Get on Board the Coronation Special on the Piccadilly Line

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Heritage train journeys leaving from Acton Town

One of trains to be used on the day. Picture: London Transport Museum

April 19, 2023

There is an opportunity to celebrate the Coronation of King Charles III by taking a heritage journey on an Art Deco style tube train.

For three days on the weekend ahead of the big day, there will be return tickets available from Acton Town to Uxbridge on train from the thirties on the Piccadilly line.

London Transport Museum has organised the rides on the Museum’s restored red Art Deco-style 1938 Tube train on Saturday 29 April, Sunday 30 April and Monday 1 May. Guests can join a retro-themed vintage celebration event which will allow them to transport themselves to 2 June 1953, which was the last time that Britain crowned a new monarch.

Acton Town Tube station will be decorated in colourful bunting to create a 1950s party atmosphere. A costumed actor dressed as a Grenadier Guard will be talking to guests about preparing for the 1953 Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II and how busy he is going to be.

The historic 1938 train is made up of four cars complete with green and red moquette seating, grab handles and distinctive Art Deco light fittings. The 1938 Stock was the first kind of Tube train to have all the electrical equipment underneath the floor, combining the latest technology of the era with quintessential late 1930s style. These trains served London, on several deep-level Tube lines, for half a century.

Sam Mullins OBE, Director for London Transport Museum said, ‘His Majesty, King Charles III is known for recognising the important role public transport has played in shaping our capital: in 1979 he marked the opening of the Jubilee line by driving the first train, in 2013 he rode a Metropolitan line train to celebrate the 150th anniversary of London Underground and in 2020 London Transport Museum welcomed Charles and Camilla to Covent Garden to mark the twentieth anniversary of TfL and meet operational staff who keep the city on the move day in and day out.

‘In the run-up to the Coronation we are looking forward to celebrating this historic event with our popular heritage train trips. Passengers on our Art Deco train will have fun wearing paper crowns and we’ll be decorating the station with bunting to mark this special occasion.’

On the day guests can pick up a souvenir leaflet about the historical Royals that have ridden on the rails. London Transport Museum Friends will be running their stalls of transport collectibles and ephemera.

No food or drink is allowed on the train.

Tickets for the trip cost £28.50 for adults with concessions (student with valid ID, over 65, disabled visitor) at £20 and children (aged 4 – 17) charged £15. Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult and children aged 3 or under are free as long as they sit on an adult’s lap. A disabled visitor’s career is entitled to a free ticket.

Each return journey from Acton Town to Uxbridge lasts around an hour and 15 minutes. Exact departure times can be viewed on the Museum’s website.

Tickets must be bought in advance online.

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