London Transport Museum announces Piccadilly line anniversary events across London
The London Transport Museum is marking 120 years of the Piccadilly line with a new season of public events celebrating the history, design, and cultural impact of one of London’s best known Underground routes. The programme will run throughout 2026 and includes talks, workshops, Hidden London tours and family activities linked to the line’s role in shaping the capital’s transport network.
One of the main events will see railway historian and broadcaster Tim Dunn host a talk on Saturday 22nd August exploring the history of the Piccadilly line and its place in London life over the last century. Visitors will also be able to take part in a creative textile workshop on Saturday 13th June inspired by the colours, architecture and visual identity associated with the line.
Later in the year, London Transport Museum Depot will open to the public from 25th to 27th September with displays focused on stations designed by architect Charles Holden, whose modernist approach became closely associated with the Piccadilly line’s expansion during the 1930s. Holden’s station designs remain some of the most recognisable on the Underground network, particularly at Arnos Grove, Southgate, Acton Town, Northfields, and Cockfosters.
Families visiting the museum in Covent Garden during October half term will also be able to join activities celebrating the line inside the museum galleries.
The Piccadilly line first opened in December 1906 as the Great Northern, Piccadilly, and Brompton Railway, running between Finsbury Park and Hammersmith. At the time, it was the longest deep-level Tube railway in the world at 14.5 kilometres. The line also introduced several major transport innovations during the early years of the Underground network. In 1911, Earl’s Court became the first Underground station to install an electric escalator.
Today, the Piccadilly line stretches across 71 kilometres and serves 53 stations, connecting passengers with the West End, Heathrow Airport, South Kensington museums and central London destinations including Covent Garden.
Tickets for recent heritage train journeys on the Piccadilly line sold out quickly during the May bank holiday weekend, with further heritage Underground events expected later this year.
This comes as the London Transport Museum reports record visitor numbers. The anniversary programme arrives during wider debate about how London’s major museums will manage long-term funding pressures and future visitor access.
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