About this season
Each week, join Chris Nix, Siddy Holloway and Laura Hilton-Brown from the Museum’s Hidden London team and host Alex Grundon as they explore the secret and mysterious spaces of London’s transport system. In series 1, the team focus on the different sites in the Hidden London tour programme, sharing historical titbits that are revealed on the tours as well as the behind the scenes processes they go through to make the tours such as success. In series 2 and 3, the team turn their hands to a huge number of various transport topics such as moquette, tiling, Johnston type face, posters and much, much more!
Episodes (30)
1. Piccadilly Circus: a deeper dig
Aired 9 January 2021
The Hangouts team return for a brand new season and revisit a fan favourite of Season 1 - Piccadilly Circus. Join the team as they take Alex on location for his first chance to take a deeper look behind the scenes in the Heart of London.
2. Lords
Aired 16 January 2021
The team share the history of Lords station, formerly known as St John's Wood Road, part of the Metropolitan Railway. Siddy and Chris also take you on location at our Acton Depot for a peek into the Sign Mezzanine.
3. Signs
Aired 23 January 2021
Your favourite foursome are back on location at the Acton Depot to tell you all about the iconic London Underground's signs.
4. Oxford Circus
Aired 30 January 2021
The team explore one of London's busiest stations, Oxford Circus. This station is familiar to anyone who has ever visited London but hides a secret history of two stations that became one.
5. London to New York Special
Aired 6 February 2021
In this very special episode, the Hangouts foursome (virtually) travelled to New York to meet the team at the New York Transit Museum. Join them to explore the history of New York's transit network, as well as its parallels and differences with London's transport.
6. Underground Art
Aired 13 February 2021
The team explore the secrets of the Museum Depot's fabulous art store. They share their favourite art and discover that gorgeous artwork is just the first step of making a classic transport poster.
7. Metroland
Aired 20 February 2021
Escape to the country with the team in this episode exploring the suburban area known as Metro-land.
8. Marlborough Road
Aired 27 February 2021
The team reveal elusive disused station of the Metropolitan line that has been hiding in plain sight for 82 years.
9. Holloway Road
Aired 6 March 2021
The team uncover the secrets of Holloway Road station.
10. Tottenham Court Road
Aired 13 March 2021
Did you know that Tottenham Court Road station used to be called Oxford Street station? Find out all about the history of this central London station.
11. Mail Rail
Aired 20 March 2021
In this episode, the Hangouts foursome are joined by special guest Chris Taft, Head of Collection at the Postal Museum. Find out all about the Mail Rail.
12. Whitechapel
Aired 27 March 2021
Ever heard of St Mary's station? Later known as Whitechapel Road, this short-lived station was located between Whitechapel and Aldgate East on the District and Metropolitan lines. Find out its little known but fascinating history.
13. York Road
Aired 3 April 2021
The awesome foursome celebrate the Hangouts' first birthday with a special episode packed with exclusive on-site footage and stunning photographs from the Museum's collection. Find out all the secrets of York Road and join in the celebrations!
14. Anniversary
Aired 18 April 2021
The team look back at their favourite moments from the three seasons of Hidden London Hangouts, to celebrate the series' first birthday.
15. Marylebone
Aired 24 April 2021
Follow the team on location to discover the secrets of Marylebone station.
16. Edgware Road
Aired 1 May 2021
Go behind the scenes at Edgware Road station with the team and special guest Signal Instructor Charley Monroe who showed us around the signalling cabin 'adopted' by the Museum when it went out of service in 2019.
17. Tube Maps
Aired 8 May 2021
The team explore the history of Underground maps from the early days of the Metropolitan Railway to the revolutionary diagrammatic map by Harry Beck. They also give you a sneak peek of our Museum Depot in Acton where most of the iconic maps in our collection are stored.
18. Notting Hill Gate
Aired 15 May 2021
The Hangouts foursome are back out on the system to explore a very old station that has been rebuilt many times in its life. The team reveal the secrets of hidden passageways not open to the public, including posters that have survived there from the 1950s.
19. Museum Reopening
Aired 22 May 2021
This week the team explore London Transport Museum as it reopens to the public, meet Hangout fans in person and talk to TfL Commissioner Andy Byford to find out where he would like to visit behind the scenes with the team.
20. Kennington station and Kennington Loop
Aired 29 May 2021
Join the team as they explore the hidden, disused and secret gems of Kennington station and ride the Kennington loop.
21. Leicester Square
Aired 5 June 2021
The team explore the hidden and disused spaces of Leicester Square station, and discover original tiles and ingeniously reused lift shafts.
22. Swiss Cottage
Aired 12 June 2021
Follow the team behind the scenes at Swiss Cottage station.
23. Hampstead
Aired 19 June 2021
This week the team visit the deepest station on the London Underground and go behind the scenes to uncover surprising hidden features.
24. Arsenal
Aired 26 June 2021
The team explore Arsenal station, formerly known as Gillsepie Road, one of the London's shallowest Tube stations.
25. Knightsbridge Pt.1
Aired 3 July 2021
The team visit Knightbridge station for the first of two episodes exploring this evolving station and its beautiful original features. Part two will explore the changes being made to reuse the oldest part of the station to give step free access to the site.
26. Knightsbridge Pt.2
Aired 10 July 2021
The team return to Knightsbridge to see how the original station is being adapted to bring step-free access to the modern Tube and reveal the surprising place that one of the original station fittings ended up.
27. Green Park Mosaic Tunnel
Aired 17 July 2021
What's the story behind the mosaic tunnel at Green Park station? Join the Hangouts Fab Four to find out.
28. King's Cross light tunnel
Aired 24 July 2021
This is the final episode of Hidden London Hangouts Series 3! Join the team as they talk about the wonderful architecture of King's Cross light tunnel (affectionately known as the King's Cross rainbow tunnel) and how this kaleidoscope tunnel has a special place in many Londoner's hearts.
29. Swanage Summer Special
Aired 31 July 2021
This week the team are on holiday, but Chris and Alex invite you to join them by the sea to discover a train that served London and has now retired to Swanage Railway. They spend a privileged day aboard the newly restored Class 117 during test-runs before it enters service.
30. 007: 483 Your Eyes Only
Aired 7 August 2021
This week the team head off on a Summer Special mission to the Isle of Wight Steam Railway to see Class 483 unit 007 officially become part of the Steam Railway Museum's collection.