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Jun 07, 2023

The London Underground station with a river flowing above it in a tube

The River Westbourne can be found right above your head As locals and tourists typically associate the River Thames with London, many might not know that there are actually 26 flowing through the city

The River Westbourne can be found right above your head

As locals and tourists typically associate the River Thames with London, many might not know that there are actually 26 flowing through the city (plus an extra 25 tributaries, for good measure). However, there’s one which is hidden in plain sight.

But rather than it running below your feet, you'll find it running right above you.

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Hidden above heads at Sloane Square Underground station, the River Westbourne flows through a pipe. No, not your average drain pipe, but a culvert, which was installed when the station was built back in 1868.

Back in the 1860s in the early days of the London Underground, engineers were forced to build over, under and around obstacles as they sought to connect the city with new lines.

Engineers just couldn't find a way to build the station on top of the river, so they decided the only option was to divert the river it straight through the station.

The River Westbourne, originally called the Kilburn, which derived from ‘Cye Bourne’ or ‘royal stream’, rises in Hampstead and flows through Kilburn, Bayswater and Paddington, before skirting underneath the east of Hyde Park’s Serpentine lake, before running through central Chelsea, and ultimately joining the River Thames at Chelsea Bridge.

As the 19th century went on and the industrialisation of the city and development of residential areas surrounding the river, a decision was made to drive the Westbourne underground (kind of). Since then the water flows through culverts and directly over the heads of commuters at Sloane Square.

A large iron pipe suspended from girders carries the Westbourne through Sloane Square station, but you wouldn’t know what was in it unless you were in the know. If anything, the culvert looks like any other part of typical 19th century station architecture.

You probably haven’t noticed it because the water is virtually impossible to hear, although if the heavens decide to open and shower on London, you might be able to hear the trickle of water from above.

Somehow the pipes managed to survive World War Two even though the station was hit by a bomb blast. The pipe remained intact and avoided flooding the station altogether.

According to Iain Spragg's book, London Underground's Strangest Tales , the bombing claimed the lives of 37 passengers and injured 79 others who were on a train in the station. The ticket hall, escalators and roof were destroyed but the iron pipe which carries the River Westbourne was unscathed.

So next time you find yourself standing on the platform at Sloane Square, just look up to find one of London subterranean rivers.

Address: Sloane Square, London SW1W 8BB

Sloane Square station can be accessed by the Circle and District lines. TfL buses servicing Sloane Square include 19, 22, 137, 452, C1, N19, N22 and N137. See more accommodation options on Booking.com and Hotels.com . You can book UK and European trains - including cheap Eurostar tickets - on Trainline .

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