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London is home to dozens of abandoned and hidden Underground stations, each with a fascinating story and a unique place in the city’s transport history. While most Londoners race past stations on modern Tube lines, few realise that beneath their feet lie secret platforms, ghostly corridors, and time-capsule ticket halls left deserted for decades.
Throughout its 160-year history, the London Underground has evolved constantly, with routes rerouted, stations closed, and even entire lines abandoned as passenger needs changed.
The London Underground has long been famous for its intricate and iconic Tube map, guiding millions of passengers through its vast network. Yet, for nearly two decades, one notable station was mysteriously missing. Although clearly a functioning stop, it was deliberately left off Transport for London (TfL) maps due to the sensitive role it played during World War II.
Kensington Olympia – the secret London Underground station left off TfL map for years 
Credit: London Transport Museum
Kensington Olympia opened originally as Kensington station in 1844, it closed almost immediately due to low use but reopened in 1862 and was renamed Kensington Addison Road in 1868. Throughout its early life, it struggled for passenger numbers and prominence.
However, during the Second World War, the station’s fortunes changed dramatically. Located near the headquarters of the Commander of the Allied Forces, led by Dwight D. Eisenhower, Kensington Olympia became Eisenhower’s preferred travel hub when heading to Wales in preparation for the Normandy landings in 1944.
For years, this vital strategic role meant the station was kept under wraps, excluded from public Tube maps as mandated by the National Secrets Act. Despite its presence on the rail network and serving both London Overground and the District line, it remained a secretive location to protect security interests.
Post-war revival and a unique part-time station today
It wasn’t until 1958 that Kensington Olympia was officially publicised, complete with a permanent platform and a shuttle District line service to Earl’s Court.
Even today, Kensington Olympia remains one of London’s few part-time stations. After its official recognition, it gained a facelift and introduced community gardens and more regular timetables, but trains still run sparsely. Its unusual past and ongoing quieter service mark it as a unique and intriguing stop within the London Underground system.
This hidden history reminds Londoners how the Tube map not only charts the city’s transport, but also the secret layers of its wartime past and evolving cityscape.
Other abandoned Tube stations and their war-time significance 
Credit: London Transport Museum
Some stations like Highgate, Down Street, York Road, and Aldwych were shuttered due to low traveler numbers or proximity to busier hubs, while others became vital shelters during the war or housed government command bunkers.
Wartime saw Down Street transformed into an underground operations base, famously hosting Winston Churchill before the Cabinet War Rooms rose above. Aldwych, meanwhile, stored National Gallery treasures and the Elgin Marbles for safekeeping as bombs fell on the city.