Jason Allen 22/06/70
You’re probably here because of our list, An Interesting Fact About Every London Tube Station.
Now, like the Underground itself, the list is pretty huge. And also like the Underground, we thought we’d make it easier to navigate – so we also created a little splinter list dedicated to stations on The Bakerloo Line. A list which, lo and behold, you’ll find on this very page…
Technically the oldest station on the network: the mainline station was built in 1837, predating Baker Street by 24 years. It was opened for Underground trains in 1917.
Both Kenton and Kennington are, by total coincidence, derived from the same name – Keninton.
Its platform was built too high for the trains, and never corrected.
The safest tube station on the entire network, according to the MET.
Despite servicing Wembley Stadium, is only the 142nd busiest station on the line.
The booking hall is the only original feature – the rest has been destroyed by WW2 bombing, and two major fires.
Is almost twice as far away from Harlesden town centre as Willesden Junction is.
In 1896 staff totalled 271, including 79 porters, 58 signalmen (in 14 signal boxes) and 58 shunters and yard foremen.
In December 2006, the station was hit (or grazed) by a tornado.
The site of the only “carriage shed” on the tube line: a wooden garden shed-like tunnel used to house stationary trains that you pass through on the northward part of your journey.
The first station to be designed around escalators, rather than lifts.
When Maida Vale station opened on 6 June 1915 it was entirely staffed by women due to shortages of male staff in the war. Turned out to be a good idea.
A song named after it by singer Duffy reached number 3 in the charts.
Jeremy Segrott / Flickr
The track running towards Bayswater passes under 23-24 Leinster Road – a facade constructed to match neighbouring terrace houses. disguising where the original house was demolished to allow a gap in the tube system for steam trains to er…let off steam.
Has a “living wall” wall of plants outside the station, the only one in the underground network.
Very nearly wasn’t built because it might have disturbed the cricket played at Lords. It took an act of parliament to finally push construction through.
Has the most platforms of any tube station – 10.
A parliamentary law originally declared that no station could be built at the current site – it was overturned, but there’s still no surface station here.
In 1969, to celebrate the opening of the new Victoria Line, The Queen ‘took the wheel’ of a train, and drove it from Green Park to Oxford Circus.
A world map in the station ticket hall, dating from the 1920s, contains a linear clock that shows the time in all parts of the world.
Modern day Charing Cross is an amalgamation of two old stations: Trafalgar Square and Strand.
Has a huge, empty substation attached to it, abandoned since 1957. Called ‘Pages Walk’ it’s behind a blast door in the station, and is so large it’s been proposed as a possible nightclub location.
Has 23 escalators, the most of any station on the network – more than twice as many as there are in The Shard.
Has been called Kennington Road, Westminster Bridge Road, and finally Lambeth North.
Tim White / Flickr
Named after a nearby pub, which itself was name-dropped in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night
Enjoyed this Bakerloo Line trivia? Check out the other lines right HERE.
London,
Got A Tip? Email [email protected]
Log In to add this to My Saved Articles
Not a member and want to find out more then click here
7 Day Free Trial
Member Log In
We rely on member reviews to help keep The Nudge honest, accurate & continually up to date with the very best of London - so thank you!