Calling at Down Street: Churchill's Former Tube Station Bunker to Be Opened

It was first used as a Tube station in central London, and then converted into a wartime bunker for British PM Winston Churchill during WWII. Now the capital's transport officials are calling on businesses to put forward their best ideas on how to once again transform the disused Down Street station.

As part of plans to open up the doors of the former station, Transport for London (TfL) officials have called out to businesses to come up with new and interesting ideas of how to use many of London's abandoned Tube stops.

The station, which is located close to Piccadilly in central London, was opened in 1907 and closed in 1932 due to its close proximity to nearby stations.

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© Photo : TfL

Down Street Tube station played a vital role in the Second World War when it was used as the protected underground headquarters for the Railway Executive Committee. It is also believed that the station was used by Sir Winston Churchill and the War Cabinet while the Cabinet War Rooms were being prepared.

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© Photo : TFL

Down Street Tube station played a vital role in the Second World War when it was used as the protected underground headquarters for the Railway Executive Committee. It is also believed that the station was used by Sir Winston Churchill and the War Cabinet while the Cabinet War Rooms were being prepared.

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© Photo : TfL

Down Street Tube station played a vital role in the Second World War when it was used as the protected underground headquarters for the Railway Executive Committee. It is also believed that the station was used by Sir Winston Churchill and the War Cabinet while the Cabinet War Rooms were being prepared.

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© Photo : TfL

Down Street Tube station played a vital role in the Second World War when it was used as the protected underground headquarters for the Railway Executive Committee.

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© Photo : TfL

Down Street Tube station played a vital role in the Second World War when it was used as the protected underground headquarters for the Railway Executive Committee. It is also believed that the station was used by Sir Winston Churchill and the War Cabinet while the Cabinet War Rooms were being prepared.

1/5

© Photo : TfL

Down Street Tube station played a vital role in the Second World War when it was used as the protected underground headquarters for the Railway Executive Committee. It is also believed that the station was used by Sir Winston Churchill and the War Cabinet while the Cabinet War Rooms were being prepared.

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© Photo : TFL

Down Street Tube station played a vital role in the Second World War when it was used as the protected underground headquarters for the Railway Executive Committee. It is also believed that the station was used by Sir Winston Churchill and the War Cabinet while the Cabinet War Rooms were being prepared.

3/5

© Photo : TfL

Down Street Tube station played a vital role in the Second World War when it was used as the protected underground headquarters for the Railway Executive Committee. It is also believed that the station was used by Sir Winston Churchill and the War Cabinet while the Cabinet War Rooms were being prepared.

4/5

© Photo : TfL

Down Street Tube station played a vital role in the Second World War when it was used as the protected underground headquarters for the Railway Executive Committee.

5/5

© Photo : TfL

Down Street Tube station played a vital role in the Second World War when it was used as the protected underground headquarters for the Railway Executive Committee. It is also believed that the station was used by Sir Winston Churchill and the War Cabinet while the Cabinet War Rooms were being prepared.

Down Street was used as the headquarters of the railway executive committee during Nazi Germany's bombing of London in World War Two, while Sir Winston Churchill and the War Cabinet also used the station as a bunker throughout the war.

Graeme Craig, TfL's Director of Commercial Development, said: 

"The combination of space, history, and location, makes this a unique opportunity. We are looking for a partner with the imagination to see the potential here and the capability to deliver it."

"Adjoining parts of the station are still required for running the Tube, but we will work with interested parties to ensure the commercial and operational activities can happily coexist."