The London Tube station hidden on the map for years because of who used it

The London Tube map, spanning zones and neighbourhoods, hasn't always looked the way it does now. For nearly two decades, one station was absent from its design: Kensington (Olympia).

This rail and Tube stop in West London's Zone 2 is currently served by the London Overground and the District line. It provides a handy shortcut to avoid Zone 1, as all its Overground services are entirely within Zone 2. However, if we go back to 1940, this station had a completely different function. Initially opened as Kensington station in 1844, it was so unpopular that it shut down in December of the same year.

The station made a return in 1862 with new services, including the Metropolitan line, and was renamed Kensington Addison Road in 1868. However, during World War 2, the Metropolitan line was bombed, resulting in the closure of the West London stations on the line. However, this wasn't the end for Kensington station. As it happens, the station was ideally situated. 

Not only did it have rail connections to all of London, but it was also conveniently close to the headquarters of the Commander of the Allied Forces, led by Dwight D Eisenhower.

It became his preferred travel spot when he journeyed to Wales in 1944 to prepare for the Normandy landings. In 1946, the station was renamed Kensington (Olympia) and began transporting workers at the nearby Post Office Savings Bank.

The station's existence was kept under wraps by the Post Office Savings Bank due to the National Secrets Act, and it wasn't until 1958 that it was officially announced.

In that year, Kensington (Olympia) was granted a permanent platform and a District line shuttle service to Earl's Court.

After its refurbishment, the station introduced more regular schedules, added a community garden, and underwent a makeover. However, trains are still infrequent at Kensington (Olympia), making it one of London's only part-time stations.