North London's Colindale Underground station has officially reopened its doors following an extensive two-year transformation, emerging as London's first-ever timber-clad Tube station. The full reopening on Monday 22 December 2025 marks the completion of a major chapter in the station's overhaul, delivering a brand-new ticket hall and vital step-free access for the first time in its history.
A Striking New Gateway for North London
The dreary, post-war 1960s entrance has been completely replaced by a modern, airy concourse. Its most distinctive feature is a curved ceiling crafted from laminated timber, a design first for the London Underground. This replaces the old fluorescent-lit hall with a space flooded with natural light and featuring high ceilings. As a nod to its past, the station's original platform clock has been carefully restored and now takes pride of place as a centrepiece in the new hall.
The project, which began in January 2024, involved a six-month full closure in the latter half of 2024 for the most intensive work. A partial reopening occurred in December 2024, but the station is now fully operational with its new facilities. The entrance has also been enlarged to increase capacity, catering for new housing developments springing up in the local area.
Accessibility and Sustainable Design at the Forefront
A core achievement of the revamp is the introduction of full step-free access via new lifts, making Colindale the 94th step-free station on the Tube network. This fulfills a key commitment to improving accessibility across London's transport system.
Sustainability has been a major focus of the design. The new ticket hall roof incorporates a special blue-and-green drainage system to manage rainwater sustainably. Outside the station, pavements have been widened to improve pedestrian flow and safety.
Final Touches and Future Plans
While the main concourse is now open, Transport for London (TfL) will complete some final elements in the coming months. These include installing a new accessible customer toilet by mid-2026, adding permanent signage, providing new cycle parking, and filling the station's new retail units.
The old ticket hall is set for demolition, and TfL has confirmed it will continue discussions with Barnet Council regarding potential future uses for the vacated site.
Seb Dance, London's Deputy Mayor for Transport, celebrated the opening, stating: "I'm delighted that Colindale is now the 94th step-free Tube station and will benefit from a whole host of other improvements to not only improve accessibility but also support major housing developments in the local area, as well as boosting local businesses and inclusive economic growth."
