Angel Tube station goes exit-only at weekends from 2 January
TfL says the station with the longest escalators on the Underground will let passengers out but not in at weekends, to keep the ageing machines running.
If your weekend plans usually start at Angel station, they will need a new first step from the new year. Transport for London has confirmed that the Islington station will become exit-only at weekends from 2 January.
Why Angel is changing
The reason is the escalators. According to the BBC, the station's banks of escalators are 35 years old. The set linking the mid-concourse and platform level stretches more than 60m and rises 27m vertically, which makes them the longest on the Underground network.
That scale is the problem. Richard Jones, director of asset performance delivery for London Underground, said: "Their size means renewal or replacement is a challenging, expensive project and we are currently exploring all options possible to extend their working life."
TfL said the legacy of historic shortfalls in government funding had prevented investment in new escalators at the station, according to the BBC. The Evening Standard reports that TfL is exploring ways to repair or replace them, but that ongoing funding pressures are limiting its options.
What the restriction means
The Standard reports that Angel handles almost 12 million passengers a year, and that the exit-only rule will apply on weekends and bank holidays. On weekdays the station will run as normal, with entry and exit both possible.
Why weekends? TfL told the BBC that Angel sees fewer passengers at weekends than during the week, and that more people leave the station than enter it on Saturdays and Sundays.
Jones said that making the station exit-only during specific periods would extend the working life of the escalators and give TfL more time to plan its next steps. Design work on replacing them is due to begin this autumn.
He also acknowledged the knock-on effects: "I understand that any disruption to the station will have an impact on customers, businesses and the local community and we will do all we can to work closely with local stakeholders to ensure that we mitigate the disruption as much as possible."
The state of the escalators
The Standard reports that one of the escalators running from the ticket hall to the mid-concourse has been out of service since April 2026 because of its deteriorated condition. That leaves only two in working order.
If both of those were out at the same time, the Standard says, the station would have to close completely, as there would be no other safe way to clear it. The escalators are also too long to be safely used as a fixed staircase.
Angel is not alone. The Standard says that earlier this year it revealed, through freedom of information data, that 153 of the Underground's 566 escalators are operating beyond their expected lifespan, around 27 per cent. Many are at some of London's busiest stations and on key commuter lines, including the Bakerloo, Northern, Victoria and Jubilee lines.
Where to start your journey instead
TfL advises anyone who would normally begin a weekend journey at Angel to use another station. The options it suggests:
- King's Cross St Pancras: about 1km away, with bus routes 30, 73, 205, 214 and 476 connecting it to Angel.
- Old Street: about 1.5km away, reached by bus routes 43, 205 and 214.
- Highbury & Islington: reached using bus routes 4, 19, 30 and 43.
Know before you go
- Station: Angel Tube station, Islington.
- From: 2 January.
- Weekends: exit only. The Standard reports this also applies on bank holidays.
- Weekdays: open as normal, entry and exit.
- Alternatives: King's Cross St Pancras, Old Street, Highbury & Islington, with the bus routes listed above.
Sources: BBC News London, Evening Standard
