While millions rely on the London Underground daily, one station has found a second life not for commuters, but for cinema. Aldwych station, a ghost of the network, is now a celebrated star of the silver screen.
From Strand Station to Silent Tunnels: A Brief History
First opening its doors as Strand station in 1907, this terminus on a short Piccadilly line branch from Holborn was plagued by low passenger numbers from the start. Plans to extend it towards Waterloo never materialised, and its fate was sealed by a lack of footfall.
Its service was gradually stripped back, operating only during weekday rush hours from 1962, before the final train departed and it was fully closed to the public in 1994. However, its history is deeper than its railway tracks. Like many central London stations, it served as a vital air-raid shelter during the Blitz in World War II.
Interestingly, the station was built with two parallel tunnels, but only one platform and tunnel were ever brought into regular passenger use, a quirk that added to its unique and somewhat incomplete character.
Lights, Camera, Action: Aldwych's Hollywood Career
Today, the echoes in Aldwych's tunnels are more likely to be a director's call of "action" than the rumble of a train. Its remarkably preserved, vintage atmosphere has made it a prime location for filmmakers, particularly for period and thriller genres.
Its most explosive role came in the political thriller V for Vendetta, where it provided the setting for the film's climactic scene: a Tube train packed with explosives speeding beneath the Houses of Parliament.
The station's chilling, empty corridors have also set the scene for horror. The post-apocalyptic film 28 Weeks Later used its dank tunnels for some of its most terrifying moments. More recently, the Netflix film Luther: The Fallen Sun staged a brutal early fight scene within its confines.
Its versatility is further proven in the acclaimed drama Atonement, where it was transformed into Balham station to recreate a devastating wartime bomb blast on the Underground.
Exploring the Ghost Station Today
While you can't catch a train from Aldwych, you can now walk its platforms. The London Transport Museum runs guided tours, offering the public a rare chance to step into this cinematic time capsule and learn about its operational history and its rebirth as a film set.
Aldwych stands as a fascinating relic of London's transport history, repurposed not for travel, but for storytelling. It serves as a reminder that even the city's abandoned spaces are full of life, drama, and a surprising amount of star power.
