Hidden London: An Appreciation

The HLH Team live and in person

I can’t remember how I found out about Hidden London Hangouts.

There was an exhibition at the Museum about disused stations and parts of other places that were not publicly seen. And then Covid-19 hit more or less at the same time as the Youtube show began on April 4th 2020—with a look at Aldwych, which closed in 1994. However I got to know about it, I knew I was going to love it. It goes out on Youtube on Saturday evenings, presented by the London Transport Museum’s Chris Nix, Siddy Holloway and Laura Hilton-Brown along with Alex Grunden, a producer with a phenomenal talent for presenting if this series is anything to go by.  It was a difficult and at times terrifying time, and Alex’s sign-off “have yourself a great day and stay safe” actually felt like the most heartfelt words of wisdom and care. Because although I was very lucky and I have nothing but respect for those in harms way during this time, I also didn’t go anywhere and lived and worked in my flat for all the lockdowns. Hidden London Hangout was something new and fun: an escape from the present, and it was welcome every weekend.


You see as a younger person I used Aldwych once to travel a on a journey that’s probably quicker on foot. I’m more experienced as a traveller now, but I am also very pleased with myself. Later on I would travel through Mornington Crescent just after it closed for work on its escalators, and the possibility that it wouldn’t reopen. It did, mostly because of a campaign by fans of a nonsensical Radio 4 comedy show, one sketch being the game of Mornington Crescent.


Further up the Northern Line and further along my London life, that mysterious wide tunnels between Golders Green and Hampstead. The station is the holy grail for fans of disused stations, and there are places online with grainy pictures and scant accounts of North End station, which never opened because of a campaign on behalf of Hampstead Garden Suburb. There’s a whole discussion to be had about the effect the Tube has had on London, and they’ve gone into that because the show is interested in more than just stations. They’ve covered the Routemaster bus, they’ve gone to the Isle of Wight. And the episode on Bell-Ringing. which doesn’t involve London or Transport, is one of the most esoteric and brilliantly inventive documentaries.


If North End was the Holy Grail of disused stations then the crown jewels are the opportunities that London Transport Museum offer: Down Street, Aldwych and more… I’d done them back in the day and I did Aldwych online and York Road too.


The recipe here, whether it’s for a show about North End station, or posters and tiles, or the Moquette—the sturdy patterned weave that covers the seats on all London Transport vehicles—is an enthusiasm for the subject and a wealth of information entertainingly delivered. It’s local history, it’s museum engagement with the community, and because it’s Transport for London it’s about design, function, and art.


Alex, Chris, Laura and Siddy are engaging presenters with individual specialisms and a team spirit. The show has developed as its gone along—just like a TV show, and I have compared it to Blue Peter and those documentaries you used to get in the 1980. Viewing figures are phenomenal, and the team routinely express bewilderment and gratitude. 


Also the engagement with viewers on social media is first-rate. As a Museum Person myself, I am obsessed with the LT Museum’s IMS (Information Management System) because I owe my career in some respects to Collections Management Systems. Also I’ve always been interested in old photographs of the surrounding area wherever I’ve ended up: the Museum’s online photo collection. Everything Hidden London has to offer towers in quality and insight when compared to the ridiculous Urban Explorer Youtube exploration of some un-named parts of the network. It really is amateur and pretentious, and these guys should leave it to the professionals.



My 10 Picks of the Series


Okay, it’s more than ten because I have put separate visits to the same station together, and they are not in order.



North End (Bull and Bush) | Hidden London Hangouts (S06E02)

The first station I thought of when they started. Utterly fascinating but also made me realise that sometimes the things you wish for the most won’t always be pleasant. There was a strong feeling of grime and discomfort but I’m so glad they went through it for us.


Hidden London Hangouts Episode 1 - Aldwych and Hidden London Hangouts S2E8 - Aldwych: a deeper dig






The first episode. Everything is there from the beginning and there’s the Covid-19 feeling of uncertainty. And I love Aldwych.



Hidden London Hangouts Episode 9 - Piccadilly Circus and Hidden London Hangouts S3E1 - Piccadilly Circus: a deeper dig




Piccadilly Circus The Frank Pick exhibit at this station just adds to the impeccable style and commitment to history that you get with Transport for London.


Hidden London Hangouts S2E3 - Routemaster




 

I’m more of a fan of the modern Routemaster than some, but the original is a London icon. I would love an uncensored version but the family values of Hidden London means that it’s not a good idea—and that’s fine. At least they censor with an appropriate tone. Driving these things is clearly a skill and we should salute those that did it all day.


Hidden London Hangouts S2E5 - Johnston

As a typeface nerd I would of course love to have this classic in my list!


Hidden London Hangouts S2E14 - The secret life of posters




The Spiral Escalator at the Acton Depot
The posters are sensational and this episode was strong with museum content, coming as it did from the Acton Depot. I love all the background detail, like the secret valuation because I love a museum registrar! My favourite thing in the depot is officially the spiral elevator but the posters in this collection are genuine works of art. The engagement with artists is one of the most important things that TfL does aside from moving people around!


Speaking of the depot, I saw there a Compaq server, an old computer system which appealed to another interest. I e-mailed the Museum about it and got a very detailed reply from a Volunteer describing the function of this system in fantastic detail. Volunteers in museums are A Good Thing!








Hidden London Hangouts S3E23 - Hampstead




This might well be my favourite station, and so a deep look into it makes this a favourite episode. I have contemplated doing the 320 steps. And maybe I’d be okay but it seems like it’s not a good idea.

Whitechapel's Bell | Hidden London Hangouts (S06E06)

Some of the episodes are not like the other, and although there are some Isle of Wight holiday episodes, this one is a classic. It’s a genuine piece of educational documentary featuring an esoteric subject. If Hidden London attracts nerds then maybe there are more nerds around than we previously thought, and that’s a great thing.

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