For nearly two decades, one London Underground station was conspicuously missing from the official Tube map. Kensington (Olympia), a peaceful stop in West London's Zone 2, disappeared from the iconic diagram after the Second World War due to its secret wartime role.
The station, originally opened as Kensington in 1844, was so unpopular it closed within the same year. It reopened in 1862 with Metropolitan line services and was renamed Kensington Addison Road in 1868. During the war, the Metropolitan line was bombed, leading to the closure of West London stations. However, Kensington's location near the headquarters of Allied Commander Dwight D Eisenhower made it his preferred travel point for preparations for the Normandy landings.
In 1946, the station was renamed Kensington (Olympia) and began serving workers at the Post Office Savings Bank. Due to the National Secrets Act, its existence was kept secret until 1958, when it was officially announced. That year, it gained a permanent platform and a District line shuttle to Earl's Court.
Despite renovations including a community garden and more regular schedules, Kensington (Olympia) remains one of London's only part-time stations, with infrequent trains. It now serves the London Overground and District line, offering a handy shortcut to avoid Zone 1.
