How Many Abandoned Tube Stations Are There?

There are many disused and abandoned London Underground stations on the tube network ... but how many exactly? Well, it all depends on how you define them, so here's my attempt at working it all out.
The Disused Tube Map can be downloaded (free) here: geofftech.co.uk/downloads/Dis...
If you like this, then yes - there is a whole App (iOS only!) called 'Disused Tube' which has a lot more info. That's here: itunes.apple.com/gb/app/disus...
Thanks to Tom Kell for additional filming!

[@tstockel]

These videos are fascinating. I've been to London several times over the years and I really wish I had done more exploring outside of the touristy bits.

[@lawrencewild2523]

I was terribly concerned that you didn't list the famous "Mornington Crescent" station but delighted to find with a little more research that it had been reopened. I spent many a happy hour listening to "I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue" and this thrills me. I shall certainly look forward to visiting it if ever I am able to visit London. Thank you for your delightful videos.

[@underwaterdick]

Thanks for giving us food for thought Geoff... I never considered how complicated that question was!

[@benlawrence309]

Another category to add would be repurposed stations, considering Epping Ongar heritage railway, utilises all of the old central line stations including Ongar, Blake Hall and North Weald.

[@moxon2313]

It's very interesting watching this video of the Abandoned or Disused Tube Stations on the London Underground Map as I think 'Geoff Marshall' is very knowledgeable about these Ex Stations or Replacement Ones.

[@MatthewPlato91]

It's all about Verney Junction 'tube' station! You should sometime do a tour of the Met's old stations up there, Verney Junction and Brill. Definitely try Verney Junction soon, for later this year work'll start to return the track to use- it won't be abandoned anymore and the platforms may end up being demolished!

[@peabody1976]

The stations past Epping on the Central Line! That goes into the end category along with the former Northern City/East London lines.

[@ambivalent_hoax]

I should have drunk something stronger than tea for this episode’s math. ;-) If you ever get time; I would love to hear your views and some more detail on the surviving abandoned stations.

[@jip3740]

My favorite abandoned station is Wood Lane on the Central line and looks good (for a re-open at Wood Lane on the Central line)

[@lilaminakari]

Amazing videos all from your chanels

[@virgono9]

What about South Ealing station? When I lived in Ealing in 1984/85, the entrance or the station building was to the south of the bridge crossing the tube tracks, now it is to the north.

[@Inkyminkyzizwoz]

I quite like the way the lines are arranged on that map. They're laid out more closely to how they are in real life while still being reasonably clear. For instance, the two branches of the Northern Line run more or less parallel to each other, whereas on the normal Tube map the one to High Barnet runs North-South, which means that it initially doesn't appear to make sense that the two stations either side of Finchley Central are called East and West! Similarly, the Metropolitan branches to Amersham and Uxbridge run parallel to each other on the normal map, but this one has them pointing in directions that are much further apart like they are in real life

[@JonathanChan212]

For the Abandoned Platforms section, there is also Charing Cross for the Jubilee line.

[@mannashah2233]

Line from Amersham to Aylesbury was transferred from London Transport to British Rail in 1961. Now used by Chiltern line to Marylebone station

[@icecranberry2148]

Abandoned things always interested me. It's probably the vastness of its emptiness next to the "creepy" vibe it gives.

[@lollystarplayz1968]

Hornchurch is my local tube station and it has a fence where c2c trains go and has a platform

[@HooverA3060]

For Abandoned Stations, what about "Osterley Park & Spring Grove" on the Heathrow Branch of the Piccadilly Line? The platforms are still there and the station building is now a bookshop.

[@jamesmb7760]

Wow I only just realised that Hounslow Bus Station used to be a train station. We learn something new everyday. :)

[@Hariesh]

Central line, epping to ongar branch aswell!

[@shurjoaunibar]

well, everyone knows tardis on earls court!(caught on the video)

[@ellenkingsley]

There's no Platform 5 at Watford Junction as that used to be where the Bakerloo Line used to stop so there's an abandoned platform at Watford Junction

[@TheOhhblind]

Well that was extremely interesting

[@someamazingpenguin8531]

Ealing Broadway has a disused station building next to the one that is still in use

[@fawziekefli2273]

Aldwych might be the most famous abandoned tube station, but I only heard about it when I studied at King's. 24 years after I first moved to London. Guess I didn't get about much. 😅

[@mikeschaffel6958]

Geoff, Sorry to complicate things even more, but what about a category of stations that never were stations e.g. the 2nd northern line and stations like the classic Eisenhower centre?

[@sheldwardo342]

What about the old Ealing Broadway station building?

[@MegKBaker]

Loved disused platforms & "ghost stations" surprisingly it was Sherlock (BBC) peaked my interest in this topic

[@DARam4009]

For me, I would count those that have only been in use as tube stations. So the line from Amersham to Aylesbury or Upminster to Shoeburyness wouldn't count as they are still used by National Rail today. Something like Aylesbury to Verney Junction would count though. I don't know what that would come to. I can't be bothered to do the maths.

[@babatunde6080]

David Ramsay o

[@FusionZenFlame]

aylesbury to verney juction is a rail line but that wasnt the original track route to verney junction though

[@eisemanrenyardjake]

Do stations that were proposed but never opened, such as those on the Bushey Heath extension of the Northern line count (such as Brockley Hill, on which work was begun but never completed)? To add to the complications, there were also stations such as Mill Hill (The Hale), Crouch End, Muswell Hill, Alexandra Palace, Cranley Gardens and Stroud Green, which were intended to be connected to the Northern line and made into tube stations (albeit on the surface) but never saw this service and are now disused as well. As if that wasn't complicated enough, there's also half of Highgate station (AKA Highgate High Level station) that served this route, that's now also abandoned, while Highgate remains open as a tube station.... Yeah, I apologise for complicating things further

[@joshm3059]

Would South Ealing station fit into any of these categories? The station building on South Ealing Road used to be on the left hand side of the bridge over the line, however, it was rebuilt on the right hand side sometime in the 1980s? There are images on google of the original building.

[@FusionZenFlame]

Geoff have you heard thatt they may get the bakerloo line back up to watford junction

[@stephthestar90]

Isn't Charing Cross Jubilee Line more of an abandoned platform than a full station?

[@paulkennedy8701]

Oh. I was looking for it among the disused platforms. I didn't realise it was listed with the disused stations. Maybe because the tracks were abandoned too? And possibly a concourse? Maybe Geoff sees it like Aldwych rather than like Holborn.

[@ArtAviation747]

What about Ongar, North Weald and Blake Hall Underground stations, I know there is a heritage railway but they used to be underground stations

[@chrissyrodriguez2947]

The East London Line was closed in 2007 and Shoreditch Station closed in 2006.

[@lillynicholexo]

aylesbury the met is abandoned “in tfl’s eyes”, verney junction line of the met is demolished. brill line is demolished apparently*. quainton road and aylesbury section of the met is classified as disused due to the fact that NR operates the services that way *westcott is disused with the station building being up and not demolished (apparently)

[@TheBlewis]

Gosh this is great; I wish someone did this for New York

[@metropod]

Ask and yeh shall receive; Abandoned completely City Hall Loop Worth Street 18th street 91st street Myrtle Avenue Special case Sedgwick Ave Jerome Ave Replaced South Ferry Special case Court Street (home of the Transit Museum) When you get to closed platforms is where the list gets long. 42nd- Port Authority Chambers street (JZ) City Hall (BMT Broadway Line) Brooklyn Bridge Canal Bowery Bowling Green Union square 96th street Myrtle Ave-Broadway (JMZ) Columbus Circle Atlantic Avenue 9th Avenue and when you consider demolition of the old El lines, I’d be here all day typing.

[@stephenhardy1190]

British Museum on the Central Line still had its platforms to be seen if the tube goes slowly enough

[@AuxHex]

There's also an unused platform at Barbican, it is turned into a garden.

[@MKTTransportVideos]

Two disused platforms at both Barbican and Moorgate, but those were national rail platforms until they closed. Don't know if they were ever used by the tube though?

[@SomeBritishGal1]

@@MKTTransportVideos They were used by the Metropolitan Railway but when they were nationalised they passed to British Rail and became the City Widened Lines service between Kentish Town and Moorgate.

[@sr6424]

What about Strand and Trafalgar Square. Are they just part of Charing Cross?

[@synchromystici5m]

City Road's surface building has now been demolished and is being replaced currently with a power station

[@acleray]

I am 68 and to my knowledge City Road has never had a station on the surface. I come from just along City road and all it ever had was the top of a lift shaft machine room, with a tiny sub-station next door.

[@MsEdy09]

I missed aldwych it was one of my favourite least used station evan brill

[@georgedoty-williams2085]

Now this is what I wanted to know

[@ben.taylor]

I think that Edgware was demolished to make way for a shopping centre

[@acleray]

Come in a bit late on this but I used to work on LT as a driver on the Northern when Angel was an island platform and the exit was in a side street on the surface. The station has now, I believe, been altered and the island platform is gone, the station entrance and exit have been relocated around the corner into Upper Street/Islington High street, (Where a cinema used to be and now has a shopping mall taking the space). Just saying. This just demonstrates the never ending change in the London landscape above and below street level.

[@ZonkerRoberts]

So here's a philosophical question: Should Gloucester Road be counted in the "Disused Building" category? The original Metropolitan Railway building is still in use but the Leslie Green building that was added later isn't (there's a flower shop and a cafe in it now).

[@lilaminakari]

I liked the video it's amzing

[@georgevasileiadis766]

What about the Jubilee platforms at Charing Cross?

[@thisisstuart7951]

would you count the unfinished northen line extention that didnt complete because of the war

[@RJSRdg]

Likewise the District used to run to Windsor and Southend.

[@im.adelebarlow]

Wood Lane is now on the circle H&C line

[@gyp6857]

Doesnt ealing broadway have a disused station building. Well "disused" its now a corner shop

[@RogersRamblings]

The District Railway station building is disused but the platforms are still in use as Nos 7, 8 and 9. Access is through the 1960s monstrosity.

[@629fzq]

HI Geoff. I really enjoy all your films about London underground. I was just wondering if you could answer me for one of my question please. There are some strange lights between Kings Cross St. and Caledonian Rd station on a Piccadilly Line. Every time when i take this train i can see some lights (like on some tunel or something) and it looks like a lights for 2-3 tunnels to somewhere. Have you noticed it as well? Any ideas what could it be? Hope you'll help me somehow. Ohh... and these 3 tunnels(?) are closer to Kings Cross (and to KC direction). Thank you so much :)

[@geofftech2]

that's York Road abandoned station en.wikipedia.org/wiki/York_Road_tube_station shown here! kzbin.info/www/bejne/sICvgmZ9psuBqLM

[@axoltl673]

what about wilsden green and neasden for the met?

[@chloesteven263]

More info about Park Royal and Twyford Abbey

[@shaunhouse2828]

I think it would be a good idea to rename Tower Hill to Tower of London, or just Tower, I'd guess the current site is at least as close to the Tower as the original station was. Maybe when they move the Tower Gateway DLR terminus to join as I understand is planned

[@MKTTransportVideos]

Never heard anything about moving Tower Gateway - they only rebuilt it a short while ago. Where did you hear that?

[@paulhealy2557]

Current Tower Hill station, at platform level, is the same place as “Tower of London” station There was a station on a different site 1884-1967 called “Mark lane” then “Tower Hill” was just north of All Hallows’ by the tower

[@matejalukic6667]

On Apple Store or on Play Store

[@anjistone2946]

What about Mornington crescent?

[@moogmike1]

I have fallen in love with our Tube Network from following you on youtube, I think you should write a book, a mammoth task I know, but one that I am sure would be well received. And even though this video came out Pre Covid, and assuming you see this during Covid, well.....you may have the time?

[@geofftech2]

thanks Michael, very kind! i DO already have a tube book out, it's here! : www.bookdepository.com/London-Underground-50-Things-See-Do-Geoff-Marshall/9781912836253

[@moogmike1]

@@geofftech2 Thank you Geoff, book on the way.

[@Damien_N]

Northfields and Little Ealing? I had no idea little Ealing was a thing

[@stevec00ps]

Didn't the District line trains also go all the way to Southend (now the c2c line)?

[@ianmoseley9910]

I do not believe this was a regular service? More of an excursion over the LTSR lines?

[@FusionZenFlame]

yes it did but it only stoppped at leigh on sea southend central and shoeburyness

[@GaryMarriott]

What about the stations that were built or partly built but for one reason or another were never open to the public, kept for private use, or not connected to a rail system. There are a whole slew of these on the now Northern line & at least a couple that are covered under the UK war powers act

[@Digscomics]

Sadly, the remains of City Road have now been knocked down.

[@quintuscrinis8032]

So that's why Preston Road looks so weird from street/bridge level.

[@walrtbstudios5430]

Was there not also Post Office station between Bank and Chancery Lane on the Central line? I have an image of the 1931 map, and it’s clearly shown on that. I have no idea which of your five categories it would fall into, but I’m guessing that the platforms are still there…

[@edhumphreys8990]

Post Office got renamed and is now called St Paul's. It is still in use.

[@anaMZR]

Wood Lane was in demolished section and even it should be on replaced station section

[@andybar1749]

Now is a Circle H&C line

[@DunielYTGaming]

theres a diffrent platform at holborn to go to aldwych

[@TakumiXD]

My question is if the district Line trains went to Windsor where is the station

[@FusionZenFlame]

the entire line to windsr still exisrs roday

[@adamwright9517]

What about Strand?

[@MKTTransportVideos]

Blake Hall on the Ongar line is another interesting example, as a disused station on a section of line that's now in preservation. You can briefly see it filmed from a passing train in my video of the Epping Ongar line here (go to 5.00) - kzbin.info/www/bejne/iKnVh4l4m6t4r6M

[@diamond_pacific8093]

Wow 50 was a good guess

[@thsxi]

Then you have Willesden Green and Neasden with disused Metropolitan Line platforms

[@ArmbarArcade]

Just to add to the confusion, there's then vague definitions of what counts as what kind of station. For example under Abandoned Stations, there's North Weald, Blake Hall and Ongar - all of which are still technically active as part of the Epping Ongar Railway, but of course it being a preserved/heritage line now it isn't used by the LU network anymore. Feels weird calling them 'abandoned' stations though as North Weald and Ongar are still very much active on running days!

[@MKTTransportVideos]

Of course Blake Hall on the EOR is quite disused, unless the guy who lives in it counts! You can briefly see it in my video here at 5:00 kzbin.info/www/bejne/iKnVh4l4m6t4r6M

[@Inkyminkyzizwoz]

So would they kind of fall into the same category as those stations on the Overground that used to be part of the Tube?

[@HenrysAdventures]

How many abandoned tram stops are there in London?

[@wclifton968gameplaystutorials]

None. Trams have only been operational since 2000

[@mariongrez]

What about shoreditch geoff

[@lijiroy]

You forgot to say neasden and willesden green have old metropolitan line platforms

[@KofelinaPL]

You completely forgot the disused Jubilee Line platforms at Charing cross.

[@johnsmith-uz1qu]

Do they sell them? Seems like a great building for a hotel.

[@paulkennedy8701]

The sites might well be good for something. The buildings wouldn't be. (Certainly not for hotels I'm sure. It can be very difficult to get everything you need for a modern hotel into old buildings. And many old hotels are abandoned because of the difficulty to retrofitting them with modern plumbing, better accessibility, large-enough rooms, etc.) If the buildings are heritage-listed it may be almost impossible to find a new use that is economical and acceptable.

[@waynemar11]

Wasnt there Addison Road opposite Olympia?

[@wclifton968gameplaystutorials]

Renamed to kensington(Olympia)

[@johnusher1921]

Any chance of an Android app?

[@Mybwain]

One million unused, disused tube stations in London. I counting them.

[@VascoRoblox-yp5rw]

Geoff i can't download the map

[@jupitervlogs1504]

Wood Lane is dirty like New South a ferry in 2014

[@AdityaJaokar]

I never knew that my local station was a dissued station.

[@DadgeCity]

Quite a few of those stations still exist so they aren't abandoned. You need a broader term such as "abandoned facilities".

[@sarahk6926]

Confused as to why Swiss cottage counts as an abandoned platform when the station's very much in use...

[@geofftech2]

there was an original metropolitan line Swiss Cottage station, that is now abandoned. the jubilee line one came later...

[@michaelcampin1464]

If anyone is interested in have a 1948 tube map sorry underground map showing planned extentions that never happened

[@1973Washu]

The tube map looks weird when it is drawn like a normal map.

[@jojoray]

8=22, who else gets the reference?

[@Teverell]

Comment on a video that's now a year old, oops... but one of my favourite websites is this one, which has photos of many of the old stations (and the locations of the vanished ones) with their histories. www.abandonedstations.org.uk/

[@evanslater4551]

Why did they close the Jubilee line platforms @ Charing Cross during the extension of the JLE to Stratford???

[@Wildcard71]

They were no longer needed.

[@pauledmond98]

The trains take a different route now - including Charing Cross as a station between Green Park and Westminster would (I presume) not have been feasible due to geographical restrictions. Instead the trains now branch off in a different direction after leaving Green Park to get to Westminster (although the branch to Charing Cross and platforms are still in existence but not used for regular services).

[@WASIURPA]

Yes YASSSSSS

[@zachbimson]

Won’t bank be one in a couple of years ?

[@paulkennedy8701]

They aren't closing anything, are they? Just creating a new concourse with entrance and passageways. (The platform that will be closed will be subsumed by expansion of the other one I think.)

[@davidsheriff8989]

Could be a Monty Python sketch ?

[@stewart_fisher]

the link is giving a 404 error :(

[@DaveBateman1972]

British Museum anyone? Surely that must count too? Nice vid though.

[@davidbanks566]

Dave Bateman British Museum is mentioned at 1:28 as a demolished station.

[@DaveBateman1972]

Hand up, I missed that. Dunno why. Though it was odd. New glasses needed...

[@signalwalid25trainz50]

you forgot ostely

[@bengosling4606]

My interpretation would be reused stations dont count only abandoned hence the name ABANDONED just my 2cents

[@ertio1297]

I really don't get why everyone forgets about the Brill and Verney Junction branches of the Met

[@FusionZenFlame]

most of those stations woulf fall into the demolished catagory the line between amersham to aylesbury would go into the replaced catagorie quainton road waddesdon would go into abandoned platforms

[@djlawlz4041]

I feel like reused stations dont count as abandoned because they’re still being used.

[@jpbdude4223]

“Disused building” DID THEY GO TO EALING BROADWAY BACK THEN YOU CHEEKY ONE!