Wanstead tube station
Central line · Zone 4 · Redbridge
About Wanstead station
The London Passenger Transport Board proposed the eastward extension of the Central line in 1935, with a station at Wanstead’s George Green as one of three in tube tunnel between Leytonstone and Newbury Park. Building began in the mid-1930s but halted with the Second World War, and between 1942 and 1945 Plessey used the unfinished tunnels from here to Gants Hill for munitions production. The station finally opened on 14 December 1947 as part of the Hainault loop.
Charles Holden designed it, as he did the other two below-ground stations on the branch. Wanstead kept its original wooden escalator until 2003, one of the last tube stations to do so, and since 2006 it has been extensively refurbished, including replacing the original platform wall tiling, which had become badly damaged. The station occupies the site of William Penn’s home in Wanstead.
First and last trains from Wanstead
| Line and direction | Mon–Thu first – last | Friday first – last | Saturday first – last | Sunday first – last |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central towards Ealing Broadway, White City or West Ruislip | 05:31 – 00:01 | 05:31 to Ealing Broadway – all night | 24 hours | all night – 23:20 |
| Central towards Hainault or Newbury Park | 06:21 – 01:00 | 06:20 – all night | 24 hours | all night – 00:08 |
Times are TfL’s published timetable departures from this station; on Saturday the list follows TfL’s “Saturdays and public holidays” timetable.
At the busiest hour on a weekday there are up to 15 Central trains an hour per direction from Wanstead, counting both directions separately.
Next stations from Wanstead
Running times between Wanstead and the adjoining stations, from TfL’s timetable.
| Line | Next station | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Central | Leytonstone | 2.9 min |
| Central | Redbridge | 2 min |
Connections
Wanstead is served by the Central line only; there is no interchange with other rail lines here.
Station facilities
What is near Wanstead station
Between Leytonstone and Redbridge on the Central line, the station serves Wanstead in the London Borough of Redbridge. George Green is about 130 m away, Wanstead Library about 230 m, Christchurch Green around 340 m and the IIF Gallery about 360 m. Buses 66, 101, 145, 308, W12, W13 and W14, plus night routes N8 and N55, serve the station, which also has a car park.
| Place | Walk from the station |
|---|---|
| George Green | 130 m |
| Wanstead Library | 230 m |
| Christchurch Green | 340 m |
| IIF Gallery | 360 m |
Frequently asked questions
Construction stopped when war broke out, and between 1942 and 1945 the unfinished tunnels between Wanstead and Gants Hill were used by Plessey for munitions production. Passenger trains only began running when the station opened on 14 December 1947.
The station kept its original wooden escalator until 2003, making it one of the last tube stations to have one. A wider refurbishment followed from 2006, including new platform wall tiling to replace the badly damaged originals.