The Abandoned Highgate Station / Only Unconnect Ep.8 

I love that style of platform the Underground used back in the 30s.

That green fence wasnt there until june last year as it became popular to trespass into the old station, so much so that some kids ended up setting fire to one of the old houses next to the railway track. TFL now put that green fence up which is double the height of the old one to stop people from entering. There used to be an old grandma who lived in the house they set alight but she passed away half a decade ago.

Fun fact: Jerry Springer, the host of the insane American talk show of the same name, was born on the platform of the Highgate Tube station when the Nazis were bombing London in early February of 1944.

This made me slightly nostalgic and put quite a sizeable lump in my throat. Highgate was the station closest to an old and dear friend for many years, so I’ve used it more than other stations in my numerous visits to London. Sadly he’s not with us anymore, hence the lump in throat.

The "chimney" is a stinkpipe - a way of venting the sewers without offending victorian noses.

Known to us locals as the Muswell Hill excalator, as it is the way to the buses (43, 134) to Muswell Hill. Also, it has been known that failure to reach the bus stop occurs when the allure of The Woodman is too great!

The ‘chimney’ could be a sewer ventilation pipe.

That green pipe sure looks like a stink pipe, part of Bazalgettes Victorian sewer system. It looks remarkably like any other. Keep your eyes open for the one at Earlsfield station, opposite Starbucks. You can see it from any train on the way towards Wimbledon.

An 'Only Unconnect' video that was all about the connection that isn't there. Luv it! 😁

Worth going to highgate to see the cemetery. Fantastic place to visit.

Me and my mates walked past here 2 weeks ago. Had no idea all that history was hiding there! We did actually walk past an abandoned platform across parkland walk which is always a lovely sight seeing the raised platforms no longer in use.

When I visited London, I came here to go on the Parkland Walk. The station was so cool!

Geoff, I was on one of your Hidden London Highgate tours, it was brilliant and I really enjoyed it! Thank you!

The Highgate that the sign at Camden Town is pointiing towards is, presumably, the present-day Archway, under its original name.

1:10 London's Lost Railways... Talking about the abandoned Northern Heights line... Sounds like a Geoff and Jay crossover series!

Was there someone walking around the abandoned High Level platforms when Geoff was filming? Look towards the right of the screen at 3:31

Our daughter used to live in Mill Hill and we passed through Highgate and others regularly. I often wondered what the stations and area s looked like from outside, and now I know. Thanks Geoff.

It was a stink pipe! Joolz is obsessed with them😅

Used to live not far from here. One thing I miss is the Parkland Walk which is on the proposed Highgate to Finsbury Park line on your map (opposite side of Highgate Wood). Its a great walk and very popular. Theres lots of old bridges and the platform where Crouch End station would have been.

I used to commute from Highgate station when I moved to London back in 1977. I used to use the Cranleigh Gardens entrance/exit since that was the nearest to our bedsit in Avenue Road. Happy days 😎

Around a year ago. I think at the beginning of May 2023 there was a fire that happened in that abandoned station. Before the fire me and my friend climbed into the abandoned station to capture photos and videos for a project and around 2-3 hours later we come back and see a bunch of firetrucks and police closing off some roads. We looked at eachother and said "we were just here how did it catch on fire?"

I used to live in muswell back in 2009, after this video all that good ol memories came back to life. thanks!!

It's true what you say about the "hidden" escalator, I was regularly commuting to/from this station for a couple of years ago before I realised it existed!

Well done Geoff, excellent, back to what you do best. At least the incoming government is committed to the long term future of Alstrom and Hitachi UK manufacturing , and fully renationalising the British rail industry at all levels. Still very sad about TfL's, Mayor Khan and Andy Lord's stance on buying trains overseas, and London Labour voter and activist, we will continue to take TfL and Mayor Khan, whom we hope will be elected, about the Siemens contact of exporting jobs, technology and expertise abroad. We should also push for the cancellation of the contact after the delivery of the first lot of Siemens of new trains on the Central Line. I appreciate that you have a great interest and indeed expertise on new rolling stock, but in my view the whole Siemens contact is shameful for the oldest metro system in the world, and badly informed use of our public invest funds. Keep doing what you are doing Geoff, a great service to us all

I'd bet nobody was expecting to hear the word 'fletchings' today.

The buildings on the abandoned platforms were rebuilt in preparation for the Underground's take-over of the service and replaced ones built in the 1880s. The services that were not transferred to the Underground ran from Finsbury Park to Highgate and from Highgate to Muswell Hill and Alexandra Palace, both routes closed in 1954. For a brief period (January to March 1941) it was possible to take a train north from Highgate to East Finchley from either the Underground platforms or the LNER's surface platforms. Charles Holden's design for the upper building was to be larger with a second escalator and with a statue of Dick Whittington on its roof similar to Eric Aumonier's "The Archer" at East Finchley station. What was built in the 1950s was a compromise.

“…as a completionist”. Love this description ❤

This used to be my local station. I love it so much nice video as always Geoff

Yay, my old local(-ish, I'm from Muswell Hill) station! I always love it when someone covers it!

My aunt lives at Highgate. I’ve been here so many times, and didn’t know this was there. I was just there last week!

The announcement says highgit, not higgit. For some reason I was suddenly reminded of The London Game - it'd be great if you'd do a video about it, and any other railway-related board games that have existed.

Great episode !! When you get to the top of the hidden escalator and before you exit to the street there is imho the best view of the never used high level tube station but only in winter - trees block the view in summer.

Thanks Geoff, that was really interesting. I'll go and see Highgate Woods and the cemeteries this summer.😊

Always wondered about Highgate and its high level platforms! Very informative thanks Geoff!

Amazing how the old high-level Highgate station platforms are still there, relatively un-damaged! Is there really no plan to re-open that line, at least from Mill Hill via Finchley, Highgate, re-opened stations at Crouch End and Stroud Green, to Finsbury Park? It could then join the Overground at Canonbury or - here's an idea - become another branch of the Piccadilly line, balancing its two western branches.

I love your videos, always well presented 👍👍

As a kid to get to Highgate village I would get off at Archway and bus up Highgate Hill. Never had the pleasure of visiting the actual Highgate station. Thanks for the video.

Thank you for sharing the video Geoff it was very interesting. ❤

Another enjoyable video, thanks

Love Highgate station! Great video as always Geoff 😀

Superb content, Geoff.

Geoff is the ultimate “completionist” ! 👏👏👍😀

Great episode! I'm in California and I usually go to Google Earth street view to check out the station but was going to skip it today then you started showing so many exits I had to check it out. Glad I did. Great view of the secret escalator from the satellite, Priory Gardens and even the corner of the car park. Also, if you were on a walking tour on Joolz Guides channel, you would get points for finding the possible stink pipe. Though I not sure what else it could be.

Always love a Geoff video. Shocked he's not a Joolz fan.

I´m going to London in May, and because of Geoff, it is the tube I´m most looking forward to

I remember seeing the "Ham&High" on my visits to London in the 00s.

I miss the sound of the tube, hope to visit London soon again.

I used to live directly opposite the entrance to the station!

This video is great! Highgate is one of those stations I've passed through make times but not get got out at. Something I should do next time I'm in the part of London.

Nice videos like the usual!

I can remember driving the older stock trains, ‘56,’59 and ‘72 stocks, used to test the Westinghouse brake (mandatory once per trip) back then, because of the longer platform at Highgate. More room for practice lol.

Thanks for this video Geoff, was there a few weeks ago and thought that hidden exit was closed. Would love to tour that Disused Station one day

Hi Geoff, nice to meet you at the museum depot opening yesterday 26/4 afternoon. We have a great quick chat on all things trains and transportation from my hometown Hong Kong. This video also reminds me one of videos on my channel shot around 14 years ago in Hong Kong which named “Empty MTR Station Platform” (originally just wanted to record the soundscape of the emptiness). There was an unfinished platform for Rumsey Station connecting Sheung Wan station. But the plan has scrapped and become part of Sheung Wan station. It is now blocked after revamped. Hope you would enjoy it. Cheers 👋 (and future collaboration welcome 🤗) It’s a pity that I haven’t brought your book I bought for you to sign. See if we will meet again soon.

The waste of the high level platform always saddened me, as it had been spruced up to a high standard ready for the Northern Heights extension. If only that had been completed, it would have served a huge catchment area. So short sighted. One thing that sticks in my mind was a curious smoky smell that pervaded the low level (tube) platforms. This was in the 50s and 60s but I could not understand from where it was coming.

Confusingly, when the "Highgate branch" ended at Highgate, it only went as far as Archway (the station before Highgate), which was called Highgate at the time, and not to the LNER's Highgate station which is now the Tube station!

Great video Geoff, sorry we made you miss your train!

Hey @geofftech2 did you try walking down the spooky abandoned tunnels? If you do you find yourself literally trespassing on the abandoned overground platform. I'm sure you wouldn't do that, and neither would I. Let's hope nobody does that and that we don't ever see a video of what the old platform looks like. It would be a real shame if anybody posted that on RU-vid.

This is my local station, great video as always.

Ah, my student days when I was in digs in Southwood Lane. Fond memories.

Highgate really is one of the most beautiful areas in London

Without doubt, my favourite unconnected station is Gants Hill. That barrel vaulted concourse, just wow

Great video Geoff

Leave the Exit Only... errr... exit, turn left and walk about quarter of a mile down Archway Road. You'll soon reach Rise Above Records & Relics, the best record shop in London.

"I've missed the train, but I'll just get the next one" is such a London thing to say.

Good stuff

I travelled to and from Highgate Station regularly for about five years but don't remember the platforms being so much longer than the train; and I often travelled in the rear carriage when travelling northbound.

There is a little cottage round the corner with a Blue Plaque marking Peter Seller's childhood home.

Excellent video as usual Geoff. Good to meet you today at Sutcliffe Parkrun. Have you ever done a video on Eltham's stations? There used to be two, now one. Eltham Well Hall/Eltham Park becoming Eltham in between the two in 1985. Infamous fatal crash at Well Hall in 1972 involving a drunk train driver, and which actor Phil Daniels survived. Anyway just a thought. Good Luck

Awesome Video Geoff 😄😄

Geoff your awesome at making videos

There is also nice view over abandoned station, when you get up the "secret" escalator. It's visible through winter, when trees arw not blocking the view. Also I think the view from the path is now better, because of a recent fire. It was quite hidden through sunmer before

@4:58 "and that makes me feel really old" and that makes you sound like David Mitchell :)

Just to point out when you were in Highgate Woods you missed the fact that is you go to the playground you can see the old tracks and East Finchley side of the Northern Tunnels Entrance

When I was a Highgate commuter for about six months I used to love looking down for the old station which always felt very spooky. Am I right in thinking that the run between Archway and Highgate is one of the longest on the Northern Line? Lots of showbiz connections in the area. Spike Milligan, Peter Sellers and Alfred Marks shared a house close by on Shepherds Hill. Meanwhile Gillian Anderson used to be a quiz night regular at the Shepherds Hill Tavern on the corner. (It may not have been named 'tavern' - has been afflicted by 'stupid pub name' syndrome long since).

I'm sure I saw somebody on the old High Level platform. Just me?

2009 was 15 years ago? Yikes 😂 Great video, Geoff :)

Always something new to discover

Can you go to Marylebone next please. Fascinated by Great Central history. The old staircases and old entrance

always great

I've been to Highgate a few times but I never knew about the abandoned high level platforms; I never noticed them. I'll have to look for those the next time I visit.

Very good

Geoff - no tours at Highgate - from memory the disused station is now considered unsafe so the tours had to stop. Hopeful at some point repairs will be done as this, from videos seems and amazing space to explore

I shouldn't find it as strange as I do, but I always find it so weird seeing places I travel through every day appear on RU-vid channels I'm subscribed to :D

I'm old enough to remember seeing a train running through the high level station - after the passenger service had closed down mind. Also, after the line closed completely. some school friends and I went through the north tunnel on foot - only the north end of it was sealed at that time.

Nice video!

i have really nice memories of this place... granted they were only a year ago but still! it was very popular at that point to climb up the wall, into the forest and down the hill onto the platforms (and it was made popular by one of my friends as well haha). i remember on the day i wanted to visit it with my friend, there was a fire there, the same day that some other people i knew went to visit, and left about an hour before the house on the platform burnt down. managed to visit about a week later! haven't been since, would be pretty fun to visit again ngl

Cool video as always Geoff!

At 3:30 someone can be seen on the High Level Platform carrying a couple of bags.

Its amazing that the old high level station buildings are still there after all these years!

The abandoned station features in the movie ‘Paperhouse’

The pipe is almost certainly a 'stink pipe' erected at the same as the victorian sewer system was installed to release methane and prevent an underground explosion

I remember as a child that you could still see the shadows of the roundels on the walls of the high level platform buildings - so they must have got as far as fitting it out!

Couple if local knowledge things 1) Highgate tube station is closer to the site of the original high gate than Highgate village is and 2) Highgate and Archway are named after the same toll gate but Archway is closer to that original site than Highgate is. 3) despite growing up slap bang between Archway and Highgate i dont think I have ever used that station.

Ndont forget th wonderful cemetery

The haighgit tunnels saw their first traffic in 1867 but remained in public service for less than 100 years - terminated by British Railways on 4th May 1964. However their ownership was transferred to London Transport to enable the movement of tube stock between Highgate Wood Sidings - just north of the tunnels - and the Northern Line at Drayton Park. This role ended on 5th October 1970. Does this mean electrification was activated HG to FP?

Upminster Bridge, Hornchurch, Elm Park, etc etc

I went to that station and it is my favourite tube station

The Northern Heights plan, one of the biggest entries in the annals of the Tube's extensive "What-If?" book. It would have been cool to see the Underground serve Alexandra Palace. Wonder if BR and Great Northern would have still run trains there, though.

0:33 geoff: onboard annoncer/PA on the NL stock trains pronounced it as *HIGIT* 1995TS: the next station is *HIGHGATE*

Geoff you should do the unconnect dlr station which is Cutty Sark for Marinetime Greenwich or Bow Church or even Devons Road.