The station had an unremarkable past for the first three decades. Despite its central location, it was not used as a London Underground station and closed in 1932 only 25 years later.

Seven years later, Down Street Station began an exceptional period of being a crucial Second World War operation hub for 40 individuals. It also managed the critical role in running Britain’s mainline railroads between 1939 and 1947.

Winston Churchill was also fondly associated with it. While his regular residences in 10 Downing Street, and underground Cabinet War Rooms were being strengthened and repaired, he stayed there as a refuge.

Churchill took refuge there in The Blitz and gave it the nickname “The Burrow” and was known to have enjoyed fine wine, cigars and caviar as well as vintage champagne, brandy, and other beverages provided by railway hotels nearby, despite strict rationing.

Down Street, post-war, was only used as an engineering exit to the Piccadilly Line. There were trains that ran every few minutes, in either direction, between Green Park Corner Station and Hyde Park Corner. 

But now, members of the public are now being given the opportunity to go through a grey door and begin an £85 guided tour of the station by the London Transport Museum, with MailOnline given an exclusive preview this week.

The station is not used in TV and film productions due to its narrow entrance making it hard for equipment to be accessed. It was however mentioned in Agatha Christie novels, The Man in the Brown Suit in 1920 and The Mystery of the Blue Train in 1928. Neil Garman mentioned it in Neverwhere, 1996. 

A spiral staircase that ends at 72ft (22m) below the ground floor provides lighting. However, anyone who enters Transport for London station will need a torch to guide them through a maze made up of staircases, tunnels and platforms.

The remains of bathrooms, bedrooms, kitchens, telephone exchange equipment and meeting rooms once used by the wartime Railway Executive Committee (REC) are seen – with old signs indicating the former usage as a station.

A disused tunnel at Down Street station in London's Mayfair which is being reopened for public tours from next January

The tunnel is located at London’s Mayfair station, Down Street. It will be reopened to the public starting next January

A tunnel leading to the lift shaft at Down Street which was opened as a station in March 1907 before closing in 1932

The tunnel that leads to Down Street’s Lift Shaft. It was originally opened in March 1907 as a station, and then closed down in 1932.

The original exterior of Down Street station in Mayfair is pictured in 1914, seven years after it opened to the public
The station used to be accessed by street level on Down Street, with Down Street Mews visible to the right of this photograph

In 1914, seven years after its opening to the public, you can see the original exterior for Down Street station in Mayfair. Today, the station can be reached from Street Level on Down Street. Down Street Mews can be seen to the right.

Down Street station now exists as an emergency escape route and people will be able to visit during the Hidden London tours

Down Street Station is now an emergency escape route. People will have the opportunity to visit it during Hidden London tours

Abandoned bathroom and toilet facilities from Down Street station during its usage as a secret government bunker

Bathroom and toilet facilities left behind from Down Street Station during its use as a secret government bunker

An old sign directing passengers to the platforms located between Green Park and Hyde Park Corner on the Underground

An old sign directing passengers to the platforms located between Green Park and Hyde Park Corner on the Underground

An abandoned staircase at Down Street station in London which was only in use as an Underground stop for 25 years

A staircase that was abandoned at Down Street Station in London, which had been used as an Underground stop since 1995.

The tunnels at Down Street station were converted into office space for the wartime Railway Executive Committee in 1939

The tunnels at Down Street station were converted into office space for the wartime Railway Executive Committee in 1939

A sign directing people to street level up a spiral staircase which also featured a two-person lift for members of the REC

Sign directing pedestrians to the street up a spiral staircase. It also had a two-person lift that was available for members of REC

The empty lift shaft is among the fascinating features within Down Street station which is reopening for public tours

Down Street station’s empty lift shaft is one of its most interesting features, and it is now open for public tours

Siddy Holloway is engagement manager for the Hidden London programme which is run by the London Transport Museum

Siddy Holloway manages engagement for Hidden London, a programme run by London Transport Museum

A bathtub in the station on which transport workers are thought to have scrawled 'Winston Woz Ere' as a joke in recent years

An old bathtub at the station where transport workers have been seen writing ‘Winston Woz E’ in the form of a joke.

Signs at platform level of Down Street which are intended to direct transport workers and engineers to each platform. These signs were created after the station was closed and feature stations which did not exist at the time of its closure in 1932

Below the platform, signs are placed to guide engineers and transport workers from each platform. They were made after the station had been closed.

One of the wartime operations rooms at Down Street station, with a picture showing two men working at the end of the room

One of Down Street Station’s wartime operation rooms, featuring a photograph of two men standing at the other end.

An abandoned staircase at Down Street which is now being made available for public tours again from next January

The Down Street staircase is currently being renovated and will be open to public viewing starting in January.

Siddy Holloway from the London Transport Museum makes her way through one of the corridors at Down Street station

Siddy Holloway of London Transport Museum walks through one corridor at Down Street Station.

The lift shaft in which passengers used to make their way down to the platform level at Down Street station in London

This is the lift shaft used by passengers to get to Down Street station, London.

MailOnline has been given an exclusive preview tour of Down Street station before it reopens for public tours next year

MailOnline received an exclusive preview of Down Street Station, before it opens for public tours in the new year.

Some of the spaces at Down Street station are used for storage and are accessed by Transport for London workers

Transport for London employees can access some of the Down Street stations’ storage spaces.

One of the tunnels at Down Street station which is going to be opened up again as part of the Hidden London tours

Hidden London tour: One tunnel at Down Street station will be open again

On March 15, 1907 the station was opened to serve Mayfair on the Great Northern Piccadilly, Brompton Railroad – later the Piccadilly railway – connecting Hammersmith with Finsbury Park.

It was not used much because it was so close to Hyde Park Corner and Dover Street, but also because its location was quite inconvenient due to its depth.

A second reason is that the majority of local residents were wealthy, and preferred private transportation. This resulted in it closing on Sundays starting in 1918 and ending permanently on May 21, 1932.

It was then removed from the platform platforms by the lifts and converted to a ventilation shaft. If war rumours had not increased in the subsequent years, it might have remained that way.

It had a mysterious and fascinating purpose to justify its construction. In 1938, the REC was established to manage the railways of the UK in case of war. This was becoming a more likely possibility in that time.

The Government agency needed an area that was safe from bombs to run trains. Down Street proved ideal. Conversion began in April 1939, and finished six months later. 

Parts of the ticket hall were removed and repainted yellow. The ceiling was then steel-fortified. A blast-proof door was also installed to protect underground workers from aerial bombardment. 

The exterior of Down Street station is seen in Mayfair in 1930, only two years before it closed to passengers in 1932

In Mayfair, the exterior of Down Street Station is visible in 1930. This was only two years after it had closed its doors to passengers in 1932.

The London Transport Executive meet at Down Street in 1940. Chief executive Frank Pick sits nearest to camera on right

In 1940, the London Transport Executive met at Down Street. Frank Pick, chief executive of London Transport Executive sits closest to the camera in right

The booking hall at Down Street station is photographed in 1927, only five years before it closed for good in 1932

This is the Down Street station booking hall photographed in 1927.

Down Street Mews is located above the station and is where Winston Churchill's driver used to park his car during the war

Down Street Mews can be found above the station. This is the place Winston Churchill used to park his car in the war.

A Royal Doulton washbasin in one of the rooms at Down Street station which was used as a wartime operations hub

Royal Doulton washing basin in Down Street station’s one-room room, which served as a hub for wartime operations.

Siddy Holloway from the London Transport Museum looks up in the lift shaft which can be seen on the Down Street tours

Siddy Holloway, London Transport Museum, looks up at the shaft of the elevator. This can also be seen during the Down Street tour.

Down Street road in Mayfair which is where the station is located, between Green Park and Hyde Park Corner stations

Down Street Road in Mayfair is the location of the station, which is between Hyde Park Corner Stations and Green Park Stations.

A sign directing people towards the street level up a spiral staircase connecting the platform and tunnels with above ground

Sign directing people to the street up the spiral staircase that connects the tunnels and platform at the top of the stairs

Two of the toilets which were installed in the station as part of its transformation into a wartime operations centre in 1939

Two toilets were added to the station in its transformation from a wartime operations center in 1939.

One of the tunnels at Down Street station which was only in operation for Underground passengers for 25 years

Underground passenger Underground riders were able to use one of the underground tunnels located at Down Street Station station for only 25 years

Down Street road is pictured looking south towards Piccadilly, under which the Piccadilly Underground line runs

Looking southward towards Piccadilly is Down Street Road. Piccadilly Underground runs under it.

The blast-proof door just inside the entrance to the station, with a sentry position to see who was coming in during the war

A blast-proof door is located just outside the station’s entrance. There is a sendry post to monitor who came in during wartime. 

Words written on a bathtub at the station which some claim was used by Winston Churchill - but this has never been proven

A bathtub located at the station was used to write words – although this claim has not been proved.

Siddy Holloway descends the spiral staircase at Down Street station which leads down to what was the REC operations hub

Siddy Holloway climbs down the spiral staircase from Down Street station that takes him to the REC Operations hub.

Siddy Holloway points to a map of Down Street station which was unpopular with passengers because of its long corridosr

Siddy Holloway points out a map of Down Street Station that was not popular with passengers due to its long corridosr

A view of the spiral staircase at Down Street station looking up from below, with a small lift for two people in the middle

View of Down Street Station’s spiral staircase from the ground. There is a lift that can take two people up the middle.

The station in London's Mayfair district features a spiral staircase ending some 72ft (22m) below ground level

A spiral staircase runs 72ft below the ground at London’s Mayfair station.

A Piccadilly line train can be seen passing at platform level of Down Street station, between Green Park and Hyde Park Corner

Piccadilly Line trains can be seen crossing the platform at Down Street Station, halfway between Green Park Corner and Hyde Park Corner.

One of the offices signs installed when the station was converted into the wartime operations centre in 1939

The sign that was placed in front of offices when the station became a wartime operations centre.

The blast-proof door at the top of the spiral staircase which leads to a flight of steps and then the street level exit

There is a blast-proof exit at the top, leading to another flight of stairs and the street.

The tunnels became different spaces for the REC which included meeting rooms, offices, and a telephone exchange that linked the station to important railway stations and other government departments.

For 40 employees who were working in shifts of four, accommodation was constructed. They were allowed to use the facilities, including washrooms, toilets, and eating areas. Although they look old now, it was considered reasonably comfortable.

With most workers working 24/7, the REC had to live, eat, and sleep in shifts of ten-to-12 days. The goal was to not be noticed by passersby at street level.

A private mess room for senior executives and bedrooms were also available. Churchill used them both as private bedrooms and a executive mess. He was well-known to have enjoyed cigars, brandy and other luxury items there.

John Colville, Churchill’s private secretary and assistant to John Colville said Down Street was ‘the most secure’ place during the Blitz. The PM has been known to have eaten with War Cabinet members in November 1940 in the mess.   

Down Street remained the REC headquarters for 2 years following the end of the war. Down Street managed troop movements until December 1947 when the railways became nationalized.

Siddy Holloway (engagement manager at the Hidden London programme, run by the museum) took MailOnline along on Monday for the tour and stated that “if these walls could talk, they would tell me all kinds of stories.”

Signage displaying which offices were located where within the station at Down Street is now nearly barely visible

The signage that indicated which offices are where in Down Street Station is barely noticeable

A dusty passageway and steps at Down Street station is among the features that those going on the tour will be able to see

One of the highlights that the tour participants will see is a narrow passageway with steps near Down Street station.

Siddy Holloway from the Museum of London walks through one of the tunnels that used to be used by passengers

Siddy Holloway, Museum of London, walks through one of those tunnels once used by passengers

Old signage and doorways to rooms at Down Street station which was converted into a wartime operations hub in 1939

An old sign and doorway to Down Street station, converted in 1939 into a wartime operation hub.

Signage at platform level of Down Street station which was installed for the benefit of workers after the station was closed

The sign at the platform level of Down Street Station was placed for workers’ benefit after it was closed.

Yellow paint on the walls of one of the rooms at Down Street station - which was a common colour inside wartime buildings

The walls in one of the rooms of Down Street Station are covered with yellow paint – which was the common color inside wartime buildings.

One of the washbasins in a bathroom at Down Street station which was installed when it was converted for the war in 1939

One of the downstreet station’s washbasins, installed during the War in 1939.

Siddy Holloway from the London Transport Museum stands on what was once the platform level at Down Street station

Siddy Holloway of the London Transport Museum is seen standing on the platform at Down Street station.  

The remains of the telephone exchange infrastructure which was installed at Down Street station for its wartime usage

Rest of the infrastructure for telephone calls that was built at Down Street Station during World War II.

A lamp and ventilation unit can be seen on the ceiling on one of the rooms within the converted Down Street station

On the ceiling of one room in the Down Street Station conversion, you can see a lamp and ventilation unit.

Siddy Holloway from the London Transport Museum examines one of the lights in a passageway at Down Street station

Siddy Holloway of London Transport Museum inspects one light at Down Street station.

The yellow-painted walls below a ceiling of one room at Down Street station which was used during the Second World War

Below a ceiling in Down Street station’s one-room, yellow-painted walls. This was during World War 2.

One of the narrow passageways at Down Street station in London's Mayfair which are located at platform level

A narrow passageway at Down Street Station in London’s Mayfair, which is located at platform-level

Down Street station is used in part for storage by Transport for London, with a large number of buckets in one of the rooms

Transport for London uses Down Street Station in part for its storage. One of the rooms has a lot of buckets.

A service button in the executive mess room in which Winston Churchill is known to have eaten with officials

Service button located in the Executive Mess Room, where Winston Churchill was known to have dined with officials

Ms. Holloway presented the series “Secrets of the London Underground” on UKTV’s Yesterday. She said that it had a significant impact on the war effort as well as the logistics of managing the war effort in Britain. 

She said that the long corridors made it difficult for passengers to use the station. People would just not bother using the station. They’d rather go to Hyde Park Corner, or Green Park.

“But, in reality, what proved to be the problem was it’s use as an underground station during World War II, when it served as a secret governmental bunker.

Ms Holloway also said: ‘Even though Down Street never received a direct hit, if it had that might have paralysed movement of all sorts for days or weeks. That would have been fatal, particularly in the Battle of Britain. This place was a major contributor to crucial months 1940-41.  

Elle continued, “I’ve been to these tunnels seven years. There is something totally bonkers about it because it’s so centrally situated – all of us pass it everyday without realizing.

“And it’s still all here in such great condition, it’s just amazing. It played a crucial role in the war effort, even though most people don’t know much about it. This is really fascinating. 

Old signs at Down Street station which were installed to direct people around the building when it was converted in 1939

The Down Street station had signs that were used to point people in the right direction when the station was renovated in 1939.

One of the tunnels at the disused Underground station Down Street which is located on the Piccadilly line in Mayfair

A tunnel at Underground Station Down Street, which was closed in its heyday and is on Piccadilly Line Mayfair.

Some parts of the walls are in better repair than others at the station which has not seen passengers since 1932

Some walls at the station are more in good condition than others. The station has been closed since 1932.

The entrance to a spiral staircase at Down Street station which opened in 1907 but was closed to passengers in 1932

A spiral staircase that led to Down Street Station, which was opened in 1907 and closed to passengers in 1932.

A long tunnel at Down Street which the London Transport Museum is going to open for public tours next January

The London Transport Museum will open a long tunnel on Down Street for the public next January 

The station was used during the Second World War as a bunker by the prime minister and played a crucial role in the conflict

The prime minister used the station as a bunker in World War II and it played a critical role during conflict.

Siddy Holloway from the London Transport Museum walks up a flight of steps as she examines the walls of the station

Siddy Holloway, London Transport Museum, climbs up several flights of stairs as she inspects the station’s walls

Remnants of the telephone exchange at Down Street station in Mayfair which was used during the Second World War

The remains of Down Street station’s telephone exchange in Mayfair that was used during World War Two

An emergency control panel for fire crews at Down Street which is used in the present-day as a storage facility by TfL

A Down Street emergency panel that firemen can use. It is currently used by TfL as a storage area.

This equipment was used for the telephone exchange at the station which operated as a wartime operations centre

It was also used in the phone exchange that operated at the station, which served as a wartime operations center.

One of the bathrooms at Down Street station in London which will be reopened for public tours from next January

One of London’s Down Street stations bathrooms will be opened for public tour starting January next year

Two Royal Doulton washbashins in a bathroom at Down Street station which has not been used by passengers since 1932

Two Royal Doulton washbashins are found in an unoccupied bathroom at Down Street Station that was not used since 1932.

Disused telephone exchange equipment at Down Street station which used to be on the Piccadilly line in Mayfair

Telephone exchange equipment from Down Street that was once on Piccadilly in Mayfair

Siddy Holloway from the London Transport Museum shines a torch through one of the abandoned tunnels at Down Street

Siddy Holloway, London Transport Museum, shines his torch through one the tunnels that have been abandoned at Down Street

A tiled 'way out' sign still exists from Down Street's days as a station for Underground passengers from 1907 to 1932

The tiled sign indicating the “way out” is still visible from Down Street’s time as Underground passenger station in 1907 and 1932.

After a two year hiatus, Down Street’s tours will be resumed in January 2019 as part of the exclusive “Hidden London”, visits to four Underground stations.

The station will be open for tours, as well as visits to the normally-secret Euston and Moorgate sections. Next year’s season of Secrets of Central London walking tours will also begin.

Euston and Down Street tours will operate on January 15th and February 13th, while Aldwych tours and Moorgate tours run from March 2nd to March 27th. On Friday, tickets will be available for purchase at the museum.

The Euston tour, called ‘The Lost Tunnels’, is £41.50 for adults and will take people through passageways beneath the present-day station that were once used by the travelling public and feature vintage poster fragments.

The Aldwych tour, costing £41.50, takes people around the station to explore the original ticket hall, lift shafts, abandoned platforms and tunnels. It was built in 1907 and then closed down in 1994.

Aldwych was a shelter for Londoners during World War II. It has been used in film and television productions such as Darkest Hour 2017 and Sherlock 2014, and Atonement 2007. 

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The interior of the booking hall at Down Street station in 1927, which shows the old lift entrance and the men's toilets

In 1927, the interior of Down Street station’s booking hall shows the lift entrance and men’s toilets. 

An entrance boarded up in 1939 with a Robert McAlpine Ltd contractor’s sign, showing that the conversion was in progress

A 1939 entrance with a Robert McAlpine Ltd sign. This indicated that conversion work was underway

Winston Churchill was a regular visitor to Down Street station during the Blitz and nicknamed it as 'The Burrow'

Winston Churchill visited Down Street Station during the Blitz. He nicknamed it “The Burrow”

The final tour is of Moorgate, also costing £41.50, which will take people behind the scenes at what was one of London’s first Tube stations, featuring a maze of disused tunnels and track left behind from station upgrades.

The original Greathead Shield, which was abandoned in a tunnel extension planned for 1904 by the City and South London Railways will be on display. There will also be corridors lined up with original tiles from South London Railways and City.

The £20 above-ground walking tours taking in Covent Garden, Kingsway, Lincoln’s Inn Fields and Victoria Embankment will also begin in January and look at how the areas have transformed over 200 years.

Down Street: Churchill’s Secret Station is is one of the locations on London Transport Museum’s Hidden London tour programme. This tour runs on select dates from January 15 to February 13, inclusive.

Tickets cost £85 for adults and £80 for concessions and will go on sale on Thursday to those who pre-register with the museum’s newsletter, before going on general sale on Friday. For more information, click here