The station was used as an air-raid shelter during aerial bombings on London between 7th September 1940 and 11th May 1941.
The tours of the disused station brings visitors face to face with 1940’s Londoners affected by the Blitz including spivs and wardens and also includes a lightship to simulate an air-raid and recorded memories of real WWII Londoners.
The station has been dressed to provide an authentic wartime atmosphere and visitors to the experience will find a period RT8 London Bus parked outside the entrance.
Speaking on Thursday Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: “We must never forget the bravery and dogged determination of the men and women who battled to keep London moving in the face of a terrifying and unremitting bombardment which sought to destroy our great city during the Blitz. This tremendous spirit and resilience remain at the very heart of the capital and we owe a huge debt of gratitude and respect to all those who helped secure London’s future.”
Earlier this month the Mayor joined counterparts from Coventry and Dresden to open a new London Transport Museum exhibition marking the 70th anniversary of the Blitz. The Under Attack: London, Coventry and Dresden Exhibition runs until 31st March 2011.
Denise Keable says
September 25, 2010 at 9:18 amPlease advise if they going to keep this tour going, due to popularity. I would like tickets, and as its sold out and took 14 days to get the carriages in the station, surely it will continue as a tourist attraction?
Jill Bunting says
September 25, 2010 at 2:35 pmBy the time I heard about this event it was already sold out. Very disappointed. I really hope this is extended. Please contact re future plans.
Tania schwartz says
September 25, 2010 at 9:38 pmThe Aldwich station should be opened for at least a month,so that it can be viewed by more people.eveyone is so quick to book these things now due to the Internet ,that it just doesn’t give people a chance to find things out by chance and go.Please open it for longer.it will be financially viable
Richard Brooks says
September 26, 2010 at 7:49 amIt is such a shame that this is only open for 2 days after all the effort and expense of setting it up.
Surely the daily the cost for, say, 8 weeks opening would be significantly less than the cost per day for being open just 2 days!
Simon K says
September 26, 2010 at 10:13 amI think the reason they are not opening it for an extended period is because of health and safety issues, specifically that there are no lifts. The risk is presumably deemed acceptable on a one off basis but not for a permanent attraction.
As for booking, afaik it wasn’t possible to book over the internet. I booked over the phone, preceded by about half an hour’s dialling and redialling.
Yves R. says
September 26, 2010 at 4:36 pmI am disappointed to have missed this; I only just heard about it. I hope it can be extended so I can get an opportunity to take the tour.