Holborn tube station

Holborn tube station stands at the crossing of High Holborn and Kingsway in central London. It is served by the Central and Piccadilly lines, making it one of the few stations where passengers can change between two different lines without going above ground. The station sits between Tottenham Court Road and Chancery Lane on the Central line, and between Covent Garden and Russell Square on the Piccadilly line. Nearby landmarks include the British Museum, Lincoln’s Inn Fields and the London School of Economics. The station’s design reflects its role as a major interchange, with wide corridors and multiple escalators guiding travellers between levels. The station opened in 1906 as part of the Great Northern, Piccadilly and Brompton Railway, though its origins trace back to earlier plans by the Great Northern and Strand Railway. In the 1930s, the station was modernised to replace lifts with escalators, creating a spacious ticket hall and deeper platform access. This upgrade doubled the station’s capacity and made it the only direct interchange between the Central and Piccadilly lines. Before 1994, the station also served as the northern end of a short branch line to Aldwych, and parts of this old route remain visible on special tours. Visitors to Holborn tube station find a blend of historic and modern elements. The original Leslie Green-designed façade, built in stone rather than terracotta, still stands on Kingsway. Below ground, the platform walls are lined with 1980s murals by Allan Drummond, depicting Egyptian and Roman artefacts inspired by the nearby British Museum. The disused platforms from the Aldwych branch can still be seen on guided tours, offering a glimpse into the station’s past. The deep tunnels and wide concourses create a sense of movement, reflecting the station’s role as a busy crossroads of London’s transport network.