Hampstead Underground station is more than just a stop on the Northern line; it is a feat of Edwardian engineering and a subterranean record-breaker.  Located at the junction of Heath Street and Hampstead High Street, just three minutes walk from our accommodation, it serves as the gateway to one of London’s most beautiful, affluent and historic villages. 

What few know, however, is that beneath its charming red-tiled exterior lies the deepest point of the entire London Underground network.

To understand the station today, we need to look back at the ambitious—and often contentious - planning of the late 19th century, the iconic architecture of Leslie Green, and the staggering vertical climb that defines its physical character.

1. Planning the Station and its 1907 Opening

The origins of Hampstead station can be traced back to the Charing Cross, Euston and Hampstead Railway (CCE&HR), a company established in the 1890s with the goal of connecting central London to the northern suburbs. 

Interestingly, the project faced significant hurdles from the start.  Financing was a major issue until the American financier, Charles Tyson Yerkes, stepped in at the turn of the century, bringing with him the capital and the technology necessary to carve through London’s clay.

The planning of the route through Hampstead was also quite controversial. Local residents and conservationists feared that the vibration of the trains and the construction of the tunnels would dry up the water supply that benefitted the ecology of Hampstead Heath. They campaigned so intensely that they actually influenced the route's depth and the location of nearby "ghost" stations, like the never-completed North End (often called the Bull & Bush), which was abandoned in the middle of construction.

When the station finally opened on June 22, 1907, it was originally intended to be called ‘Heath Street’ - where we at La Gaffe are located.  In fact, if you look closely at the tiling on the platform walls today, you can still see the original ‘Heath Street’ name preserved in the ceramic design - a wonderful reminder of the station's early planning stage.

2. Architecture: The Leslie Green Signature

Hampstead station is an excellent example of the "Modern Style" (a British take on Art Nouveau) developed by the architect Leslie Green. Green was commissioned by Yerkes to design 50 stations across London, and he created a brand identity for the Underground that remains iconic, more than a century later.

The Exterior

The station building is instantly recognizable by its ox-blood red glazed terracotta blocks, which was chosen not just for its aesthetic appeal but for its durability, since the air was so soot-heavy in early 20th-century London. The building features large semi-circular windows and a structural steel frame (this was a pioneering technique).  

The Interior

Inside, Green designed a standardised but beautiful system of tiling. Each station was given a unique color geometric pattern so that even illiterate passengers could recognize their stop by the colors of the tiles. At Hampstead, the tiles are a sophisticated cream and brown. The platforms are also built with a slight curvature, following the alignment of the tracks as they navigate the steep topography of the area.

3. The Vertical Challenge: Depth and Stairs

Hampstead holds the title for the deepest station on the London Underground. Because the station is located on a very steep hill, the platforms sit roughly 58.5 meters (192 feet) below ground level.

Not surprisingly, this astonishing depth required a unique approach to passenger transit.

The Lifts

Hampstead is home to the deepest lift shaft on the network, plunging down 55 meters (180 ft) and its high-speed lifts are the primary way passengers reach the platforms.  Because of the depth, the station has never been fitted with escalators; the engineering and space required to install them at such a sharp incline was considered impractical compared to the existing lift system.

The "Infamous" Stairs

While most passengers opt for the lift, the station features an emergency spiral staircase that has become a legend among Londoners and fitness enthusiasts.

  • The Count: The staircase consists of 320 steps.
  • The Physicality: Climbing these stairs is equivalent to scaling a 15-story building.
  • ·The Warning: There are signs posted at the bottom and top of the staircase strongly advising passengers to use the lifts. The climb is physically demanding, and the spiral nature of the stairs can be disorienting.

For many years, the 320 step climb has been a point of pride for the station, and it remains the highest step count of any station on the Tube (beating Covent Garden’s 193 steps by a significant margin).

4.  Cold War Secrets 

The depth of the Hampstead tunnels made them of particular interest during the mid-20th century. During World War II, the station served as a deep-level air-raid shelter, protecting thousands of Londoners from the Blitz.

More interestingly, the abandoned North End station just up the line was used during the Cold War as a secret control center. Because the tunnels were the deepest in the city, they were considered the safest place to house a control room for the floodgates that protect the Underground from the Thames. 

This reinforced the "hidden" nature of the area's subterranean history - a network of secret rooms and deep-level shafts that most commuters never see.

Today, Hampstead station remains a busy part of the Northern line, and an easy way to visit our charming London neighbourhood. It stands as a testament to Edwardian ambition and - as few know - conceals a record-breaking abyss of engineering beneath.

If you’re coming to London and looking for somewhere to stay, then why not consider La Gaffe Hotel Hampstead?  Our comfortable guest accommodation is competitively-priced, we’re family-run and owned ( so you’re assured of a warm and personal welcome) and our rates include VAT and a continental breakfast (complete with our famous cappuccino).  

We’re just three minutes walk from Hampstead tube in leafy north London and then it’s a quick trip (around 15 minutes) into the city centre by underground.  However, our neighbourhood is so charming, many people never want to leave it…and if you don’t believe us, come and visit it for yourself.


To find out more about us, give us a call on 0207 435-8965 or book directly with us (for the best rates!) on our website.