A River Runs Through It

This tube station has the River Westbourne run through it.

Location: Sloane Square, London

Description: Sloane Square tube station crosses the valley of the River Westbourne, which runs through Hyde Park as the Serpentine Lake, and originally crossed the Knight's Bridge at Knightsbridge.

The river itself runs across the centre of the station, crossing above the platforms in an overhead iron pipe - can you hear it?

The river dictated how and where the station could be built. It could not be built above the river because that would be at least partly above ground level, and would be very costly, blocking major roads and buildings.

Neither could the station be at the same level as the river, as the river would either block the trains and the platforms, or the water would have to be raised and lowered at either sides by means of an expensive pumping system.

In consequence the station is unusually deep for a sub-surface line (as opposed to deep level lines), pushing the limits of the technology when it was built.

The station crosses the valley of the River Westbourne, which runs through Hyde Park as the Serpentine Lake, and originally crossed the Knight's Bridge at Knightsbridge. The river itself runs across the centre of the station, crossing above the platforms in an iron pipe. The River Westbourne is a river in London, England. ... The Serpentine, viewed from the eastern end. ... The Serpentine is a lake in Hyde Park, London. ... Click Here for Knightsbridge, Castle Hill Australia Knightsbridge is a place in the City of Westminster, London notable for its expensive shops, including Harrods. ...

The river dictated how and where the station could be built. It could not be built above the river because that would be at least partly above ground level, and would be very costly, blocking major roads and buildings. Neither could the station be at the same level as the river, as the river would either block the trains and the platforms, or the water would have to be raised and lowered at either sides by means of an expensive pumping system. In consequence the station is unusually deep for a sub-surface line (as opposed to deep level lines), pushing the limits of the technology when it was built.

Uniquely the station was built with a pub, the Hole in the Wall, on the westbound platform. It closed in 1985.

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Themes: River River Theme