| Original caption: “West End London Air Raid Shelter.” London civilians use the tracks and platform of Aldwych tube station as an overnight bomb shelter. People sheltering from air raids line the platform and tracks at Aldwych Underground Station in London. A row of coats can be seen hanging on the wall. Note the wall of sandbags at the end of the tube tunnel. 79 tube stations were used as air raid shelters by Londoners, but they were not proof against a direct hit. Wartime efficiency measures led to the branch being closed temporarily on September 22, 1940, shortly after the start of The Blitz, and it was partly fitted out by the City of Westminster as an air-raid shelter. The tunnels between Aldwych and Holborn were used to store items from the British Museum and the Victoria and Albert, including the Elgin Marbles. People would queue for tickets to reserve 1 of 1,500 bunks for the night from Westminster Shelter Marshals. Concerts were given underground, in the evenings, to entertain the civilians as they hid from the Nazi German bombs. The Aldwych branch reopened on July 1, 1946. | |
| Image Filename | wwii0275.jpg |
| Image Size | 652.50 KB |
| Image Dimensions | 2324 x 2934 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | September 1, 1940 |
| Location | |
| City | London |
| State or Province | London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Archive | National Archives and Records Administration |
| Record Number | NLR-PHOCO-A-49164(758) |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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