On Saturday, October 15, 2016, Stockwell Bus Garage and nearby Stockwell Tube station will hold an open day, with special displays and staff on hand to give visitors a glimpse behind the scenes.
This is the first time that a bus garage and a Tube station have held such a combined event.
Run by Go Ahead, visitors to the iconic Grade II listed bus garage can see a wide selection of vintage buses, including two from London Transport Museum, and learn about the history of the bus on London Transport Museum’s display vehicle. There is also the opportunity to explore the local area in a heritage bus, attend a talk on the architectural significance of Stockwell Garage in an open top bus and to ride through the bus wash.
The event will also offer an array of stalls and stands, the chance to chat to bus drivers and other staff about their work, rides on a horse-drawn omnibus and a kids corner, with face painting and other activities. Children can also meet Inderjit Puaar, the author of Bradley the Bus, for a book signing.
The garage was given a Grade II listing in 1988 because of the design of its arched roof which, when built in 1952, was the largest roof span unsupported by steel girders in Europe. The garage provides 73,350 sq ft (6,814 m2) of parking space and could originally house 200 buses.
All proceeds from the bus garage open day will go to the Missing People charity, which is the only charity in the UK which is dedicated to bringing missing children and adults back together with their families.
At Stockwell Tube station, approximately 200 yards from the garage, there will be a display revealing the station history and leaflets explaining recent major projects on the Northern and Victoria lines, including accessibility improvements, Night Tube, station upgrades and refurbishments at Victoria, Finsbury Park and Bank, as well as the recent Art on the Underground Victoria line project, ‘Underline.’
This weekend’s event is the last of a series of bus garage open days to be held this year.
