Inside creepy Tube tunnel sealed for 60 years with 1950s posters still on walls

If you're a regular Tube user, chances are you'll be familiar with Notting Hill Gate station, given it's a pretty major interchange in West London. As well as being home to the Central Line, on a direct route into the West End and all the way up to Essex, the station also houses the District and Circle Lines, stretching through Paddington, King's Cross St Pancras, Victoria, Marylebone and other major London transport hubs. But what you might not know, as you speed through to the stop, is that Notting Hill Gate is hiding a secret Underground tunnel - one which still exists despite being closed off to the public over 60 years ago. Read on to find out how it looks today...(Picture: London Underground/Getty Images)

Notting Hill Gate station originally opened its Circle and District Line platforms in 1868, with the Central Line interchange following in 1900. Several decades later, in 1959, it underwent redevelopment which linked the two stations - previously the entrances to the lines had been on the opposite side of the street, effectively making them separate stations. However the work united the lines with a shared ticket hall, while escalators down to the deeper Central Line were also installed (Picture: Getty Images)

However part of the station was closed off and sealed during the redevelopment - and at the time the decision was made to keep the thoroughfare, which previously allowed commuters to connect between the lines, closed. The unused corridor remained sealed-off and abandoned for several decades, until it was once again accessed in 2010 during further refurbishment (Picture: London Underground/ mikeyashworth/FLICKR)

While the corridor itself might look rundown and abandoned, there was a surprise awaiting workers - as they discovered it was still full of perfectly preserved adverts for products of the era, as well as posters advertising films and stage shows which had been playing in London at the time the passage was closed (Picture: London Underground/ mikeyashworth/FLICKR)

Commuters who walked through that tunnel before it was sealed off might, for example, have been drawn to see the movie Too Many Crooks, with the poster still sitting on the wall looking virtually untouched. The crime spoof, which was released in 1959, was playing at the Odeon Marble Arch - which has also since bid farewell to the capital, having closed in 2016 (Picture: London Underground/ mikeyashworth/FLICKR)

Another film, the Alec Guinness screwball comedy The Horse's Mouth, is also advertised in the corridor. That movie, which starred the Star Wars legend as an artist and conman in search of his next victim, was released in 1958 - giving you some idea of just how long those posters have been sitting underground untouched by the elements (Picture: London Underground/ mikeyashworth/FLICKR)

But it wasn't just film posters which were unearthed. One stretch of ads revealed exhibitions and other attractions in the capital in the late 50s - from the Ideal Home Exhibition through to an iron and steel exhibit at the Science Museum. And if you wanted to post a small ad somewhere, the Evening News was also on hand to help. For those too young to remember, it was a London evening newspaper which was published from 1881 until 1980 when it merged with its rival the Evening Standard (Picture: London Underground/ mikeyashworth/FLICKR)

Another poster, for Royal Blue coach travel, not only gives an insight into 50s life, with people heading off on coach holidays in the days before budget airlines were a thing - but also showcases the art deco look popular with many of the posters of the time. The Underground blog Down The Tubes reveals that this poster was actually created by graphic designer Daphne Padden - whose other work included adverts for P&O Orient Lines and the General Post Office, as well as packaging design for Marks & Spencer and Unilever (Picture: London Underground/ mikeyashworth/FLICKR)

The posters caused quite a stir when they were unearthed. Howard Collins, Chief Operating Officer of London Underground at the time, told Mail Online: 'This is a truly incredible find. Heritage is a huge part of London Underground’s identity and these 1950s vintage posters show what a rich history the London Tube has. These fascinating treasures were found while work was being carried out to upgrade the station for our customers. Until we can find a way to remove the posters without damaging them, these delicate historical pieces will remain where they were found. We will ensure that they are kept secure and well-looked after' (Picture: London Underground/ mikeyashworth/FLICKR)

However, seeing photos of the posters is the closest most people will get to them. The corridor is not open to the public, and for obvious health and safety reasons there are currently no plans to open it up to visitors. So, if you are planning on using the station in the near future we wouldn't recommend you go exploring...(Picture: Getty Images)