Arsenal tube station

Arsenal station stands on a quiet Victorian street in Highbury, north London. It sits between Holloway Road and Finsbury Park on the Piccadilly line, in fare zone two. The station was first built in 1906 as Gillespie Road, serving a small residential area and a local divinity college. In 1932 it was renamed after Arsenal Football Club, which had moved to nearby Highbury Stadium the year before. The original red terracotta building was later replaced by a wider modern design in the 1930s. The station is unusual for its narrow entrance squeezed between terraced houses. Unlike most deep-level stations, it has no escalators or lifts, only a sloping passageway leading down to the platforms. The platforms still show the old Gillespie Road name in large tiled letters, restored during a 2007 upgrade. On match days the station uses a unique ‘tidal’ system to manage large crowds heading to the Emirates Stadium half a kilometre away. The station’s name remains a reminder of the club’s long connection to the area. Visitors find a compact station with short flights of stairs at each end of the sloping passage. The platforms are lined with restored tiling showing the station’s original name. Outside, the narrow street keeps the station away from main roads and bus routes. The passageway itself is divided by a full-height fence on match days to separate flows of passengers. Despite its small size, Arsenal station plays an important role for football fans and local commuters alike.