TfL warns the Northern line station could be forced to close completely if both remaining escalators are out of service.
Passengers will be unable to enter Angel Tube station at weekends and on bank holidays from January as TfL tries to extend the life of its ageing escalators.
The Northern line station will become exit-only from Saturday 2 January 2027 until further notice. Passengers will still be able to leave at weekends and on bank holidays, while normal entry and exit will continue on other days.
One of the three escalators linking the ticket hall to the mid-concourse has been out of service since April 2026. TfL has warned that if the remaining two are out of action at the same time, the station would have to close completely.
The escalators are too long to be used safely as fixed staircases, leaving no other safe way for passengers to leave.
The ticket hall escalators are the longest on the London Underground, stretching more than 60 metres with a vertical rise of over 27 metres.
TfL hopes the restrictions will reduce escalator operating hours by 38 hours a week, extending their working life while replacement options are considered.
Richard Jones, TfL’s Director of Asset Performance Delivery for London Underground, said: “The escalators at Angel have been in service for almost 35 years and are becoming less reliable and increasingly difficult to maintain.”
He said the restrictions would give TfL more time to plan its next steps, with design work on replacing the escalators due to begin this autumn.
TfL said historic government funding shortfalls had prevented it from investing in new escalators at Angel. No timetable has been announced for their replacement.
Angel is generally quieter at weekends and on bank holidays, with more passengers leaving than entering, according to TfL figures.
Passengers who normally begin their journeys at Angel during weekends and bank holidays are being advised to use nearby stations instead.
The alternatives include:
- King’s Cross St Pancras: Just over half a mile from Angel, with bus routes 30, 73, 205, 214 and 476 providing connections.
- Old Street: Just under a mile away, served by bus routes 43, 205 and 214.
- Highbury & Islington: Accessible using bus routes 4, 19, 30 and 43.
