Attention all Hidden London Hangouts fans! Want to meet the team in person? We will be hosting a live Hidden London Hangouts on 11 August 2023 at the London Transport Museum - Learn more and book your tickets here: tinyurl.com/47mhmabt
I love the hidden things from Lambeth North, a station I've known since as long as I can remember, my Mothers parents lived in Campbell Buildings, just down Baylis Road to the right in Frazier Street, up until the late 1970's when my 'Granny' was moved down Kennington Road to Lollard Street for her final few years. But it's Lambeth North that I remember most and the scary (to me as a child) lifts that you could see the lift shaft walls through the latticework gates. It was the end to a very interesting and involved journey that I can still vividly remember almost 60 years later!
Thanks so much for your video's they are much appreciated by myself. I am a Londoner but I live in Canada and have done so for many years. I came here in 1966 from Walthamstow. I live close to London Ontario with so many familiar names including Lambeth/Cheapside and the River Thames. Thanks once again for the great video's.
Wow, I have now discovered these series after being a Secrets or the London Underground. Now I need to watch as much as I can! Good stuff indeed! Thanks from Valencia, Spain.
My grandparents sheltered in Lambeth north station every night during the blitz in world war two and I can remember using this station to visit them in the 1950's and 1960's thank you so much for bringing back memories 😊
Sunday afternoon here in Australia, and I just cracked open a bottle of red and settled down to see what was on RUclips. When, oh yes indeedy, it's my absolutely favourite web series - Hidden London Hangouts! Love your work, team!
Hello team! I grew up in Kenton, half way between Kenton and the Kingsbury Bakerloo stations. At age 15 to 18 years old in 1949, as an apprentice draftsman-person(?!), I mostly used Kingsbury with the 1938 stock, and changed at Charing Cross for the Inner Circle line connection. Ocassionally a noisy old 1923 train would come along! It was always a mystery to me what was going on behind the scenes for the wartime repairs, and upgrades. Your wonderful video series has been quite delightful !! Thank you for your fine efforts. I send good wishes and the best of health to everyone. Rodney Maennling Duncan Vancouver Island BC Canada
Argh, I never got a notification! No matter. What a cracking episode. I absolutely adored the original tiles. The plain green and acanthus, and the oldy goldy caramely mustard and midnight blue on the spiral staircase. Why oh why would any have been removed and replaced with bathroom type tiles is beyond me, as is the destruction of the original name, as we see those in so many other stations. The newer tiles that were more in keeping in shape and slightly less uniform in shade were okay as long as you didn't look too closely. The original bit of the lift above the doors...that would be amazing if you could somehow get that in to the museum. An excellent tour to round off S7, and lovely to have the original format mixed in where you record from home. So glad to have found you, not quite at the beginning(though I binge-watched everything you'd done up to that point), and it's really kicked off what had always been an interest in trains/railways but is now quite a passion! Better get over to Patreon and see what I've missed. Thank you all, and here's to S8.
What a gem this station keeps turning out, just like the previous episodes. Especially the staircase with its different tilings, all the versions next to each other.
Oh the fatty owls moment was fabulous. I think this is the best ever hidden London hangouts ever. Just full of stuff which we all like. From one Alex to another keep doing your stuff. Many thanks to all of the team xxx
Hi guys. I’m a fan from Perth, Western Australia. I became a fan of the tube in general, after my wife and I spent three weeks on holidays in London July 2022. I loved using the tube to get around London. After that trip, I began searching RUclips for information about the tube and it’s history. As a result, I found your channel and Jago Hazard’s channel. I always look forward to new videos from both channels.
LOL Alex. You had all of my fav scenes from Are You Being Served, Fawlty Towers and Keeping Up Appearances running through my head. Don’t get me started because I can’t stop. I grew up on 70s and 80s British sitcoms, all the way over here in Chicago. I’m a history nut, especially Chicago, Illinois and US rail history, so I can’t get enough of your show. Cheers to all. - Chicago Tim
Fascinating mix of gorgeous original and decrepitude! Interesting to see the lift grilles bricked up in-situ. I wonder how many more survive hidden like that? The LTM sold a load of those grilles in 1994 - I remember the table with several on it after going to the last open day at Aldwych. I was delighted to see the original grills at Regent's Park, carefully fitted to the wall over the new lifts! Shame that more didn't get that treatment. At least some had brass numbers, and look gorgeous restored, but most that survive have a century's worth of paint layers.
Really enjoyed Series 7, haven't been able to watch as many live but always catch up. Loved the tiles but you could have done with an Alex wet wipe in the depths. Fingers crossed there's a Series 8. Thanks guys x
I've always loved Russell Square station, always use it when staying in the area. Ever thought of featuring it? Might not have much to explore given it missed the escalator additions. Always slightly creeped out by it too after seeing it featured in the film, Death Line, when I was younger. Love your work, guys!
Hello from across The Pond, here in the good ole USA. I stumbled across your channel earlier this year and have thoroughly enjoyed catching up on your past episodes. I spent a short amount of time in the UK back in the mid 90's and fell in love with your country so learning about the history of The London Underground has been fascinating. I look forward to your next season!
What a fantastic episode and so sad it's the last of series. With all the Are You Being Served? And the Fawlty Towers (Farty Owls) references. Hi from Sydney, Australia. I stumbled across the series only a few months ago. Cheers
Thank so much for keeping this gem until last & for another wonderful series. Already getting excited for what’s to come in series 8. Have a lovely summer team
great to see another video :) I did two of the tours this week (Charing Cross and Shepherd's Bush), had a really good day out apart from my old school film camera breaking part way through the first tour (typical). However I really enjoyed the tours, many thanks to those who led the tours and to the whole team who plan and host these events. I hope to more later on this year. Thanks again for all you guys do both in real life and on these streams, keep up the good work, Jonny
Shepherds Bush is an awesome tour, that’s the first one we did, but we hadn’t watched these hangouts before then. Next time we’ll know a lot more details to look out for!
My first time posting here :) Well done guys.... I was wondering about Lambeth North. The history of it was fascinating for me, as I used to use that station every day to go to school. The only time I would use the lift was going up! It was so much more fun to leg it down the stairs at top speed, charge down the tunnel and race the southbound train to the end! There were a few perplexed drivers seeing me overtake them near the end :) The tour of the out of public sight parts was amazing to see. Thank you all for your efforts in opening up a whole new world under the London streets :) All the best xx
Having read several wartime diaries and accounts I can honestly state that you would have definitely heard the sounds the exploding bombs and even the sounds the anti aircraft guns and even as far below ground as some of the deep-level lines you would have felt the the vibrations many people fled to the underground lines during air raids for shelter but they weren't always the safest places Ps I absolutely loved the references to Fawlty towers, Are you being served and keeping up appearances thank you again for another brilliant episode and of course series xx love you all xx
Another brilliant episode and fantastic series. Can't wait for series 8. We need more classic British TV references to make us chuckle 😅. Keep up the great work guys. 😊
Another fabulous explore, can't believe it's up to Series 7! Looking forward to more exciting tours, surprises and explores in Series 8. Thanks Fab 4, enjoy the summer break.
@-17:02 RE: Building to the right of station entrance: Looks like a 'sub-station'. I have to wonder if that's what the tunnel connecting to the Northern Line is primarily for? Finding that tunnel was 'dirty icing on the cake'. That was beyond interesting! I'd certainly venture down the ladder to explore that.
I think your right. There is a Lambeth substation on the Northern and there would be a link tunnel for engineers and cables to connect to the Northern line. Same thing occurs at Manor House for the Victoria line
Another great visit I’m loving Alex’s hopefully self tasked challenge to name drop as many classic British TV shows during the conclusion I hope there will be more adventures but until then I’m off out with the Nagg and waggon while crying Hi-Di-hi until next season.. we’ll meet again
Thanks for another great video, especially the sneaky peak behind the lift shafts - amazing that it's still there. Thanks also for the entire series and all of the work that you put into making these videos for others to see parts of the underground that the public never sees or even knows that it exists. Being that I'm on the other side of the world from you (Brisbane), it's great to see parts of London, and especially the tube that I remember from years past when I lived there. Enjoy your break and bring on series 8!
Thank you, guys, and gals for taking us to places hidden away from public view. It's an amazing place down there, full of little gems that that you manage to dig out and share you us all. Looking forward to the next series. Thank you.
Wow, that was a surprise. I don't know why, but it was unexpected and off the charts. Thanks for an amazing season 7. I absolutely love HLH and I wish I'd found it during lockdown and not some time later. No matter, I can't wait for season 8. Alex mentioned a comment from Napier Nimbus. There's a connection there to the Finsbury Park episode, if you are familiar with the British Rail locomotive maintenance depot that was next door, closed in the early 80s and it's allocation of 'Deltic' locos. Nimbus was the name of D9020/55020.
Great episode. Walked through those tunnels to the exhibition centre a few times. They used to hold the Daily Express London boat show there every year. How ? Earls Court EC hid a full sized swimming pool under its decking. Built for the Olympics but never used as they mucked up the measurements.
The grilles at the top of the lift doorways look delicious. The Art Noveau of the Acanthus tiles & those grilles. You better have have some of them in the museum. But seeing them still in place..........
Very interesting! So when they extended the Hampstead tube (Northern line) southward to join the CSLR at Kennington in 1926, it ran directly below Lambeth North (along the line of Kennington Road?) and they decided Lambeth North didn't generate enough traffic and Waterloo provided interchange between the two lines, so there was no need to stop there, but they still built a connecting tunnel for ventilation (or maybe for emergency access, or engineering purposes?). Then, presumably in 1939, a floodgate was installed in the connecting tunnel to prevent any untoward water getting between the two lines at Lambeth North, despite both lines having floodgates at Waterloo, which is nearer the river. I wonder what the story was there?
From Lambeth North, it is a short walk, via Upper Marsh, to St. Thomas's Hospital. The contrast with using Wetminter Tube station and walking across the over-crowded bridge could not be more stark. 👍
Fantastic series, can’t wait for the next series. Looking forward to my Baker Street hidden london in September. Btw Charles Holden is opposite Colliers Wood Station. Unless there is another pub with sane name at Tooting Bec
Oh no! Not the final episode of the series! What am I going to do with myself for the rest of the summer? I hope you're back before too long. PS I do like those tiles - of all the names you came up with I think caramel is probably the best for the so-called "gold" one.
Thank you for yet another amazing series, learnt so much from the 4 of you, i hope to take a tour one day soon, I also plan to visit the depot in Acton (if it’s possible) I visit the museum every time I come to London more so soon as we welcome our first child into the world next month. Already looking forward to educating them on Underground History on those sleepless nights 😂 we will be revisiting all the previous episodes Looking forward to the next series 🙂
Fascinated by the tunnel linking the lines. Given the age of the gate, it had to be the Northern line, but the engineering on the link looked really clean. It just seems to be an odd linkage - more story perhaps? I may be remembering wrong, but I have a memory of a signal box forming a linkage between two lines in Central London? Or is that linkage down at the Elephant and Castle end? Pretty sure it is somewhere in that area.
The signal box or cabin was in the room at 24:00 as Chris quite rightly states. It was unusual because signal cabins were normally installed on the platforms in a cross passage or room at the end. I never worked at Lambeth North as a signalman (Central Line only) but did visit the cabin out of interest when it was still in use circa 1988. It controlled a scissor or diamond crossover north of the station, plus a crossover which link to the tunnel up to London Road depot. Hope that answers your question.
Great, dear old Lambeth North which was very close to where my Nan & Grandad lived at nearby Elephant & Castle. The station's in an appalling state at platform level now sadly and has been neglected terribly for decades with peeling paint and exposed wiring everywhere. Hopefully your video will show this and shame TfL into giving it a long overdue refurb! Anyway, hopefully you'll be showing us some exciting hidey-holes we passengers don't get to see.
lived a very short walk (in kennington road) for many years until i moved around 1980, i know the station very well (but obviously not as well as now thanks to you all) thanks much appreciated
So as the Tube Train of destiny clears the tripcock of departure,it's time to bid fairwell,to our intrepid foursome for a short break, In the words of Young Mr.Grace Carry On you're all doing very well . Thanks All four of you guys it's been a marvellous series .
I work in one of the Northern Line stations and its great to learn of this hidden world from the neighbouring stations and lines. I do have a ‘tiles’ question that may have been asked before (sorry if im repeating it) ‘when you visit these stations, why are you not carefully removing a few perfect tiles for them to be preserved in the museum?’ they could to be used in a piece of artwork, If its artwork it could be done per line then, then put it on tour via each station or keep it in the museum. this would be another way of showing our stations history, acknowledging the designers (where known), showing off the amazing colours/details and also saying thank you to the men/women who have worked hard to lay each tile in the first place.
I know you’ll get a better reply from the curatorial team at the museum but basically, if it’s glued to the wall, it stays on the wall. If it falls off, it gets put into the museum stock. They’re so much more beautiful in situ for everyone to enjoy and maintain authenticity of stations. But when they fall off, we nab them for preservation 😉
Gutterscotch. That is very funny. It's disappointing that the preservation movement was started too late, because the replica tiles are revolting. Sorry to be out there, but that's my opinion. So sad that it's the last of the series. I am looking forward to when you all return very soon for another. Wherever you go, it'll be epic. All the best for the tours. I wish I could be there.
Looks to have been a hidden gem among the hidden hangouts. I have 50 year old memories of being driven past nigh on every other Saturday to pick up/drop off my grandfather at Waterloo. How intriguing that it connects to the Northern Line for ventilation but not people. I wonder if an interchange was ever (seriously) considered or if Lambeth North was too low flow even then for such a project. In many respects, it’s surprising it even stays open - the influence of the depot nearby? Never knew the depot existed till very recently - despite having lived not far away as a child. Great show, many thanks Team!
I used to travel to Lambeth North on my way to and from school in the late 1960s/early 1970s. I remember the old lifts well, although only two of them were working as I remember. Each door had a pole above it with an illuminated glass lamp that slid up and down to tell you where the lifts were. They were so slow that we could race them down the stairs with a 50/50 chance of winning. I got trapped in a stuck lift several times. The far ends of the platforms were always very damp and manky, often with water running down the walls, which is presumably why the tiles are falling off. There was the remains of a Kennington Road sign at the far end of the southbound platform, but even then it had almost vanished. On another note, in that photo of the trainee announcers the recorder isn't tape, it's an early wire recorder that recorded sound onto reels of thin steel wire. I've got a similar one stashed away in the attic somewhere.
I remember before the platforms were tiled in their current pattern, they just had light blue painted walls. Possibly a "temporary measure" that ended up lastibg a long time!!
Here’s a fun fact related to Lambeth North. When training for a senior signalman’s job on the Underground, one of the tasks a candidate had to do was draw signals where they should go on piece of paper with a track diagram. The diagram was an exact replica of the layout of Lambeth North. Needless to say, anyone that had ever worked at Lambeth North, always passed that section of the exam with flying colours! 😂
Thanks for another brilliant episode with very special tiles this time. The Northern Line link is intriguing. Ventilation? Potential future connection? Construction tunnel?
It’s actually a link from Lambeth substation to the Northern line. Although there is no Lambeth station on the Northern, it passes close enough so the substation can have the dual purpose of feeding power to both lines.
A station near me and one of my least liked on the Bakerloo - if it had escalators might improve. There is sufficient space for these at the side on Lillian Baylis Road which has a very wide public pavement because there had been a row of shops there before.
Doing the Lambeth WALK, where my old secondary school was! By the way, I dare you to take the last night train and walk up the stairs, on your own! Across the road, opposite the pub, there is a glass and concrete office block, lovely Glass fronted building BUT walk around the back, there are doors set back from the wall these were entrances to MI5!!!
84 steps, that equates to a fourt to five storey building (72 steps or 90 steps respectively). And with 17 cm per steps, this lies 14.28 metres below ground.
Attention all Hidden London Hangouts fans! Want to meet the team in person? We will be hosting a live Hidden London Hangouts on 11 August 2023 at the London Transport Museum - Learn more and book your tickets here: tinyurl.com/47mhmabt
whens the new season start
Where can I get the hidden London inserts for the roundel lights ?
I pleasured myself when I saw that Orange and Blue tiling…
49:15: exactly what happened to me ! Thanks for the exitement, curiosity and history you bring to my armchair traveling in Switzerland !
I love the hidden things from Lambeth North, a station I've known since as long as I can remember, my Mothers parents lived in Campbell Buildings, just down Baylis Road to the right in Frazier Street, up until the late 1970's when my 'Granny' was moved down Kennington Road to Lollard Street for her final few years. But it's Lambeth North that I remember most and the scary (to me as a child) lifts that you could see the lift shaft walls through the latticework gates. It was the end to a very interesting and involved journey that I can still vividly remember almost 60 years later!
“School for the gifted”. Excellent Far Side reference with Siddy pulling the push door.
Thing with Siddy is her humour can sometimes be so subtle she would do that just for the laugh
Thanks so much for your video's they are much appreciated by myself. I am a Londoner but I live in Canada and have done so for many years. I came here in 1966 from Walthamstow. I live close to London Ontario with so many familiar names including Lambeth/Cheapside and the River Thames.
Thanks once again for the great video's.
Great episode. I used to use Lambeth North to go to the Imperial War Museum
Seriously this is just quality viewing you all look as if you have so much fun.
thanks for series 7. looking forward to next series.
Wow, I have now discovered these series after being a Secrets or the London Underground. Now I need to watch as much as I can! Good stuff indeed! Thanks from Valencia, Spain.
My grandparents sheltered in Lambeth north station every night during the blitz in world war two and I can remember using this station to visit them in the 1950's and 1960's thank you so much for bringing back memories 😊
Sunday afternoon here in Australia, and I just cracked open a bottle of red and settled down to see what was on RUclips. When, oh yes indeedy, it's my absolutely favourite web series - Hidden London Hangouts! Love your work, team!
Great end to series 7 lots of gems and cant wait for series 8 well done team keep up the infomative work 😃 .
Hello team! I grew up in Kenton, half way between Kenton and the Kingsbury Bakerloo stations. At age 15 to 18 years old in 1949, as an apprentice draftsman-person(?!), I mostly used Kingsbury with the 1938 stock, and changed at Charing Cross for the Inner Circle line connection. Ocassionally a noisy old 1923 train would come along! It was always a mystery to me what was going on behind the scenes for the wartime repairs, and upgrades. Your wonderful video series has been quite delightful !!
Thank you for your fine efforts. I send good wishes and the best of health to everyone.
Rodney Maennling Duncan Vancouver Island BC Canada
Thanks Rodney, nice to hear from you.
Wow what a fantastic station, love the colours of the tiles. Can’t believe it’s the end of the series 😭, can’t wait for series 8🙌🙌
Argh, I never got a notification! No matter. What a cracking episode. I absolutely adored the original tiles. The plain green and acanthus, and the oldy goldy caramely mustard and midnight blue on the spiral staircase. Why oh why would any have been removed and replaced with bathroom type tiles is beyond me, as is the destruction of the original name, as we see those in so many other stations. The newer tiles that were more in keeping in shape and slightly less uniform in shade were okay as long as you didn't look too closely. The original bit of the lift above the doors...that would be amazing if you could somehow get that in to the museum. An excellent tour to round off S7, and lovely to have the original format mixed in where you record from home. So glad to have found you, not quite at the beginning(though I binge-watched everything you'd done up to that point), and it's really kicked off what had always been an interest in trains/railways but is now quite a passion! Better get over to Patreon and see what I've missed. Thank you all, and here's to S8.
What a gem this station keeps turning out, just like the previous episodes. Especially the staircase with its different tilings, all the versions next to each other.
Missed this live but love that we can watch them immediately after broadcast!
Hi team, thanks for a wonderful amazing S7, So love the Underground, it will be my life time hobby, roll on S8, love you all 💖
Oh the fatty owls moment was fabulous. I think this is the best ever hidden London hangouts ever. Just full of stuff which we all like. From one Alex to another keep doing your stuff. Many thanks to all of the team xxx
There was of course Flowery…..
Thanks for watching x
Cracking episode and looking forward to series 8! Series 8!!!!!!! Brilliant! Enjoy the break team. 👍
Hi guys. I’m a fan from Perth, Western Australia. I became a fan of the tube in general, after my wife and I spent three weeks on holidays in London July 2022. I loved using the tube to get around London. After that trip, I began searching RUclips for information about the tube and it’s history. As a result, I found your channel and Jago Hazard’s channel. I always look forward to new videos from both channels.
Could be the most beautiful station you have showed us. These tiles❤
LOL Alex. You had all of my fav scenes from Are You Being Served, Fawlty Towers and Keeping Up Appearances running through my head. Don’t get me started because I can’t stop. I grew up on 70s and 80s British sitcoms, all the way over here in Chicago. I’m a history nut, especially Chicago, Illinois and US rail history, so I can’t get enough of your show. Cheers to all. - Chicago Tim
Another treasure! Well done again. Looking forward to series 8
Fascinating mix of gorgeous original and decrepitude! Interesting to see the lift grilles bricked up in-situ. I wonder how many more survive hidden like that? The LTM sold a load of those grilles in 1994 - I remember the table with several on it after going to the last open day at Aldwych. I was delighted to see the original grills at Regent's Park, carefully fitted to the wall over the new lifts! Shame that more didn't get that treatment. At least some had brass numbers, and look gorgeous restored, but most that survive have a century's worth of paint layers.
Great episode! Loads more to see at Lambeth North than I'd imagined. It does look like the platforms need a bit of TLC.
Really enjoyed Series 7, haven't been able to watch as many live but always catch up. Loved the tiles but you could have done with an Alex wet wipe in the depths. Fingers crossed there's a Series 8. Thanks guys x
Well done nutters. Love every minute. Get some fresh air and then back down the mines wiv you, you lovely people.
Cheers x
I've always loved Russell Square station, always use it when staying in the area. Ever thought of featuring it? Might not have much to explore given it missed the escalator additions. Always slightly creeped out by it too after seeing it featured in the film, Death Line, when I was younger. Love your work, guys!
We’ll deffo do Russell Square, if only to marvel at the tiles
Hello from across The Pond, here in the good ole USA. I stumbled across your channel earlier this year and have thoroughly enjoyed catching up on your past episodes. I spent a short amount of time in the UK back in the mid 90's and fell in love with your country so learning about the history of The London Underground has been fascinating. I look forward to your next season!
What a fantastic episode and so sad it's the last of series. With all the Are You Being Served? And the Fawlty Towers (Farty Owls) references. Hi from Sydney, Australia. I stumbled across the series only a few months ago. Cheers
Excellent stuff again. Safety Toot! lol :)
Thank so much for keeping this gem until last & for another wonderful series. Already getting excited for what’s to come in series 8. Have a lovely summer team
great to see another video :) I did two of the tours this week (Charing Cross and Shepherd's Bush), had a really good day out apart from my old school film camera breaking part way through the first tour (typical). However I really enjoyed the tours, many thanks to those who led the tours and to the whole team who plan and host these events. I hope to more later on this year. Thanks again for all you guys do both in real life and on these streams, keep up the good work, Jonny
Shepherds Bush is an awesome tour, that’s the first one we did, but we hadn’t watched these hangouts before then. Next time we’ll know a lot more details to look out for!
My first time posting here :)
Well done guys.... I was wondering about Lambeth North.
The history of it was fascinating for me, as I used to use that station every day to go to school. The only time I would use the lift was going up! It was so much more fun to leg it down the stairs at top speed, charge down the tunnel and race the southbound train to the end! There were a few perplexed drivers seeing me overtake them near the end :)
The tour of the out of public sight parts was amazing to see.
Thank you all for your efforts in opening up a whole new world under the London streets :)
All the best xx
Great videos and very interesting history. Love your work. Best regards from Melbourne Australia.
Having read several wartime diaries and accounts I can honestly state that you would have definitely heard the sounds the exploding bombs and even the sounds the anti aircraft guns and even as far below ground as some of the deep-level lines you would have felt the the vibrations many people fled to the underground lines during air raids for shelter but they weren't always the safest places
Ps I absolutely loved the references to Fawlty towers, Are you being served and keeping up appearances thank you again for another brilliant episode and of course series xx love you all xx
Another great episode, thanks guys
Laura wouldv loved those tiles 😊, and that lift shaft OMG you wouldnt want to fall down that 😮👍👏👏
Another brilliant episode and fantastic series. Can't wait for series 8. We need more classic British TV references to make us chuckle 😅. Keep up the great work guys. 😊
Lovely! Thankyou for that visit, in fact,all your visits! I must get on one of your physical visits soon thankyou team!
Absolutely classic Underground adventure, very enjoyable. Thank you Chris and Siddy.🙂👍
Another fabulous explore, can't believe it's up to Series 7! Looking forward to more exciting tours, surprises and explores in Series 8. Thanks Fab 4, enjoy the summer break.
Another fabulous, informative, deeply entertaining series. Roll on series 8 - thank you so such for all the hard work. We love it.
Excellent, must have missed this one, did wonder why RUclips didn’t notify me.
@-17:02 RE: Building to the right of station entrance: Looks like a 'sub-station'. I have to wonder if that's what the tunnel connecting to the Northern Line is primarily for?
Finding that tunnel was 'dirty icing on the cake'. That was beyond interesting! I'd certainly venture down the ladder to explore that.
I think your right. There is a Lambeth substation on the Northern and there would be a link tunnel for engineers and cables to connect to the Northern line. Same thing occurs at Manor House for the Victoria line
Another great Hangout! And more amazing tiles 😍 and fascinating history. Can't wait for Series 8. I'll have to rewatch some of the oldies
Another great visit I’m loving Alex’s hopefully self tasked challenge to name drop as many classic British TV shows during the conclusion I hope there will be more adventures but until then I’m off out with the Nagg and waggon while crying Hi-Di-hi until next season.. we’ll meet again
Hello campers. Oh RIGSBY!
❤
Thanks for another great video, especially the sneaky peak behind the lift shafts - amazing that it's still there. Thanks also for the entire series and all of the work that you put into making these videos for others to see parts of the underground that the public never sees or even knows that it exists. Being that I'm on the other side of the world from you (Brisbane), it's great to see parts of London, and especially the tube that I remember from years past when I lived there. Enjoy your break and bring on series 8!
Thank you, guys, and gals for taking us to places hidden away from public view. It's an amazing place down there, full of little gems that that you manage to dig out and share you us all. Looking forward to the next series. Thank you.
Awesome series, another awesome episode guys, have a great summer and I’m already looking forward to series 8 😎
Wow, that was a surprise. I don't know why, but it was unexpected and off the charts. Thanks for an amazing season 7. I absolutely love HLH and I wish I'd found it during lockdown and not some time later. No matter, I can't wait for season 8.
Alex mentioned a comment from Napier Nimbus. There's a connection there to the Finsbury Park episode, if you are familiar with the British Rail locomotive maintenance depot that was next door, closed in the early 80s and it's allocation of 'Deltic' locos. Nimbus was the name of D9020/55020.
❤
Great episode. Walked through those tunnels to the exhibition centre a few times. They used to hold the Daily Express London boat show there every year. How ? Earls Court EC hid a full sized swimming pool under its decking. Built for the Olympics but never used as they mucked up the measurements.
The grilles at the top of the lift doorways look delicious. The Art Noveau of the Acanthus tiles & those grilles.
You better have have some of them in the museum. But seeing them still in place..........
Well done for your work with Hidden London Hangouts. I have learned so much.
Very interesting! So when they extended the Hampstead tube (Northern line) southward to join the CSLR at Kennington in 1926, it ran directly below Lambeth North (along the line of Kennington Road?) and they decided Lambeth North didn't generate enough traffic and Waterloo provided interchange between the two lines, so there was no need to stop there, but they still built a connecting tunnel for ventilation (or maybe for emergency access, or engineering purposes?). Then, presumably in 1939, a floodgate was installed in the connecting tunnel to prevent any untoward water getting between the two lines at Lambeth North, despite both lines having floodgates at Waterloo, which is nearer the river. I wonder what the story was there?
Alex, it makes a big difference to to my day to see your smiling face. 🏳🌈
From Lambeth North, it is a short walk, via Upper Marsh, to St. Thomas's Hospital. The contrast with using Wetminter Tube station and walking across the over-crowded bridge could not be more stark. 👍
Yellow dustbin conveniently positioned so mail coming through the letterbox goes straight into it!
Fantastic series, can’t wait for the next series. Looking forward to my Baker Street hidden london in September. Btw Charles Holden is opposite Colliers Wood Station. Unless there is another pub with sane name at Tooting Bec
Oh no! Not the final episode of the series! What am I going to do with myself for the rest of the summer? I hope you're back before too long. PS I do like those tiles - of all the names you came up with I think caramel is probably the best for the so-called "gold" one.
Thank you for yet another amazing series, learnt so much from the 4 of you, i hope to take a tour one day soon, I also plan to visit the depot in Acton (if it’s possible)
I visit the museum every time I come to London more so soon as we welcome our first child into the world next month. Already looking forward to educating them on Underground History on those sleepless nights 😂 we will be revisiting all the previous episodes
Looking forward to the next series 🙂
Take the plunge and do a tour. You ccan smell and taste as well as touch the hidden parts - as LHB intimated.
Best of with the babba.
Walking down those tunnels is like all of the horror movies ever made combined into a single scene. Those tunnels are scary!
Fascinated by the tunnel linking the lines. Given the age of the gate, it had to be the Northern line, but the engineering on the link looked really clean. It just seems to be an odd linkage - more story perhaps? I may be remembering wrong, but I have a memory of a signal box forming a linkage between two lines in Central London? Or is that linkage down at the Elephant and Castle end? Pretty sure it is somewhere in that area.
The signal box or cabin was in the room at 24:00 as Chris quite rightly states. It was unusual because signal cabins were normally installed on the platforms in a cross passage or room at the end. I never worked at Lambeth North as a signalman (Central Line only) but did visit the cabin out of interest when it was still in use circa 1988. It controlled a scissor or diamond crossover north of the station, plus a crossover which link to the tunnel up to London Road depot. Hope that answers your question.
Great, dear old Lambeth North which was very close to where my Nan & Grandad lived at nearby Elephant & Castle. The station's in an appalling state at platform level now sadly and has been neglected terribly for decades with peeling paint and exposed wiring everywhere. Hopefully your video will show this and shame TfL into giving it a long overdue refurb!
Anyway, hopefully you'll be showing us some exciting hidey-holes we passengers don't get to see.
That was great. I have been to this station many times, going to the Imperial War Museum (Bedlam) but had no idea of what lies beneath
Amazing stuff, do hope you do another series
Next series back in the autumn!
lived a very short walk (in kennington road) for many years until i moved around 1980, i know the station very well (but obviously not as well as now thanks to you all) thanks much appreciated
So as the Tube Train of destiny clears the tripcock of departure,it's time to bid fairwell,to our intrepid foursome for a short break,
In the words of Young Mr.Grace Carry On you're all doing very well .
Thanks All four of you guys it's been a marvellous series .
Fine work sir! I trust you enjoyed the Mornington Crescent episode.
Thanks Chris see you soon.
I work in one of the Northern Line stations and its great to learn of this hidden world from the neighbouring stations and lines. I do have a ‘tiles’ question that may have been asked before (sorry if im repeating it)
‘when you visit these stations, why are you not carefully removing a few perfect tiles for them to be preserved in the museum?’
they could to be used in a piece of artwork, If its artwork it could be done per line then, then put it on tour via each station or keep it in the museum.
this would be another way of showing our stations history, acknowledging the designers (where known), showing off the amazing colours/details and also saying thank you to the men/women who have worked hard to lay each tile in the first place.
I know you’ll get a better reply from the curatorial team at the museum but basically, if it’s glued to the wall, it stays on the wall. If it falls off, it gets put into the museum stock. They’re so much more beautiful in situ for everyone to enjoy and maintain authenticity of stations. But when they fall off, we nab them for preservation 😉
Loved in Northern Kentucky! ❤
My favourite station is Kilburn Park Road. Its beautiful!
Gutterscotch. That is very funny. It's disappointing that the preservation movement was started too late, because the replica tiles are revolting. Sorry to be out there, but that's my opinion. So sad that it's the last of the series. I am looking forward to when you all return very soon for another. Wherever you go, it'll be epic. All the best for the tours. I wish I could be there.
Looks to have been a hidden gem among the hidden hangouts. I have 50 year old memories of being driven past nigh on every other Saturday to pick up/drop off my grandfather at Waterloo.
How intriguing that it connects to the Northern Line for ventilation but not people. I wonder if an interchange was ever (seriously) considered or if Lambeth North was too low flow even then for such a project. In many respects, it’s surprising it even stays open - the influence of the depot nearby?
Never knew the depot existed till very recently - despite having lived not far away as a child.
Great show, many thanks Team!
I used to live opposite Lambeth North as a student at 99a Westminster Bridge Road!
Thank you all for these videos!
Thanks , a fantastic insight, and amazing tiles
Found some old tiles in Finsbury Park earlier this week and squealed at my friend - your fault! :D
Hands up! Glad we made you squeal!
I used to travel to Lambeth North on my way to and from school in the late 1960s/early 1970s. I remember the old lifts well, although only two of them were working as I remember. Each door had a pole above it with an illuminated glass lamp that slid up and down to tell you where the lifts were. They were so slow that we could race them down the stairs with a 50/50 chance of winning. I got trapped in a stuck lift several times.
The far ends of the platforms were always very damp and manky, often with water running down the walls, which is presumably why the tiles are falling off. There was the remains of a Kennington Road sign at the far end of the southbound platform, but even then it had almost vanished.
On another note, in that photo of the trainee announcers the recorder isn't tape, it's an early wire recorder that recorded sound onto reels of thin steel wire. I've got a similar one stashed away in the attic somewhere.
I remember before the platforms were tiled in their current pattern, they just had light blue painted walls. Possibly a "temporary measure" that ended up lastibg a long time!!
Here’s a fun fact related to Lambeth North. When training for a senior signalman’s job on the Underground, one of the tasks a candidate had to do was draw signals where they should go on piece of paper with a track diagram. The diagram was an exact replica of the layout of Lambeth North. Needless to say, anyone that had ever worked at Lambeth North, always passed that section of the exam with flying colours! 😂
Cracking episode..
🎉love this station
alex don.t rubbish yourself your fine with a camera. Thank you alex, siddy,chris&laura 😊😊
❤❤❤
Thanks for another brilliant episode with very special tiles this time. The Northern Line link is intriguing. Ventilation? Potential future connection? Construction tunnel?
It’s actually a link from Lambeth substation to the Northern line. Although there is no Lambeth station on the Northern, it passes close enough so the substation can have the dual purpose of feeding power to both lines.
Thanks :) @@Lisbonized
This March I was in London for the first time, Lambeth North was the first London Underground station I visited🥰
A station near me and one of my least liked on the Bakerloo - if it had escalators might improve. There is sufficient space for these at the side on Lillian Baylis Road which has a very wide public pavement because there had been a row of shops there before.
9:57 when my friend saw my photos from this station (stairs with the same tiles), he also said that it looks like a toilet😅
Ive just been watching repeats of Dempsey and Makepeace and thought it was ciddy!!
Jago did a video on why Underground trains have whistles, and it has nothing specifically to do with honouring ladies!
Will there be anymore wonderful stations to look forward to?
lambert north as victoria my favourite sport i got my first beer there...kind of a second..
Top notch 😂
These replica tiles in the current entrance have some Art Deco vibes about them.
No mention or highlight of the former LT training school that used to be based there ?
OMG I will keep a eye on Instagram as would love to meet you all!!
A flirty toot. Or: a flirtoot :)
Doing the Lambeth WALK, where my old secondary school was!
By the way, I dare you to take the last night train and walk up the stairs, on your own!
Across the road, opposite the pub, there is a glass and concrete office block, lovely Glass fronted building BUT walk around the back, there are doors set back from the wall these were entrances to MI5!!!
Couldn’t resist the play on lyrics 😉
84 steps, that equates to a fourt to five storey building (72 steps or 90 steps respectively). And with 17 cm per steps, this lies 14.28 metres below ground.