h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I bet you didn't know, that when the tube was being built out to Ealing, they supposedly were going to have the Terminus at West Ealing. They then decided that it would be better off where it is now. By the time they'd decided it was a bit late, as the Drayton Court Hotel had already been built in West Ealing, ready for the influx of people that were supposedly coming. So there you go, that's why the Drayton Court Hotel is located near a sleeply little station. Just in case you were wondering... which I'm sure you were.

Re the anagram of Uxbridge: Finsbury Park sounds quite amusing when read backwards out loud.

Upton Park also sounds alarmingly funny when read backwards.

On the comment on the District Line stopping at West Ealing. It did run all the way to Windsor at one point in the 19th century. It did this for long enough for two of the stations on the route to be rebuilt to accommodate the tubes. It also ran (briefly) all the way to Southend on Sea at the other end.

The Metropolitan Line ran all the way to Brill and Verney Junction (which I think is in Oxfordshire or possibly Buckinghamshire)

Another thing to look out for on the tube is (as far as I know) still a mystery. Next time you are waiting for a tube on the Westbound Central Line platform on Bond Street station, wander along to roughly the centre of the platform. Now look at the wall on the opposite side of the tracks.

There, looking very dirty and unused, is a lift door.

This raises many interesting questions including:

a) Where does it go?
b) Just who uses it?
c) Why isn't at the height of the tube train floors?
d) Why does no one on the platform notice it; it just seems to pass people by?


There are many sinister explanations and many innocent ones. Go and have a look for yourself and decide.

Other little known facts about the tube

There is only one station on the entire network that has no letters from the word "mackerel" in it's name - St John's Wood

Julian Lloyd Webber was the first legal busker.

Cadbury's Whole Nut is the best selling chocolate bar in the vending machines.

Bank has more escalators than any other station on the tube.

The peak hour for tube suicides is 11am.

Gladstone and Dr Barnado were the only people to ever have their coffins transported by tube.

Only one person was ever born in a tube carriage and her name is Thelma Ursula Beatrice Eleanor - have you noticed her initials.

For more fascinating facts like this check out

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Other little known facts about the tube

There is only one station on the entire network that has no letters from the word "mackerel" in it's name - St John's Wood

Julian Lloyd Webber was the first legal busker.

Cadbury's Whole Nut is the best selling chocolate bar in the vending machines.

Bank has more escalators than any other station on the tube.

The peak hour for tube suicides is 11am.

Gladstone and Dr Barnado were the only people to ever have their coffins transported by tube.

Only one person was ever born in a tube carriage and her name is Thelma Ursula Beatrice Eleanor - have you noticed her initials.

For more fascinating facts like this check out my site.