Moorgate is a London Underground station used by thousands of people every day – but not all of it is on view. I’m fascinated by abandoned and underground spaces so a tour of the abandoned Old Moorgate underground station was right up my alley.
Old Moorgate station tour
The London Transport Museum offers many tours including Aldwych, Clapham South, and Shepherds Bush. We went on the Old Moorgate tour with a group of around 10 people and 3 guides. The tour lasts around 80 minutes and costs around £50 per person.
Heads up – if you’re not fond of small spaces, or heat then this won’t be for you. Some areas have uneven ground as well so bear that in mind. If you can manage all that though, you’ll have a fascinating experience.
The extremely knowledgeable guides explained the history of the Underground and Moorgate station. Old Moorgate opened in 1865 on the first extension of the Metropolitan line and was one of the first stations on the underground. There’s plenty to see including original tiles, decades-old advertisements, remnants from World War II, and vast unused tunnels.
The space also contains a complete Greathead Shield the only one of its kind left on the London Underground Network. It was abandoned in place when an extension to the tunnel was cancelled. This vast machine enabled workers to dig and reinforce tunnels through the soft London clay whilst protecting them from cave-ins. Although you used to be able to see it as part of the tour, we were unable to as the walkway to it has recently been deemed unsafe.
The station is also the site of the Moorgate tube crash in 1975. 43 people lost their lives and at the time was the worst peacetime accident in the history of the London Underground. A memorial plaque to the victims sits on a wall just outside the station.
Inspiration in the underground
So much of London is built on top of, well, older London. The Underground tunnels are one of the more accessible places to see this. And of course, the potential for stories is great. You can have scary ones like the movie Creep or magical tales such as Neverwhere. The more you delve into the history, the more inspiration you’re likely to find.
If you’re looking for something a bit different to do in London, I’d highly recommend it. We’ll be looking to try out other tours offered and I’ll make sure to document them when I do.
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