Hidden London Hangouts S3E10 - Tottenham Court Road

[@isashax]

Another fab episode! My first visits to London were in 97 and 98 and I remember how congested the entrance of Tottenham Court Road was. I used to go around there for buying in Virgin Records!

[@daveharris7224]

Now here is a station that I love. I look forward to seeing lots of interesting pictures of the station. Thanks for all concerned with the making of these excellent & entertaining programmes.

[@alexgrundon2346]

You most welcome and thank you for being part of this!

[@fintytin5771]

TANDY !!! - being a total nerd even then I LOVED them shops. !!! They had a unique smell to them - maybe it was just me !!!

[@TLJM007]

Just a quick observation - the current day Elizabeth Line has two branches in the EAST, yet the earlier proposed map had the branches in the WEST. I know Heathrow is technically a branch but I just find it intriguing.

[@kevinreed9232]

Another great episode. the humour from you lovely people makes it a pleasure to watch. thank you fantastic four for making Saturday evening my favourite time of the week. keep safe all of you.

[@alexgrundon2346]

😘😘😘

[@alisonjperry6291]

Blimey! I remember those 1970s ticket machines so well!!

[@srfurley]

The tickets sign looks very Victoria Line era.

[@longbranchmike7846]

Another cracking episode - and I'm loving the 'Progress - another task done' Pathe/BBC announcer voices!

[@alexgrundon2346]

WHAT-HO! 😉

[@skyrules2007]

Interesting to see the chocolate bar machines.... The first time I visited London, in the northern summer of 2000, I got addicted to Boost bars brought from the machine at Bayswater station, which was my local station while staying with a cousin nearby. At the time we didn’t have Boost bars in Australia. .

[@alexgrundon2346]

We used to have Nestlé machines too with the little Nestlé Crunch bar. Delicious!

[@edgware9]

Before various changes in the 1980s. I knew how to navigate a short cut between the Central Line and the Northern that cut out hundreds of yards of forced walking hither and thither between. It only took one flight of stairs instead of pedestrian tunnels.

[@robertward1701]

Another great Epicsode of your super fantastic show! Really enjoy looking forward to Saturday evenings! Sadly I can't join the patreon group, as much as I'd like to. But maybe in the future. Thank you lovely people xx

[@alexgrundon2346]

Really glad you are enjoying our stuff on here. Plenty more to come so enjoy the ride! Xx

[@thomascook578]

Finally, I am working my way through the old shows, another night of madness, loving it....more water? Anyyybodddday?

[@themistocleszammit]

As always a super tale.

[@alexgrundon2346]

Nice one, George. Fascinating station, all in all

[@Hannahtheredhead2454]

I missed a few live shows and am here catching up. I was sorry to have to skip the live stream, but relieved that the show is just as delightful and vibrant as a replay. The old photos and maps slay me-so gorgeous.

[@ApplianceHistorian]

So interesting, Thank you team x

[@alexgrundon2346]

😘

[@paulgiffen6836]

Hi team, another great show, love love station it has a lot of history, looking forward to next week

[@marywoods6754]

Loved this one - I worked in the building above the Oasis swimming pool back in the 70s for years, so I used Tottenham Court Road every day. The guy in the 70s photo could almost have been my ex!

[@JamesThePlonker]

Fabulous and informative as ever, absolutely brilliant answers having a Kennington 2.0 would be amazing

[@alexgrundon2346]

Kennington 2.0 is a great name

[@markellis6413]

Is the spiral staircase to the Northern line platforms at TCR still there? Remember in the 90's rush hour, it was often much quicker to use that rather than the escalators to reach the platforms..

[@gabrielberwanger5852]

This is so cool!

[@alexgrundon2346]

😍

[@davewalker5706]

Only just discovered these videos, quite fascinating, I have a lot to get through!

[@dsj672]

Super interesting video as always. The tile at 17 mins looks very similar in colour to the interior green of 1938 tube stock, which was known as Cerulean Green.

[@susiewickham9990]

My brother worked on cross rail back in the 90’s and I remember the advertising at Liverpool Street.

[@peterzear]

TCR for me was always the 'heart of London' station, a crossroads of culture commerce movement and diversity well tributed with the eighties Paolozzi installations.

[@1974cfjl]

The Central line (Central London railaway) was always called Tottenham Court Road opened in 1900, The Northern Line (Hampstead Railway) was opened as Oxford Street in 1907 a low level interchange (not the present one) opened shortly after the Northern (Hampstead Railaway) opened, it meant interchange from the Central line Tottenham Court Road you connected to the Hampstead line Oxford Street Station, The Hampstead original Tottenham Court Road stn (now Goodge Street) was halfway up Tottenham Court Road, The Hampstead Oxford Street stn was built under the junction of Tottenham Court Road and Oxford Street very confusing ??? In March 1908 The Hampstead line renamed its Oxford Street Station Tottenham Court Road, The original Hampstead Tottenham Court Road was renamed Goodge Street (as that was the closes road junction to that station), and also the Hampstead railaway Euston Road Sation (built under the northern end of Tottenham Court Road with a entrance on Euston Road and another on Warren Street) was renamed Warren Street on the same day..

[@davestyx1642]

Having said that, it has now appeared so, at the risk of repeating those comments here’s what I said: Hi everyone, thanks for another enthralling episode. I remember years ago I used to travel up to town to go to Tottenham Court Road to buy electronic spares. I remember going into Tandy’s but don’t remember buying anything. I think they were selling those new fangled things called ‘computers’ at that time. There is a very interesting history of Tandy on Wikipedia - did you know they started out making leather?!! Tandy is still available on line at tandyonline.com which I believe is a British company.

[@alexgrundon2346]

Sending you the warmest of wishes from us all. Hope you’re keeping ok.

[@davestyx1642]

Thanks, Alex

[@unittaskforce]

A great episode. I’ve used Tottenham Court Road hundreds of times so it was good to learn more about it. It was always my starting point when visiting Foyles or getting my sci-fi fix at Forbidden Planet. I remember seeing the mosaic as a youngster, very impressive and I agree it has an Incan/Mayan vibe. But will we ever look back on the 70’s architecture worth joy?😂 As always your efforts are very much appreciated.😀👍

[@churchill4327]

I would've seen the mockup crossrail when I joined LTM after working with TfL, mainly London underground

[@OofusTwillip]

16:37 - That tile isn't "olive". It's Paris Green, also known as Arsenic Green.

[@stevieinselby]

At 17:00, I'm with Laura, that green looks like a tropical beach 🏖

[@stevieinselby]

(ugh, why do emojis come out as black-and-white on KZbin?)

[@stevieinselby]

Granny Green ... wasn't she a character in Cluedo? 🤔

[@edbridges1164]

Love the "Emmerdale Farm" part I Remember Emmerdale Farm i'm only just old enough to remember it! Only Just

[@susiewickham9990]

Not a massive fan of the Palozzi tiles but they do remind me of my youth. Not really on keeping with the underground.

[@alexmckenna1171]

Can't make out the position of that subway entrance with the buses behind it.. Oxford Street (South)? Was there a set of stairs there? Also I can't work out where the Northern building was situated.. Would this have been on the East side of TCR (to the South) in the area blotted out by Cenbre point, or on Oxford St itself somewhere?

[@alexgrundon2346]

Yes the whole Junction has been remodelled a lot

[@raphaelnikolaus0486]

Request: Could you possibly do a special episode explaining the (most important) different eras in Britain and putting them into context, chronologically? Especially those that influenced or are reflected in things like architecture and art, such as Victorian, Edwardian, Tudor. Would be very helpful especially for the foreign audience. Thanks (in advance and anyway) from Germany

[@GarethHowell]

Surprised nobody commented on the mixed colours on the cartouche at 18m. The inside of the sign is a mix of white, cream and light green rather than just white. Is this age?

[@JP_TaVeryMuch]

The TCR mockup from (21:00) with the faux-utilitarian bars looks more exciting than anything I've ever seen in real life use. I can't think why they weren't introduced. Hmm... Something to do with drunken bets, using them as pull-up bars/climbing frames and slipping off onto a train's roof. Who on earth was so scary and so high up in London Transport that nobody had the cocones to stand up to him and stop them before realisation? As for the four ticket dispensing machines (37:20) being "such a hatchet job" Nix, sir; that's as may be but at least they didn't rip out the beautiful original ticket dispensing windows and swap them for a vast slab of plainly tiled wall. You see it all over today's UndergrounD.

[@peebee143]

I think I have only ever used this station once. Actually, twice. First time was a million years ago when Radio Shack had a shop nearby.

[@alexgrundon2346]

TANDY!

[@paulhealy2557]

I wish crossrail had to build a new venue to replace the Astoria

[@alexgrundon2346]

...so does my orange shirt...😉

[@jeremybuck1818]

A replacement theatre is being built...though unlikely to be a gig venue like the Astoria was.

[@MrStevetmq]

I had a love hate relationship with those jazzy, music mosaic. I love them because there colourful and fun but also hate them because they remind me of the time when they started to remove buskers from the tube. For me free busking was part of London life. Yes now they do licence some buskers but it both costs and imposes control. It is control of busking that is really downer. I don't play an instrument but being an artist I under stand the urge that one may get to just stop and play. However now days you would have to find out where to go to get a permit and apply. By then the muse has left.

[@davestyx1642]

Been trying to put my comments on since Saturday but they are not appearing any ideas, anybody!

[@jacksugden8190]

Thanks for reading out me comment....😀.

[@alexgrundon2346]

It was an AWESOME message! Thank you for sending it to us. 😉

[@jacksugden8190]

@@alexgrundon2346 👍

[@jacksugden8190]

Would love to see some on Drayton Park, Highbury & Islington and Finsbury Park please.

[@feldgendarmridpath7893]

I saw another presentation by Beat Master TV and he had the same test card and music so looks like you cannot change the test card to show mockett patterns.Shame.

[@mikesnowden1054]

Compare 06:19 with 27:03 - clearly the same buildings

[@jacksugden8190]

I will be eligible for free travel when the Crossrail open as far as West Drayton with my 60+ Oyster Card, all the way to Reading on the Freedom Pass in Feb/Mch 2022 when I draw the State Pension.

[@jeremybuck1818]

You don't have to wait- go there now on TfL Rail! (when stay at home ends of course)

[@RoyCousins]

Just a random thought, Alex & Co., but have you ever considered the lovely Art Deco Barons Court Station. It has many unusual original features, including fabulous sea green tiling and the unique platform benches. Just around the corner in Talgarth Road are the fabulous St Paul's Studios, built for Victorian "bachelor artists".

[@alexgrundon2346]

That’s a good call actually. Nice suggestion, Roy. Thanks for your loyal viewership

[@laurahilton3210]

Noted!! 😉

[@JP_TaVeryMuch]

Jago's done a loving vid now.

[@mattpayne3349]

McDonalds must moved directly across the street at some stage.

[@yoya4766]

Just show the pictures without the narrative. The women are so pretentious with their over the top ''really really'' expressions. We don't need you tell us what we can all see.

[@JP_TaVeryMuch]

Bit harsh perhaps but constructive criticism should always be borne. Perfection in presentation is difficult to achieve, even when scripted which these aren't, of course. I think that it's a bit too chatty for me too, but if it were just the magisterial Chris, even with his urr, urrs, I'm sure that the audience figures and by extension Patreon patrons wouldn't be healthy enough and this wonderful series wouldn't exist. They don't get their facts wrong which is evidence of the huge amount of research and on-site discovery done. If only other channels bothered half as much. I'm no fan of tiles or posters but on reflection it means I can go and make a cup of tea when they go into so much detail. They don't make them just for you or me, alas and I'm sure that others are no fan of tunnels or fans, say. I've been bitten by the ventilation bug ever since I was overwhelmed by the massive fan behind the scenes on a tour of Piccadilly Circus. Fantastic and well worth every penny. Lastly I admit to a tingle of smuggness now and then when I know what they don't. But then pride comes before a fa......ll