Hampstead tube station

Hampstead tube station stands at the top of a steep hill in the London Borough of Camden. It sits on the Edgware branch of the Northern line, between Golders Green and Belsize Park stations, marking the northern end of the line’s underground section. The station was designed by architect Leslie Green and opened in 1907 by the Charing Cross, Euston & Hampstead Railway. Its original tiled signs on the platform walls still read Heath Street, the name proposed before opening. The station lies where Heath Street meets Hampstead High Street, a busy junction in the heart of the area. Hampstead station is worth the journey for its engineering achievements. Its platforms are the deepest on the London Underground, 58.5 metres below ground level, while the lift shaft reaches 55 metres. The high-speed lifts, first made by Otis, were modernised twice, most recently in 2014 by Accord. The station also holds a piece of unfinished history: the abandoned North End or Bull & Bush station lies between Hampstead and Golders Green. Nearby, Hampstead Heath station on the London Overground is a short walk east along South End Road. Visitors find a station built to handle a steep climb. The deep platforms and tall lift shaft show how the engineers solved the challenge of the hill. The original tiled signs recall the station’s early years, while the modernised lifts keep the service running today. Above ground, the busy streets of Hampstead High Street and Heath Street offer cafés and shops. The station’s depth and location make it a quiet but important part of London’s transport network.