
Hidden Tube Walking Tour - Holborn: The Secret Platforms
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September 2026
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Adults
Age 13 and over
Children
Age 12 and under
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Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Same price on Viator, Outty earns a commission.
Traveler rating
4.6/5
Based on 27 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Hidden Tube Walking Tour - Holborn: The Secret Platforms worth booking?
Hidden Tube Walking Tour - Holborn: The Secret Platforms is a 1.4-hour experience in London, United Kingdom, from $44 per person. It scores 63 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Solid Choice”, based on a 4.6/5 rating across 27 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 63 / 100
- Rating
- 4.6/5 (27)
- Duration
- 1.4 hours
- From
- $44 per person
Join our expert guides to explore the disused areas of Holborn tube station, and uncover the secrets of this transport hub. This tour gives you the unique opportunity to explore secret areas of a busy London tube statio
What you get
- 85 minute guided tour of Holborn tube station
About this experience
Join our expert guides to explore the disused areas of Holborn tube station, and uncover the secrets of this transport hub. This tour gives you the unique opportunity to explore secret areas of a busy London tube station, off limits to the travelling public for many years. Over the duration of the tour, two expert tour guides will tell you the history of the station, how it developed and the plans for its future. We'll tell you about some of the films and music videos which have been filmed at the station over the years and even show you some of the track leading down to Aldwych station.
What's included
Included
- 85 minute guided tour of Holborn tube station
Not included
- Transportation to and from the site.
What you'll see and do
London Transport Museum, the world's leading museum of urban transport, invites you to join us on an exclusive guided tour to uncover the secrets of Holborn station, a busy interchange at the heart of London with much more to explore than first meets the eye. Originally opened in 1906 as a complex of four platforms to serve the Piccadilly line, this station had a pivotal role in turning the surrounding area from a land of ill repute into a prime business district for London. Step behind concealed doors into the expansive disused areas that lay behind, some not seen by the public in nearly 30 years. Enjoy an unexpected view of the Piccadilly line and explore the two closed platforms of the former Aldwych branch, complete with vintage posters, original Leslie Green Edwardian design, and an original early 20th century signalling cabin. Along the way you’ll relive the twists and turns of the 20th century as you hear how these spaces came to be used in surprising ways over the years.
Pass by without stopping
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
London
The meeting point for this tour is on the corner of Gate Street and Kingsway, WC2B 6AA.
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
The meeting point for this tour is on the corner of Gate Street and Kingsway, WC2B 6AA.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun
- Group size
- Up to 15 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- London Transport Museum
Know before you go
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Tours are not suitable for children under 10 years of age
- All guests must bring photo ID
- Open-toed shoes are not allowed
- No food or drinks allowed on the tour
- Please do not bring luggage or large bags - there is no cloakroom
- The tour involves a lot of walking, including areas of uneven ground and low lighting
- Tours are not suitable for guests with claustrophobia
- Tours are not step free and including walking up and down flights of stairs
- There's no elevator
- There is a maximum of four children (aged 10-15 yrs) allowed per adult
Photos






What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 27 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
8 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Knowledge and storytelling
7 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Value for money
2 mentionsTravelers feel they got more than they paid for.
Traveler reviews
27 verified traveler reviews for Hidden Tube Walking Tour - Holborn: The Secret Platforms. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Great tour of the hidden underground
What a fab tour this was. . The meet up was nice and easy and gave us comprehensive instructions before the tour. The tour was very informative and 3 members of staff on the tour were very attentive and humorous. Learnt so much about that part of the underground and great to see the disused platforms.
via Tripadvisor
Hidden parts of Holborn Station
Good value for money the staff were great and very helpful as I have trouble with walking. The experience was very interesting and a good insight to the history of the underground. The length of the visit was just about perfect. The atmosphere was very friendly people and the staff. Just the right amount of people. Very good for people who have an interest in history and the underground.
via Tripadvisor
Another excellent Hidden London event
Loved this tour, as someone who used to use the Aldwych branch very regularly from 74 to 81, it was great to see the old Platforms and other behind-the-scenes artefacts. Brilliant tour guides as always. I would recommend the Hidden London tours to any tourist coming to London wanting to understand more about the city and its background.
via Tripadvisor
A Hidden Gem
This was a great tour and we got to see very cool abandoned lines and platforms. Guides were very knowledgeable and gave us very interesting history of this part of the Underground system. Highly recommended for anyone who loves trains or history.
via Viator
OK, over priced.
Some of it was ok, I felt like it was scraping the barrel bit, great tour guide though. Feel like it was very over priced though for what it was. Should be £20/25 at most per person.
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 1.4 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- 10+
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun
- Price range
- $44 to $47
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 9
- Verdict
- Solid Choice
Why this scores 63
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Hidden Tube Walking Tour - Holborn: The Secret Platforms: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for London.
How much does Hidden Tube Walking Tour - Holborn: The Secret Platforms cost?
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Prices start at $44 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in London usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Hidden Tube Walking Tour - Holborn: The Secret Platforms take?
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Plan for about 1.4 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in London is not rushed.
Is Hidden Tube Walking Tour - Holborn: The Secret Platforms worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 63 out of 100, which we label "Solid Choice". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.6/5 across 27 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable most popular in London, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Hidden Tube Walking Tour - Holborn: The Secret Platforms?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Hidden Tube Walking Tour - Holborn: The Secret Platforms suitable for kids and families?
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The operator sets a minimum age of 10. Older children generally do well here, and families should factor in the 1.4-hour running time when deciding.
How far in advance should I book Hidden Tube Walking Tour - Holborn: The Secret Platforms?
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Around 9 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in London can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in London and add a light layer if any part of the 1.4-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Hidden Tube Walking Tour - Holborn: The Secret Platforms start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central London within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in London?
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London's best attractions split cleanly: the museums are free and need no booking, so the paid market is about views, theatre and getting out of the city for a day. That makes value scoring unusually important here, and the Outty Ranking penalises anything charging premium prices for access you could get for nothing. On Outty we rank every London experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Soho Music & Historic Pubs Tour, London Small Group Tour of Historical Pubs, The Great British Rock and Roll Walking Tour. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit London?
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May to September for long evenings, December for the Christmas markets. Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in London?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
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