The creepy abandoned tube station that was used in the new Luther Netflix movie – and its fascinating history
FILM fans in London walk past scenes from their favourite movies every day, without knowing it.
One such location is an abandoned underground station, which was used in the recent Luther film, The Fallen Sun.
A fighting scene from the movie was filmed at the abandoned Aldwych Tube Station, where
This London underground station was originally opened in 1907, but has been closed since 1994.
The empty station, along with Charing Cross, is among several now-disused terminals that can be hired out for exclusive use.
Aldwych has also featured in TV shows and films, including Sherlock, Atonement, V for Vendetta and Superman IV: The Quest for Peace.
The empty terminus has also been dubbed a “ghost station” after it was officially closed to the public nearly 30 years ago – with maps from the decade still hanging on the walls.
Despite being closed, adverts can still be seen along the platform and signs still warn people to ‘Mind the Gap.’
The station was mainly served by a shuttle train and had fairly low passenger numbers, in comparison to most stops in London.
For this reason, it was considered for closure on more than one occasion before its doors were eventually closed off to the public.
It only provided services during weekday peak hours from 1962 and they were eventually discontinued in 1994.
Eventually, it was the cost of replacing the lifts that provided the final nail in its coffin, which was considered too much to pay.
Like several other stations in London, the tunnels of Aldwych were used as shelters during both world wars – although as well as protecting people, it was also used to house artworks from London’s public galleries and museums.
It was also the venue for a concert performed for people sheltering in 1940.
The London Transport Museum still offer tours of the station, which they describe as “one of London’s secret places, holding myths and memories of times gone by”.
Their excursions will resume on May 10 and will last 75 minutes.
Aldwych is not the only of London’s stations that can be toured that have a history of appearing in both television and cinema.
Charing Cross, near Trafalgar Square, is typically the go-to location for any tube-based scenes for films.
The station has an old Jubilee line platform that hasn’t been used by travellers since 1999.
Now the old platform acts as a purpose built film set, with the likes of Daniel Craig, Idris Elba and even Paddington Bear filming scenes there.
Siddy Holloway, Engagement Manager for London Transport Museum’s Hidden London, told Sun Online Travel why it is a perfect location to film any underground scenes.
She said: “Charing Cross is where we marry up underground history with pop culture because it is used extensively as a film set for Hollywood blockbusters.
“Skyfall was filmed there, Paddington, Thor, the Bourne Ultimatum, Luther, Sherlock Holmes and others.
“It’s the old Jubilee Line concourse that closed in 1999 and so they can authentically create the atmosphere of the underground without disturbing passengers on the actual underground.”
Meanwhile, this London underground station secretly protected Sir Winston Churchill during World War II.
And these tourists found a forgotten but perfectly preserved station in London that hadn’t been touched for decades.