Life is good! The gang is back! ❤
Great to have you back, especially as you are starting at the first underground station I ever used - April 1968.
Ohhh you read my message! That was so lovely! And Siddy, our underground is not as interesting, but we do have other nice spots. I can be a good guide if you need one ;)
Also, I remember going to see Duran Duran in the Exhibition Centre in 2005 and loved going out of the station and seeing the big marquee with the name of the band. Pity that all of it is gone!
Its so lovely to have the fab4 back again and wow just wow what an episide to come back to that was poster heven in the disused corridor and the escaltors well thank you so much for continuing and look forward to amazing content coming up
Thank you for a fantastic first episode of series eight, from the other side of the world in Sydney. I got to visit a brand new Sydney Metro railway station in the past few days called Waterloo, that is part of a new rail network. It will open mid next year, including a new tunnel under Sydney Harbour. A great contrast from the old to the new. Cheers, Jim
That was totally fascinating. I don't understand why they demolished the Earl's Court centre in 2017 and still nothing being built on it. I used to go to the Ideal Home exhibition as well as seeing a few live acts there.
first covid, then all the problem with the economy
Groundworks have been a challenge. They used Europe's largest mobile crane to yank out hundreds of pile foundations from the exhibition halls. If only they could have just dug down...
@@goodwood-rc4nx Covid lockdown was in 2020. Earls Court Exhibition Centre was demolished in 2017. So you can’t use that as an excuse really.
@@JP_TaVeryMuch you’d think with all the technology available, they would have known that, so that doesn’t sound like a plausible reason/ excuse.
@@groovydonkey Sorry, I didn't explain it well enough. What I meant was that it was so complicated because of the trackwork all around and tunnels that it was decided to carefully hoik out each support column.
When was the last time any of us heard or even thought of a crane's power being used not to raise and lower things in the air but to pull them out of the ground like a corkscrew?
Complicated because of the risk of ground collapse, slewing and settlement, it had to be carefully and calmly carried out at considerable cost and over a good deal of time.
I used to work for Powerlink and it would be fantastic to see an episode on some of the Substations around the network; they are marvellous places. This might date me a tad, but the last time I was at Earl's Court, the exhibition centre was still there...as was the depot, which is where I did my PTS! I Look forward to many more interesting episodes, innuendos and Bovril posters!
Brilliant episode brought back memories of visiting exhibition many years ago. So glad returned for another series and extra special when all together chatting at end video.
Very glad you are back. Loved it. Earls Court has great significance for my wife and I. We often went in the pub you mentioned and hung out there a lot. So it was great to see all the secrets. Your enthusiasm for the subject matter is inspiring and you are so obviously firm friends. Just a joy from start to finish.
Nice to see you guys back out on the hunt for all the disused and off limits areas. Once again, thx for sharing it with the rest of us.
Thank you once again for brightening my Saturday evening, love these episodes and genuinely missed them.
Look forward to the next one
Welcome back Guys, have missed you over the summer. Must say the episode brought back many pleasant memories of my visits to the Smithfield Show at the Earl's Court Exhibition in the first week of December during the 1970/80/90's and the walks down that long subway to the escalators. Keep up the good work.
All the times I have been to Earl's Court from Turnpike Lane for gigs, Ideal Home Exhibitions, Royal Tournaments and other stuff, I don't remember ever going through that tunnel.
Earls Court Tube Station is my favourite station
I know is a good place to visit in Essex and that is Mangapps railway museum in Burnham on Crouch in Essex . As it has the tube stock that was used in the film darkest hour and the other piece is an old 1950's district Line Coach.
Brilliant video for your first one of the series, I like how Alex thought of food when describing the colour of the tiles. Really loved the posters in the exhibition corridor and the escalators looked fab, pity it was modernised to metal from the wood. Great to see you again, have missed you all and it is good to have you back.
One-track mind. Well, two….
Wonderful episode, the 1st one from series 8. Thank you very much. I am looking forward to the next one!!
Welcome back- missed you all!
Brought back some memories of using that passageway and escalator’s to the former Exhibition Centre that closed in 2008, not 2005 as Chris had pointed out, I remember the centre perfectly, had a section that could be flooded for boats, of which had seen it use, I saw an LBC stand there, think it was for new cars on show on show, although I hadn’t seen the old centre for years, gathered that the building still stood.
Yayyyyyyyyyy Your back. great to see you all have missed your videos, 👍👍👍
Welcome back, Guys. A super explore to start the new series. Thanks for sharing🙂👍
Welcome back. This is the first I have seen "real time" as I just recently discovered your channel. As a Canadian (Parents were from North London) I find this history fascinating.
Off to catch up on the past videos....
Stayed just of the main on our vacation..great place
Re-watched this again as I've just come back from a long weekend in London. I was staying near to West Brompton station, five minutes from Earls Court. Fascinating to see the posters (the number 74 bus is still running!) and the gorgeous aerial photos of the Warwick Road entrance which I used so much! Thank you all for another wonderful Hangout!
Yaaaay, it's back!! Hi guys. Welcome back, I've missed you all.
Yes you’re back, I’ve really missed you!! 😸💜💜💜
Great to see you all back for more fascinating footage and a great look into the past.
“I don’t do this alone” is definitely my favourite catchphrase!
Excellent
Excellent
Excellent
Thanks guys
Fab to see you all back! :)
We wouldn't be able to use the Underground without electricity. Something on Lotts Road and how power is maintained and used might be good.
YES! Original plan is to play with cranes at Greenwich power station but leave it with us x
I'm happy to see a new episode of London Hangouts, good to see you again ! 👍
Awesome to see you guys back. Much love from Perth, Western Australia.
PS: I loved this episode. What a way to start a new series!
Welcome back. Absolutely missed you all. Love the series. I'm actually doing the Hidden London tour of Baker Street on 8th November and looking forward to it.
Those spiral stairs if open I'm going to use it I've been past on Earl's court for 14 years omg thanks team #
Welcome back. Missed you
good to see u 4 again chur from new zealand
My Grandad was chief electrician at Earl's Court in the 50's and 60's
What a return. I loved this episode, format, the "secrets" the old photo's, the chat. Loved it loved it loved it :)
Quick Q : The disused exit where the "even ghosts need tickets" memo was, where would the entrance/exit have been for that on the surface? Was it inside the exhibition hall, or now a flattened doorway on the other side of Warwick Road?
Inside
What a great station to start series eight with. Keep up the good work . Can't wait to see what you find next.
Thank goodness you're back, I was going frantic wondering when I'd see you again! And with a really good episode too!
The control rooms for the Piccadilly line and District lines used to be in the circular area directly above the rotuna on the Exhibition side.
the wheel in poster for the commercial motor show looks like a bus wheel (thought route master until you said date of poster)
Brilliant Brilliant
Awesome, might be worth getting a notice out on FB though as I know some missed it
Hiya! There was one!
Really enjoyed Earls Court
Great to have you back guys. Wow that tunnel!
That passageway with escalators at the westernmost end ist still shown as open to the public on the 3D-map on ianVisits
Well done to Chris for surprising the team with the amazing reveal.
Welcome back, guys. One of my favourite stations. The clock's been stood up. LOL. Learned a lot today. Including the devestating news that Earl's Court is no more. Many amazing memories there. A great start to the new series. Looking forward to the next episode.
Excellent news, it's been a long time!
Welcome back guys. Hopefully will bump into you again. Earls Court was brilliant, the old photos were great. 😊
Too many years of knowing Earls Court , spent 5 years at the youth hostel . Still remember the pedestrian walk way when I saw supertramp would love to know where the other tunnels under the exhibition centre whent
Hurrah! You're back!
Can you guys redo the explorations of the previous hidden underground stations during the pandemic in the form of video tour? It will be fantastic to see them in video tour!
WELL….. YOU can do them yourself because series 1 is pretty much all the Hidden London tour sites! But at some point we’ll hop back
Thanks man !@@alexgrundon2346
In series eight you have to get to the Epping Ongar Railway, can’t believe you haven’t gotten there yet!
We’re just waiting for an invite, he quipped cheekily….
Well what a great episode. The surprise of seeing the old passageway and the lifts to the Exhibition Centre was a great treat to see. A pleasure as always to watch the fab 4 enjoying there work.
It is great to have you all back. I have wondered around Earl's Court station on a number of occasions when on my way to the tennis at Wimbledon, so to see some of those hidden areas was great.
Wow its so good to see the old earls court tube and escalator's last time i went down that way would of been for the last Royal Tournament I have always wondered why areas like that are still lit up and powered up even though nothing really uses those areas anymore Great vid as always
That long pedestrian tunnel would make good temporary accommodation for street sleepers.
I remember going to Earl's Court and using the escalators that come up under the exhibition centre. Never managed to find my way back to them when leaving.
Sorry guys at 🤣5:12 I had to run and get a custard cream as the mention of biscuits got me salavating! 😂 and then Laura even mentioned them later on!
I do remember seeing Met 1 passing through Earl's Court Station when London Underground celebrated the 150th anniversary of the Metropolitan Line back in 2013 as it was one of the locations I remember seeing it. But Earl's Court is a lovely station and impressed with the hidden areas, especially the passage way to the former Earls Court Exhibition Centre, great video.
6:23 All those branches just out of reach, Laura.
I do love your asides and their take on reality.
Two lines!
Loved the tunnel to the exhibition hall. I used to go to Motor Shows in the late 50's so I probably used it.
So great you are all back. Was getting worried ❤️😊
Having left London in 2017 , I haven’t been on the tube since, but I did go to the royal tournament as a child, certainly remember going to events there heading over from either Highgate’s or Finsbury Park, Crouch End being station free.
Great video
35:35 Damn it with faint praise wny don't ya Siddy?
All that bronze copper wonderful feeling of solidify with enough pretty bits to show that
Really missed you all. It's good to have you back. I can't wait to see the next episode.
Have certainly missed you guys. Loved this explore. I recall using those wooden escalators in the Tube during my school trip in March 1974! 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦❤❤❤❤❤
Welcome back team.
The staircase tiles give me pistachio and nougat vibes.
Although I concur with "mint". I've got the taste of mint ice-cream, with chocolate (rather than nougat) bits, looking at them.
I’m thinking cooking apple watercolour paint now
@@alexgrundon2346 🤔
Just a brilliant episode. Thank you all and glad you’re back with us. 😊
83 steps: that's four (72 st.) to five storeys (90 st.), 12.24 to 15.30 metres deep. Although, technically deeper yet, as the staircase (and -counting) starts on the upper platform below street level.