Tube stations are fascinating little pieces of history. While there are some newer stations, there are also quite a few older stations. And if you go back far enough in Underground history, there was several different companies that made up the network, meaning that there were several different styles. The architecture of the station will often match the surrounding area, and this station is no exception. The South Kensington Tube Station is one my favourites, as it has quite a unique look and a fascinating history.
The South Kensington tube station opened on 24 December 1868, and out of 260 stations is the 22nd oldest. (Normally I don’t get too into the numbers but that is pretty impressive.) When it opened, both the Metropolitan Railway and District Railway (now respectively the Metropolitan Line and District Line) used the station.Nowadays, you can either get to the station via the District and Circle or the Picadilly lines. Interestingly, there are two stations here- one is a sub-surface station and the other is a deep level station. BUT that isn’t what fascinates me the most about South Ken….
South Kensington Tube Station Tiles
When you are travelling through tube stations, even if you aren’t on the platform itself, it can pay off to take a look at the station. You never know what art might be waiting for you…
The Picadilly line has some absolutely astounding design work in it’s stations, and the South Kensington tube station is really the best of it. If you aren’t familiar with South Ken (either the station or the area), it happens to be the home of Museum Mile. You can find the Victoria and Albert there, along with the Natural History Museum and the Science Museum, among others. So, the artwork in the line celebrates that!
“The decorations for the Picadilly Line are based on architectural details of the nearby Natural History Museum…. The Westbound platform depicts extinct animals and the Eastbound platform living animals.” Designed in 1988, these are still here for our enjoyment today. My favourite is the fox on the westbound platform, because he is particularly stately for a fox in a tube station.
Have you been to the South Kensington Tube Station? What do you think of the artwork?
Cheers,
The Historian
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