Crystal Palace subway, London

 In Sept 2016 I went to visit the Crystal Palace subway which was being restored. The subway was originally used as a decorated brick vault passage for first-class passengers using the former Crystal Palace High Level railway station to the Crystal Palace. It is now Grade II listed.

The restoration continued over the next few years and when it was done, there was an open day on 1 Dec 2024. It was a rainy day so I left it until the afternoon, and others had the same idea, as there was a queue, but luckily it moved quickly. Entry was free. The site is managed by a charity.

In 2016 access was across the road, but this is no longer allowed as the charity don't own that land, so now the entry is from the park side. From the top there is not much to see. Stairs lead down into the main hall. This looks so different from 8 years ago. 

2016 views of the sides and front arches, then the 2024 view -

Looking back in from the staircase

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See more :

IanVisits "Crystal Palace Subway restored: First images revealed ahead of public Open Day".

IanVisits "Crystal Palace Subway wins heritage restoration award"

Crystal Palace Park Trust for more information and "How to visit".

BBC "Crystal Palace Subway restoration progress revealed".

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Crystal Palace subway

The Crystal Palace subway was open to the public as part of London Open House Sept 2016. The subway dates back to Victorian times and is slowly being restored. It was built to provide access to the Crystal Palace. It goes under the main road, Crystal Palace Parade.

The Crystal Palace was the huge iron and glass building used for the Great Exhibition in 1851 in Hyde Park. After the exhibition it was rebuilt at the top of Sydenham Hill in 1854 but was destroyed by fire in 1936.

There were 2 stations serving the Palace, one was the low level station and the other was a new high level one built in 1865 on the western side of Crystal Palace Parade. The subway was then built for access to the Palace. Image of the railway and Palace from Illustrated London News -


The Subway was designed with groined arches of coloured bricks and stone, resting on 15 columns. It was meant for first class passengers. It led to a roofed vestibule and 4 staircases. It opened at the end of 1865.

During the Second World War the subway was used as an air raid shelter. The subway was modified to provide sleeping areas, a canteen, lavatories and drains. The High Level Station closed in 1954. However the subway was still used as a short cut to access the motor racing in the park.

The subway survived but the roofed vestibule didn't. In 1972 the subway was listed by English Heritage. And since then it is slowly being restored.

 Looking out to where the roofed vestibule used to be -

And looking back at the entrance -

© Liz Price