Season 4 · Episode 2

Secrets of the London Underground: Paddington and Tottenham Court Road

Tim and Siddy go under the platforms of Paddington station. It has five different tube lines running through it, with its oldest and newest lines opening 150 years apart. Tim explores a tunnel still in use under the mainline station, but with intriguing clues as to its original purpose. Siddy discovers some former police cells underneath the platforms, and unearths what remains of the luggage carousels from when passengers on the Heathrow Express were allowed to check-in their luggage in the main station. At Tottenham Court Road, Siddy reveals the huge changes to the station to accommodate the Elizabeth line, and tells the story of how the station’s iconic mosaic artwork was preserved during the works. She also takes us behind a locked door to uncover a floodgate installed as part of Britain’s Cold War defences. Back at our Museum depot in Acton, Tim meets a young tube driver who’s built up a large following on social media for her posts showing behind the scenes of her job.