Work to Begin on Major South Kensington Tube Station Upgrade

Transport for London (TfL) has confirmed that the long-awaited transformation of South Kensington Underground station will get underway later this year, following approval of funding for the scheme.

Preparatory work, including detailed design and procurement, is expected to begin in late summer, with construction scheduled to start on site in December. The redevelopment, estimated to cost more than £120 million, aims to significantly improve accessibility and capacity at one of the network’s busiest stations.

South Kensington, a Grade II-listed station handling around 30 million passengers annually, is currently the busiest on the Underground without step-free access. The project will address this by installing lifts to all platforms, marking a major accessibility milestone for the station.

A key element of the scheme involves bringing a currently unused Circle and District line platform back into operation. This will help ease congestion and improve passenger flow, particularly during peak periods.

The redevelopment will also include the creation of a new station entrance on Thurloe Street, alongside upgrades to the existing ticket hall, which is often overcrowded. Step-free access will be extended to the pedestrian subway linking the station with nearby museums.

In addition to transport improvements, the project features a wider “over-station” development. Plans include the construction of 53 new homes, with 35% designated as affordable housing, as well as the restoration of the station’s historic shopping arcade and surrounding retail spaces.

Funding for the scheme will come from multiple sources, including TfL, its property arm Places for London, Kensington and Chelsea Council, and a contribution from the 1851 Royal Commission. TfL has described the project as offering “very high” value for money.

Once complete, the upgraded station is expected to improve access to some of London’s most visited cultural landmarks, including the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum, the V&A, and the Royal Albert Hall.

TfL estimates that accessibility limitations currently prevent more than 500,000 journeys each year. By addressing these issues, the redevelopment is expected to unlock significant additional usage while improving the overall passenger experience.

Construction is planned to be completed by 2029, with step-free access delivered in the initial phase of the works.