Hidden London Hangouts Season 5

The Hangouts team return for a new series with a visit to one of the oldest stations on the Underground, to discover a wealth of disused and reused hidden spaces.

The team go behind the gates of the new Elizabeth line station at Canary Wharf, only hours after the official handover, and explore the brand new station as TfL staff take over its running.

In this special episode, the team share footage of the Bank Capacity Upgrade Project and discuss the incredible work to modernise this complex station, set to reopen in mid-May 2022. The episode was recorded live on 30 January 2022 with some of our Patreon members, two weeks after the Northern line closure at Bank.

In this episode the team follow the journey of the last 484 unit to the Island Line on the Isle of Wight. 484005 is the last of the converted ex London Underground D78 trains to arrive in the island. Join the team in discovering the adventurous delivery process for these trains.

In this episode the team explore a station on the Central line that has moved, changed its name and acted as a bunker during the Second World War. Behind the grime, they discover elegant designs, surviving tiles and beautiful posters in the Museum's collection.

In this special episode the Hangouts team take part in the Trial Operations of the Elizabeth line. They take a ride on the new trains, meet fans of the show, and transport historian and co-presenter of Secrets of the London Underground Tim Dunn. They also talk to Transport for London's Commissioner Andy Byford, Chief Operating Officer Andy Lord and Crossrail CEO MArk Wild about what this moment means to them. In the studio, they are joined by Emma Sewell to disocver the inspiration behind the unique Elizabeth line moquette.

In this episode, the team take you behind closed doors to see how this Victorian station, first opened in 1876, has been transformed to become an interchange for the new Elizabeth line. Take a close look at its breathtaking new design features, clever use of light and innovative ventilation systems.

The team head to the Elizabeth line once again, this time to explore Liverpool Street, a station so expanded it now joins with a neighbouring station. They unpack the features that make this station unique and Alex finally gets to see the fabled totem forest!

Join the team for a holiday trip to the seaside as they visit the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway. Situated on the south coast and known as "Kent's Mainline in Miniature", this epic 15 inch gauge railway is well worth a visit. Chris and Laura explore the delights of the 131/2 mile miniature marvel and share their postcards with Siddy and Alex.

In this episode the team explore behind the scenes of the original western terminus of the Central London Railway - Shepherd's Bush. Join Chris, Siddy and Alex as they discover a maze of spaces from the original Victorian passageways and lift shafts and find out what they are used for today.

In this episode, the Hangouts team go in to bat at Oval, exploring behind the scenes of the original City and South London Railway station. They discover fabulous tilework and artwork with links to the nearby cricket ground.

The team return to Bank/ Monument station to see the new southbound Northern line platforms just days before they open to passengers. Chris, Siddy and Laura visit as guests of Programme Delivery Manager Iain Smith and access all areas - including the legendary King William Street disused station!

In this episode the team travel against the clock on a new Elizabeth line train with some of the design team Paul Marchant, Emma Sewell and Harriet Wallace. They are joined in the studio by special guest Mark Wild for a unique insight into the delivery of the new line.

In this episode, the team are joined by Museum Director Sam Mullins to explore the Elizabeth line on its opening day (24 May 2022). Along the way they meet fans and talk to TfL Commissioner Andy Byford, Crossrail CEO Mark Wild, MD of London Underground Andy Lord and MD of MTR Nigel Holness. They visit Abbey Wood and Custom House and make a special purchase at Paddington.

In this episode, the team are reunited at South Kensington station for a unique opportunity to explore the former lift shafts during the period of closure for escalator replacement works. They discover gardens, beautiful original tiles and forgotten posters and explore passageways once intended for a deep-level express District line.

In this episode the team revisit Metroland to discover how a new station transformed a small village in Middlesex into a commuter and leisure destination. Chris and Alex explore a rare disused feature of the station - a lever frame signal cabin.

The team revisit Charing Cross station to share some of the disused spaces that can be seen on our Hidden London tour. They reveal some of the things that make this popular tour possible and the work that needs to be done to safely take visitors behind the scenes.

Chris and Siddy visit Stockwell to explore the hidden layers of a station that's changed many times since it was first built in 1890. Along the way the team discover original station passages, tiling, a lift shaft, ventilation chambers and even the disused entrance to a deep-level shelter.

The team (minus Siddy) visit City Road, between Angel and Old Street, which had a very short life as a working station but has served the community in different ways throughout the years.

Alex and Chris explore an Underground station closed to the public, West Ashfield, as they take you inside London Underground's training facility at Ashfield House. They also take a lesson in signalling with model trains in the Signalling School and get aboard the cab of an S stock train simulator.

In the last episode of Series 5, the team visit the Elizabeth line station at Bond Street during construction and explore a magnificent cavernous station being built moments away from one of London's busiest shopping districts. Chris, Siddy and Alex discover details behind the scenes of construction not seen before on their explorations of the line. The team will return with Series 6 later this autumn.