Angel Tube station to be exit-only at weekends and bank holidays from January

According to Evening Standard, Angel station in Islington will become exit-only on weekends and bank holidays from January 2. The station handles almost 12 million passengers a year and is one of the busiest on the London Underground network.

The restriction is linked to the condition of the station's escalators. Angel has two sets of escalators connecting the ticket hall, the intermediate concourse and the platforms. They are around 35 years old, and the longest stretches more than 60 metres and climbs over 27 metres. TfL says their size and age have made maintenance increasingly difficult.

What changes for passengers

Angel station will remain open as normal on weekdays, and passengers will be able to enter and exit at all times. At weekends and on bank holidays, however, the station will only be open for exit.

One escalator, running from the ticket hall to mid-concourse level, has been out of service since April 2026. Only two escalators are currently working. If both of those were also to stop at the same time, the station would have to close completely, as there would be no other safe way to clear it, according to the information released by TfL.

Alternative stations and bus routes

• King's Cross St Pancras Tube station, around 1km away, for those who usually use Angel at weekends.
• Old Street Tube station, around 1.5km away, reached by bus routes 43, 205 and 214.
• Highbury & Islington station, reached by bus routes 4, 19, 30 and 43.
• Bus routes 30, 73, 205, 214 and 476 also connect to Angel.

Next steps

TfL says it is exploring ways to repair or replace the escalators, but ongoing funding pressures are limiting its options. Richard Jones, Director of Asset Performance Delivery for London Underground, said that making the station exit-only during specific periods will allow the escalators' working life to be extended and give more time to plan the next steps. Design work on replacing the escalators is due to begin this autumn, according to the source.

Evening Standard also reported earlier this year that 153 of the 566 Underground escalators, around 27 per cent, are operating beyond their expected lifespan, based on FOI data.