Crystal Palace Subway
a brick cathedral under the road
A breathtaking tiled Victorian pedestrian subway, all fan-vaulted brick like a hidden cathedral, opened for free on special days.
Free to visit · Crystal Palace · Crystal Palace · SE19 2AA
Opening: Open days only · check ahead
Beneath a busy road near the old Crystal Palace site hides one of London's most astonishing secrets, a Victorian pedestrian subway of breathtaking beauty. Built in 1865 to carry well-dressed visitors from the railway to the great glass palace, it is lined with red and cream brick laid in dizzying fan-vaulted patterns, like the crypt of a cathedral.
The palace burned down long ago and the subway was sealed for decades, but a dedicated group of volunteers now opens it on special days. It is free to visit on those occasions, a jaw-dropping reward for anyone who times it right, and one of the finest pieces of hidden Victorian craftsmanship in the city.
Getting there: Beneath the road by Crystal Palace Parade, near Crystal Palace station.
Best time to go: One of the volunteer-run open days, when the gates are unlocked.
Insider tip: It is only accessible on advertised open days run by volunteers, so check their schedule before making the trip. The fan-vaulted brickwork is the star, so bring a camera for the cathedral-like ceiling.
Free things to do in London · London Free Guide