Secrets of the Victoria Line

Geoff Marshall travels the length of London's Victoria Line, picking out some of the more unusual features in the stations.
Also see our video 'Victoria Line Tiles' which explains in more detail about ALL sixteen patterns at the Victoria Line stations: • Video

[@projectr2451]

Pimlico being the least used station on the Victoria line makes sense to me, as it is the only Victoria line station that has no interchange to another tube or train line. Every other station connects either with other Underground lines, London Overground and National Rail Services. Pimlico is the only station on the Victoria that’s solely for the Victoria line.

[@FD-vj6hd]

Also, Pimlico is a very quiet area, despite being very central

[@cxnaan3117]

wow no one knew that

[@projectr2451]

@@cxnaan3117 Ignoring the sarcasm, I’m going to say thank you for taking time out of your day to actually respond when you could’ve scrolled past. We really appreciate the comment.

[@daroldcarold3443]

Thats inane but nobody asked

[@projectr2451]

@@daroldcarold3443 Same to be said to you, I don’t know you nor did I ask you anything. Yet you’re here under my comment talking because you want attention and sadly have nothing better to do. The jokes show themselves and write themselves. Also, a side note: it’s spelt “insane”, not inane. You wouldn’t use the word “inane” in the context of your comment. But I wouldn’t expect someone of your obvious brain capacity to know or understand. Telling people nobody asked while you also haven’t been asked is like shooting yourself. It’s an own goal. Have a good year!

[@HamishG199]

I started watching this as a really young child . Around 8 years ago . I admit I forget about it for around 7 years and now I’ve found it again - love the series

[@brokennews]

Fun fact about Green Park for northbound Piccadilly travellers: If you're going to Finsbury Park and beyond, you can change here from the Piccadilly Line to the Victoria Line, and then change back to the Piccadilly Line at Finsbury Park. Victoria Line between Green Park and Finsbury Park is quicker. HOWEVER: the huge walk to change from Piccadilly to Victoria at Green Park completely nullifies this. I tried this out of sheer boredom (I was going from Heathrow Terminal 123 to Turnpike Lane) and by the time I'd got to Finsbury Park, I got back onto the same Piccadilly Line train I'd got off at Green Park. Great if you fancy a walk. Pointless otherwise.

[@eddixon2015]

American living in London for a semester, while the walk from Piccadilly to Victoria at Green Park is huge, I think the Jubilee transfer is almost longer.

[@Peter-gv6vf]

I always do that just to break the journey up otherwise the trip from Heathrow to north London is just waaay too long and tedious

[@ayushverma9514]

Came here again after Geoff’s story video. Miss the old days.

[@graytherobot7italiano870]

Same

[@Liamjlm]

What's geoff's story video?

[@SHOCKWAVEi]

You never showed Tottenham Hale

[@Great_WesternTVFan]

SHOCKWAVEi and?

[@secretmantiis6464]

My is victoria

[@AirportPlaneSpotting]

Apart from the fact that it’s the only station beginning with T on the line, There’s nothing interesting about it

[@emmapaignton4765]

love that victoria line accelerating smell

[@1BarnetTE.]

Why do they smell like that?

[@bfapple]

Luka Mitrovic It’s mainly dust 🤣

[@rebeccewilliams7880]

@@1BarnetTE. ffmffffffffmf!f!f!ff!FM!m!mf

[@TwizelUnlimited]

Burn rubber

[@BizarreEdits433]

You're so stupid it isn't just in the toilet like smell of water up it's blue

[@kaz7953]

Came from Geoff’s latest video. This is so well organised!

[@evanslater4551]

And ten years on…. One of the most iconic KZbin series created

[@user-qd7vn1zz5i]

Surely this video should be labelled 'Victoria's Secret'? (Sorry) And awesome videos by the way.

[@Londonistvids]

+Jim Jimson Thanks Jim, watch the whole series!

[@susu_pendao8776]

+Londonist Ltd j

[@user-qd7vn1zz5i]

+Londonist Ltd Hi Londonist, have done, I'm a massive fan! Bit of a train nerd too so these videos suit me down to the ground!

[@katarzynaiyekekpolor6700]

T MM

[@trainsandrandomstuff3221]

Lmao 😂

[@donnymurph]

Why nothing about Vauxhall? It's my local station! Am I that uninteresting?

[@Londonistvids]

We've not done Vauxhall! Here ... kzbin.info/www/bejne/eXq6fIaDf7ufeK8

[@gerokeeffe506]

Londonist Ltd tell me what time you strarting filming videos in the 24 hour clock on the underground DLR overground bounus secrets of underground more secrets of underground secrets of the team's abandoned tube stations 1and 2 down street tube station ghost station

[@nickfotsing7465]

same

[@jamesdavison1786]

Ger OKeeffe what

[@jamesc1199]

I guess there's just no secrets of the station..

[@leopold7562]

I used Pimlico station quite a few times when I was living in London, as the office I was working in was on Millbank. I used it for a few weeks, until I realised that the office was just as close to Vauxhall, but saved me a fortune in travel costs (but was bloody freezing walking across Vauxhall Bridge in winter!) Incidentally, where is Vauxhall station in your video?

[@Trainspotting_Mayhem]

Who else is here after watching Geoff's KZbin story?

[@diamond-bl]

hello there trainspotting mayhem IM A FAN BRO BEST SCR YTBER

[@thel0calcousinMaxey-hx7xv]

I’m here

[@memelandmusic328]

Yep

[@Annaliviaville]

Hi train spotting mayhem

[@Aviation-Focus]

Yep.

[@Cpr1234]

On the Victoria line you can connect to these Underground lines at these stations: Finsbury Park: Piccadilly King's Cross St Pancras: Circle, Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan, Northern and Piccadilly Euston: Northern Warren Street: Northern (Google Maps also show the Hammersmith & City Metropolitan and Circle lines passing here but it seems they dont serve this station) Oxford Circus: Bakerloo, Central Green Park: Jubilee, Piccadilly Victoria: Circle, District Stockwell: Northern At all other Victoria line stations, you cannot connect to other lines

[@davidrobert2007]

Finsbury Park spelled backwards is "krapyrubsnif" ;)

[@leor6089]

Crappy rub snif

[@am-vm8ew]

davidrobert2007 and?

[@tstrains4983]

davidrobert2007 great video! The Waterloo and city line is also a line that runs entirely underground too

[@ankmlord]

trainExplorer He missed it out purposely:). Watch the Waterloo and city line video to understand.

[@garlicgobyebye]

What about the depot that is overground

[@darryldarwent3676]

I live in Western Canada, and haven't visited London yet. These videos are very interesting. Thank you.

[@matthewfield2958]

I watch this series everytime I go to London and travel on the Tube. I always look out for these and other things Geoff Might have missed or didn’t mention.

[@yegventures]

I love your tube videos! As a Chinese Canadian born in Hong Kong, and lived in Toronto, and now Edmonton, I'm very intrigued with large rail networks and their quirks. Please post more up! BTW, a maze has many turns and possibilities, while a labyrinth only has one continuous way in and out (many times the same entrance and exit).

[@bucephalus00]

Geoff's visibly impressed by the jubilee tiles at 3:37

[@cameronyoungcg9270]

Geoff should have a TV show. :)

[@arissimion67]

Victoria line and trains are amazing. And it looks so artistic. Came on Victoria.

[@JeffWiersma]

I love this series so much!!! Thanks for making the videos.

[@DimensionalIO]

You missed the train at Finsbury park? Don't worry, another train will come in five seconds.

[@eastlancsesteem]

I would extend it to East Croydon (via Herne Hill, Tulse Hill, West Norwood, Gypsy Hill, Crystal Palace, South Norwood, Thornton Heath Pond, Selhurst, West Croydon and East Croydon). I would then extend it to Leytonstone (via Whipps Cross and Leytonstone) and Edmonton Green (via Northumberland Park, Meridian Water and Edmonton Green).

[@bussesandtrains1218]

that duplicates a national rail line and 2 bus routes also crystal palace - norwood- thornton heath- east croydon would make a zigzag shape with a very tight curve radius (engineering waffle for this is a rubbish idea)

[@rick081956]

Great information. Thousands of amazing people created something special. Great series

[@tonythetyger99]

Surprised that Pimlico is the least busy station on the Victoria Line as it's the Tate Britain stop, thought it would get some tourist traffic to boost its numbers. Though, then again, I do now seem to remember it being fairly quiet when I've used it (and it's not an interchange)

[@simon1874villain]

Really Enjoying the Videos and going through them one by one and will watch again....excellent

[@joesbustrainplaneliftadven9118]

The Victoria Line isn’t the only line that runs entirely underground as the depot at Northumberland park is above ground the Waterloo & city Line is entirely underground

[@paulshorney3465]

Fantastic videos of the lines. Love it 👍👍

[@bronzesword7791]

one question why was pimlico in darkness

[@Great_WesternTVFan]

Aidan Silveston it's the camera

[@WASIURPA]

Because its lonely

[@timothyh5805]

Finsbury park has oyster barriers now....I can't use it to get to the 2nd bus station anymore when it's raining 😢😢

[@Thirdeariespace]

You have to wonder why they didn't just put them in the middle (where the tunels meet) to allow you to walk through between Seven Sisters Road and Wells Terrace.

[@mattykeel]

I “wowed” my family and friends with the tiles fact. Thanks!

[@oludotunjohnshowemimo434]

over 40 years in the game, the Vic line is one of the veteran players of the tube

[@A60stock]

About 100 yards before arriving in the Southbound platform at Stockwell there is on your left a brick lined service tunnel which originally served as an incline for the City and South London Railway cars to be hauled up to the depot above. At Brixton the sidings beyond the station were built as running line and go down to Shakespeare Road. the plan was to go on to Herne Hill and Crystal Palace, but it was never funded

[@lewiss626]

Who’s watching this after watching Geoff KZbin story video 🤣😀

[@trains4361]

Me

[@Albanwinter]

Sounds about right. I've travelled several times to London, last time I was at King's Cross one of the station employees told me about both routes but seeing as I had luggage he suggested the easier route to lug the bags around would be the long way. :D Had I been sans bags definitely would have used the short way.

[@Jo3man96]

My Gran used to work in London, and her flat was near Pimlico. She let us stop at said flat when we wanted to visit London, as she used to go back home to Northumberland every weekend, leaving the flat free.

[@TheTrainChannel]

The Circle Line was constructed using the 'cut and cover' technique, and there are sections which were never covered, plus the whole section from Paddington to Hammersmith is out in the open.

[@killeranime3591]

The video that made Geoff Marshall the man he is today

[@PrJ09702]

Actually the Waterloo and city line is the only line to run entirely underground Geoff! 😁

[@NightLetterLondon]

just discovered you. this a Marvellous series. and you're a fantastic guide.

[@AAM573]

he missed tottenham hale

[@spamwarrior8469]

+Yazzin B and Vauxhall.

[@spamwarrior8469]

And Euston!

[@e28r838vvxzcx]

He missed out stations with nothing interesting about them

[@KatherineSone]

so sad tottenham hale is the 2nd closest station to me

[@mugovewilsonmujere7169]

my favorite line geoff 's favorite line.the best line on the system it may have only 16 stations but i love it.one of the bussiest lines

[@arsenalmanz]

wheres vauxhall station?

[@Londonistvids]

It's one stop north of Stockwell

[@androidloid2191]

In Vauxhall hahahaha

[@olliepearson9516]

Londonist Ltd k

[@LJC94512]

lol obviously we all know you mean what are the 'secrets' in Vauxhall station (Tottenham Hale too), maybe there just isn't things interesting in there.

[@Londonistvids]

Geoff has now added something that you may not have spotted about Vauxhall, in the latest video 'More Secrets of the Underground' ... kzbin.info/www/bejne/eXq6fIaDf7ufeK8

[@olb8166]

Fun Fact: Pimlico nearly sounds like Drink Milk in Polish

[@Cpr1234]

oh yes it does! I just used Google translate to find out

[@nopeoppeln]

Cpr1234 it isn't, but it's close.

[@Ass_Burgers_Syndrome]

@@nopeoppeln That's why he said nearly.

[@nopeoppeln]

@@Ass_Burgers_Syndrome why tf you’re responding to a 3 year old comment

[@Papai_Pai]

Still love watching your videos

[@LinxFox]

1:36 that PA chime sounds JUST like the Door closing chime we have in Toronto, on both Subway and Commuter trains.

[@Raminator137]

Vauxhall is the ONLY station in between two zones.

[@Raminator137]

On the Victoria line.

[@roythearcher]

I used to use seven sisters station all the time to go to school in the 1970's it still hasn't changed that much.

[@zeroattitude5445]

Who's watching in 2016 (I've watched 4 times)

[@flavoredsnacks9979]

This fella

[@danielstewart6603]

I'm wacthing in 2017 😂😂😂

[@j-train13]

I mwatching in 5000000000

[@davidhcobbald3632]

Watching in 2018! 😁 I love these videos!

[@erin8133]

2018 and this is my third or fourth time watching it! :)

[@D93-w5q]

Victoria Line is not the only London Underground Line to run entirely Underground, The Waterloo and City Line also runs only on the underground

[@richardcoughlan9213]

+Geofftech you should put extras/outtakes in the description box!!

[@nutfield0013]

late to the game, but this was done on purpose, see Secrets of the Waterloo & City line here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/j4TZdKGndtaiY7c

[@MrGoblin60]

Just a bit of trivia. At 3.30 the tune heard in the background is called "Satin Doll". One of Count Bassie's compositions I think.

[@jasminejohnston6393]

Characters from the kids show Underground Ernie are named after London Underground lines. Victoria, Bakerloo, Hammersmith And City, Jubilee and Circle are all talking trains from the show named after tube lines!

[@dommci]

Victoria isn't the only line completely underground, the WATERLOO AND CITY line!?

[@duckwilson3965]

Do the 2009 stock use ATO? I know the 1967 stock had ATO, they were the first automatic trains in the world. But I saw in a video somewhere (I think now it's been removed) of a Victoria line driver driving a 2009 stock train using a red handle. I thought that if the first Vic line trains had ATO then the later ones would have it too. I also interchanged from the Piccadilly line to the Jubilee line at Green Park and pointed the changing amount of grey tiles and dark blue tiles on the walls to my family. But I probably wouldn't have known they were there if I hadn't watched this video.

[@capturedbytee]

Pretty cool with the silver and dark blue tiles.

[@olusegunjackson5707]

If we have underground metro stations like this in Lagos Nigeria, will be a very good thing

[@dennisalexander314]

Great series. Thanks Geoff.

[@izzyemj]

1:30am = binge watch London Underground videos because I'm really cool

[@mikewilcox6317]

I like this. Thank you for sharing. I think he says "Finsbury Park the busiest station on the Underground without Oyster barriers". Which is true - it's the 21st busiest with 26.04m entries / exits, but those above have Oysters. Check TFL for the data stattos.

[@hublanderuk]

At Brixton me and my Dad once worked at finding out why the Blue lights of the Fin at Brixton was not working. The LED light was full of water. At Pimlico and Warren Street I help pull in cables in the under-croft under the platforms

[@TheBritishmike]

Very good video, another quirk at Brixton is the train departure indicator at the concourse level which is a duplicate of the one at the bottom of the escalators. Problem is that the right pointing arrows send you up the stairs and onto the street. Weird!

[@norwaytoday]

The tiling motif on Brixton's platforms has bricks on it and is called Ton of Bricks, as in Bricks-ton :) I have always thought it was so clever...

[@harrytodhunter5078]

Question: if you travel on the tube stating from a place with no barriers, how do you get charged when you get off?

[@HammaneggsAirborne]

I impressed some compatriots of mine by mentioning the jubilee-piccadilly mosaic when I was over in London during the summer, as we were walking through it.

[@craighart3851]

Thanks Geoff..enjoying your videos...do u know you can travel on the vic line to euston from king x and the northern line returning without travelling northwards?

[@Spectrescup]

It's actually an almost exact east-west journey, but as you say, the victoria line has Kings Cross as the northernmost station, and the northern line has it as Euston.

[@zachb4268]

So if there are no fare gates at Finsbury Park, how do you touch in?

[@ahandleforsomeonetosee]

You would use the validators on the wall. However, there are now gates at the tube entrances. Although, if you go in through the national rail entrance, you can get to the tube without no gate to block you

[@androidloid2191]

There's touch in, touch out posts not barriers

[@ahandleforsomeonetosee]

You haven't been there recently

[@zachb4268]

I live in Atlanta Georgia. I've never been to Europe but I want to go on day.

[@daredevil3744]

Zachary Brickle, you look for free-standing yellow card readers.

[@yussi01]

Have family who live near a Victoria Line station. So the Victoria Line is my personal favourie

[@K-o-R]

To add to the exit advice for Kings Cross, you want to be at the southern end of the train. Exit the platform at that end and the escalators to the ticket office and the main line stations are right there.

[@Sunnyrea37]

Now this makes me miss London!

[@rainydaycraft6868]

ikr?

[@BrunoMonstersChannel]

I love the underground as well and my mum was in that video

[@yourhouselondon900]

I love your video about underground secret, it's very cool to learn more about my city thank you!!!

[@simonwest9450]

This series started 8 years ago? Mental

[@冬卯粉昆布]

I hope u can make a video saying “Secrets of the Northern City Line” as it was a tube line before 1975.

[@EJC-qw8ke]

Happy 10 year birthday video/series

[@antonydandrea]

You can't share the secret King's Cross stairway! I used to love going that way knowing the tourists will go the long way around!

[@ajs41]

+Antony D'Andrea I don't like the way the official signs don't tell people the easiest way to go.

[@pieswick]

+Andy JS If everyone went that way there would be a massive crush.

[@saharelsadig4648]

Of course he can

[@iamthinking2252_]

I was a tourist! I watched a video about it! But I forgot to use it, even though I found out how long the corridors were!

[@1974cfjl]

One thing that did miss that this opened my eyes to is the Grey and Navy Blue dots at the interchange passage at Green Park station, when i passed through there im more curious about the dissused passage that lead to the old lift shaft on the Piccadilly line which once took you to an entrance on Dover Street.

[@MyAmberSky]

What about Vauxhall? That was the reason I watched this... :)

[@ianmcclavin]

I often wondered why the motifs at Green Park and Oxford Circus (not shown here) were changed, only for versions of the originals to be reinstated some years later.

[@hannahbyrne238]

I find these a good watch cause even though I don't live in London when I am there though I always go on the tube and now these make me just want to go on the tube and see all these amazing things

[@TravelingEurope1]

They have recognised the line and they are so frequent!😀😀😀😀😀😀😀

[@qrogueuk]

Tottenham Hale station was missed?

[@vlogdemon]

And Vauxhall, I think

[@Londonistvids]

Vauxhall ... kzbin.info/www/bejne/eXq6fIaDf7ufeK8

[@riichikosher3209]

also, Green Park, Brixton... might be others

[@ZRHTrainspotter]

The 2009 stock has the sound of the RB418 chopper.

[@kinell]

No Euston, Oxford Circus or Vauxhall?

[@icytbofficial]

He forgot Tottenham Hale

[@MarcusLeepapi]

Thank you for the tube there in London, England. Yes, I have been on the tube there a few times. I live in Chicago, Illinois. USA.. I am a former purser flight attendant from a US airline...And yes I have family there in London as well

[@Toastybear1]

why no barriers at finsbury park?? and what happens if you never tap out of your journey?

[@HammaneggsAirborne]

Geoff passed through one of two enterances, whose exit from the platform indicated to national rail. I have only really used the other, and I think there is a good reason why they chose the one they did. Finsbury Park has a large bus station on each side, but he entered from the side that busses on southern route go, so more people probably have the option to go to Arsenal and Holloway Road. The northern bus station supplies service to Muswell Hill and service between Finsbury Park and Wood Green, which has far fewer tube stations. I only stayed there for a month, so a local could probably provide better info.

[@Toastybear1]

you miss my point- if you tap out, but never tap in, what happens?

[@Toastybear1]

you get an incomplete journey- I've found out now :)

[@FireboyHDGaming]

toasty bear there's no barrier but there are card readers

[@ahmedelrasheed4432]

Wait so you can get into Finsbury Park without paying? I’m confused 1:54 p.s I don’t live in London and not familiar with the tube

[@agent_605]

Since this video was made, barriers have been installed

[@riorange2083]

Another fun fact: Pimlico is the only station of the network to have roundals that are illuminated

[@darraghcronin17]

it isn't the only line completely underground The waterloo and city is aswell

[@LiamK20]

Look at the Secrts of the Waterloo and city line he said it on purposr

[@Arthurish22]

Why no details of Oxford Circus, Euston or Vauxhall stations?

[@XFXRyan99QPR]

Arthurish22 He doesn't cover all the stations

[@icytbofficial]

And Tottenham Hale

[@crazybar777]

One thing he hasn't mentioned on this or the Northern Line video is that you can switch between Northern Line and Victoria Line Northbound lones and keep going Kings Cross-Euston-Kings Cross-Euston in a circle, only travelling on Northbound.

[@bobblue_west]

V.Good. U should be doing travel docs for TV.

[@happysellotape5006]

you said that pimlico is the least used station on the victoria line but its actually blackhorse road but i love this youtube series please do secrets of the london overground

[@Londonistvids]

happysellotape hello! i think when we made itl we incorporated the Oveground (not just tube) passengers at Blackhorse Road too, and that could account for it ...

[@lethe56]

I love this! Thanks!

[@howardkoor2796]

Thank you for sharing...

[@CHEESYhairyGASH]

A little known fact; the bang you hear on the Victoria Line is the sound barrier being broken.

[@PigletTube]

No , it’s not the only tube that stays underground because the depot it over the ground it’s the Waterloo and city line because the depot is under the ground.

[@themonohub5455]

What happened to Vauxhall. There must have been something interesting to mention there.

[@janskeet1382]

That weird ski jump roof alone is worth a mention and the tunnel under the Thames

[@00ciao00]

I noticed the same regarding the interchanges at Kings Cross. When I first moved in London, i used to follow them and losing ages to reach the other line. Now I learned the shortest way. Is it probably to direct the tourists and the "regulars" in two different ways to reduce the overcrowding?

[@rosiefay7283]

You can't fail to miss the big roundel at Brixton ... if you're looking away from it.

[@__-zh9ub]

I watched all the videos 10 times