London: The Lost Tunnels of Euston Station Guided Tour

Euston’s public image is all rush and routine. This 75-minute walk takes you into the disused tunnels beneath the station, where old passageways and decades-old advertising sit apart from the crowds above. At a ventilation shaft, you can look down on trains running on the Victoria line.

I like two things in particular: the chance to see vintage posters and remnants of Leslie Green’s station, and the guide’s account of how a working transport hub has changed and may change again with HS2. Guides Scott and Anthony were praised for explaining why parts of the station closed and for allowing time for photos, though the guide on your departure may differ.

The main drawback is physical, not historical: you’ll walk through dark, dusty spaces, uneven areas and stairs, and there are no toilets. The tour is not suitable for people with mobility impairments or claustrophobia, and open-toed shoes, food, drinks and large bags are not allowed.

Key points

• A look below everyday Euston: Walk through disused tunnels and passageways once used by the public.
• Posters preserved out of sight: See advertising remnants concealed for more than 50 years.
• A view over Victoria line trains: The route includes a secret ventilation shaft where you can look down at the trains.
• Past and future in one short tour: Hear about Euston’s early days and its planned role as London’s HS2 terminus.
• A compact visit: The guided walk lasts 75 minutes and begins and ends at Euston Square station.

Euston beyond the commuter rush

Euston is easy to treat as a place to pass through. More than 42 million passengers use its Tube and Network Rail facilities each year, and the station’s everyday purpose is to move people along. This tour shifts your attention from the crowds and signs to the older spaces beneath them.

The appeal is not a grand underground ruin. It is a close look at the practical layers of a transport station: passageways that once served passengers, parts of a station that fell out of use, and evidence of how London’s transport needs have changed. A faded advertisement can tell you what a station looked like to its users in a way a new sign cannot.

The experience is run by London Transport Museum. Its Hidden London tours are written by historical specialists and draw on the museum’s archive and collection. That gives the walk a useful balance: you are not simply peering into a closed corridor, but hearing why the space existed and what happened to it.

What you see below the station

The tour takes you through disused tunnels and passageways that were once part of the public station. Expect a dark, dusty and sometimes uneven route, rather than a polished museum gallery. Low lighting and stairs are part of the experience, so comfortable shoes and clothes that suit the day are sensible choices.

Among the details to watch for are remnants of old advertising posters, hidden from view for decades. These fragments make the space feel less like an empty service corridor and more like a place that once had a daily role in London life. They also reward a slower look: give yourself time to notice what is still visible on the walls.

The route also covers the station’s early beginnings near Melton and Drummond Streets. You’ll hear about the area around the original station and see what remains of the work associated with architect Leslie Green. The tour frames those traces against the changes ahead, as Euston is set to become London’s terminus for the HS2 line to the Midlands.

The exact order of these features can depend on how the guide leads the walk, but the central idea is consistent: old infrastructure does not simply vanish when a station is altered. Some of it remains tucked behind the modern network, where a guide can make its purpose legible.

The ventilation shaft and the Victoria line

One of the tour’s most striking features is a secret ventilation shaft, where you can look down on Victoria line trains. It offers a rare change of perspective. Instead of standing on a platform watching trains arrive, you see the railway from a point above the line.

That view also helps explain how a large underground station has to work beyond the obvious public areas. The tour does not present the shaft as a ride or a staged spectacle; it is a working piece of station infrastructure with a view into the railway below. If you enjoy the mechanics of urban transport, this is likely to be a highlight.

Take care with your footing and follow the guide’s instructions in this and other restricted areas. The route involves low lighting and stairs, so it is better suited to people who are comfortable moving through confined, uneven spaces than to anyone looking for an easy, step-free stroll.

A station’s past meets the HS2 plans

Euston’s history is not treated as a closed chapter. The guide connects the older station and its out-of-use spaces with the changes planned for HS2, which is intended to bring high-speed rail services to the Midlands from a London terminus at Euston.

That context matters because the station is still a living transport hub. Its tunnels, platforms and routes have been shaped by changing passenger needs, and the future works make the remaining older features feel especially worth noticing. You hear about both what has already changed and what is expected to change next.

The tour also gives you a clearer sense of the contrast between a station’s public face and its less visible infrastructure. That is valuable if you use Euston regularly, but it also works for a first-time visitor: the guide supplies the context that a quick walk through the concourse cannot.

How the 75 minutes are spent

This is a guided walking tour, not an open-ended visit to explore on your own. You meet your guide at the south exit of Euston Square station, then follow the group through the disused areas and back to the same meeting point. The listed duration is 75 minutes, so it can fit into a day without demanding a half-day commitment.

The walk combines the station’s origins, its former public passageways, the old poster remnants, Leslie Green’s work and the Victoria line shaft. The guide is central to making those elements meaningful. Without the explanation, a dark passage might look like a closed corridor; with its former use and later changes in mind, it becomes part of Euston’s transport story.

A small group can make it easier to hear and take photographs. One departure had only four participants, and guides Scott and Anthony were described as friendly and willing to leave time for pictures. That is a useful example, not a promise that every tour will be so small. If photography matters to you, keep your camera or phone ready and stay with the group.

Is $60.61 good value?

At $60.61 per person, this is a relatively high price for a 75-minute walk if you compare it with a free museum visit or an ordinary station tour. The value lies in access to disused spaces and in having a guide explain places that are not part of the normal passenger route. The included experience is the Euston Tube station tour with a live English-speaking guide.

I think the price makes the most sense for people with a real interest in London transport, station design or urban history. You are paying for a specialist subject and access to areas most passengers never see, rather than a long list of stops or a full day of entertainment. If you are only mildly curious about the Underground, the short duration may feel costly.

The tour’s rating is 4.6 out of 5 from 31 reviews. Praise focuses on clear, interesting explanations, friendly guides and time to take photographs. Those strengths matter here: a guided visit to hidden infrastructure depends on the person leading it, and the experience is better when you can pause to look rather than hurry through.

Who should book this walk

This tour suits adults and children aged 10 or older who enjoy transport history and do not mind enclosed, dimly lit spaces. It is a particularly good fit if you have already seen London’s major museums and want to understand a familiar station from a less familiar angle.

It is not suitable for children under 10, people with mobility impairments or anyone with claustrophobia. You’ll walk on uneven ground and go up and down stairs, and there are no toilets during the activity. There is a limit of four children aged 10 to 15 per adult, so families should plan around that rule.

Wear comfortable, closed-toe shoes and weather-appropriate clothing. Do not bring food or drinks, and leave large bags elsewhere. You’ll need a passport or ID card, as well as comfortable clothes for the walk.

Finding the right Euston Square entrance

The meeting point is the south exit of Euston Square station, NW1 2BF, on the corner of Gower Street and Gower Place. There is more than one entrance to Euston Square, so look for the entrance with the glass façade on the hospital side of Euston Road. The what3words location is baked.bend.worry.

The tour ends back at the meeting point. Check the available starting times when booking, and allow enough time to locate the correct entrance: arriving at the wrong side of a station is an unglamorous way to begin an underground adventure.

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and a reserve-now, pay-later option is available. Those terms offer some flexibility, but the practical details matter more on the day: arrive at the stated entrance, bring ID, and be ready to walk.

Should you book the Lost Tunnels of Euston tour?

Book it if you like the workings of cities as much as their famous sights. The combination of old passenger passages, concealed advertising, Leslie Green’s station traces and a view over Victoria line trains gives you a specific story to take away: how a major station evolves, and what can remain behind when its public routes change.

Skip it if you need step-free access, dislike confined spaces or want a long tour with many separate attractions. At 75 minutes and $60.61, it is a focused experience rather than an all-purpose London activity. For the right visitor, though, it turns a station you might otherwise hurry through into a place worth looking at more closely.

FAQ

How long is the Euston tunnels tour?

The guided walking tour lasts 75 minutes.

Where does the tour start?

Meet at the south exit of Euston Square station, on the corner of Gower Street and Gower Place, NW1 2BF.

Which Euston Square entrance should I use?

Use the entrance with the glass façade on the hospital side of Euston Road. Euston Square has more than one entrance.

Where does the tour end?

It ends back at the meeting point.

What language is the tour in?

The live tour guide speaks English.

What should I bring?

Bring a passport or ID card, comfortable shoes and clothes, and weather-appropriate clothing.

Are children allowed?

Children aged 10 and older may join. There can be no more than four children aged 10 to 15 per adult, and the tour is not suitable for children under 10.

Is the tour suitable for someone with limited mobility?

No. The walk includes uneven ground and stairs, and it is not suitable for people with mobility impairments.

Is the tour suitable for someone with claustrophobia?

No. The route passes through disused underground passageways and is not suitable for people with claustrophobia.

Can I bring food, drinks or a large bag?

No. Food, drinks and luggage or large bags are not allowed. Open-toed shoes are also not allowed.