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Secrets Of Underground London

Actors in 1940s clothes at Aldwych station.
Courtesy of Pioneer Productions
Actors in 1940s clothes at Aldwych station.

Sunday, March 5, 2023 at 8 p.m. on KPBS TV / Watch now with KPBS Passport!

On the surface, London is a buzzing, modern metropolis — but underneath lies a hidden world, all but forgotten by the millions of people above. From ancient caves and preserved Roman remains to mysterious rivers and plague pits, "Secrets Of Underground London" uncovers 2,000 years of subterranean history.

SECRETS OF UNDERGROUND LONDON: Preview

The special unearths historical locations such as the London Silver Vaults beneath Chancery Lane and Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s bunkers — where he conducted his strategic plan to win the war — directly under Westminster.

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Also revealed, among others, are the derelict elevators and platforms of Aldwych Tube Station, which not only provided citizens shelter during the WWII Blitz but housed the British Museum’s priceless treasures in secret tunnels.

Disused WW2 bunker, codenamed Paddock in Dollis Hill.
Courtesy of Gareth Sacala/Pioneer Productions
Disused WW2 bunker, codenamed Paddock in Dollis Hill.

“As people go through their everyday lives, untold treasures of history and mystery are hiding in plain sight across the city of London,” said Gareth Sacala, director at Pioneer Productions. “In never-before-seen footage, we take viewers to places that demonstrate the resiliency and ingenuity of the British throughout history.”

Aldwych Underground Station
Courtesy of Pioneer Productions
Aldwych Underground Station

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This program is currently available to stream on demand with KPBS Passport, a benefit for members supporting KPBS at $60 or more yearly, using your computer, smartphone, tablet, Roku, AppleTV, Amazon Fire or Chromecast. Learn how to activate your benefit now.

Produced by Pioneer Productions.