The Wonderpass
It doesn’t take long in London before your sense of smell will be assaulted by the stench of Subway and the stench of the subways. The latter — those underground passageways enabling impatient pedestrians to bypass traffic — are often grimy, dimly lit and reek from the pungent ammonia of urine soaked concrete. I’ve learned to avoid them altogether.
One, however, has been given the most jaw dropping makeover since Sandy in Grease, probably because it’s smack dab in the middle of one of London’s tourist heartlands. Standing right outside Baker Street Tube Station is the entrance to The Wonderpass - your shortcut across Marylebone Road to the many fine ales on tap at The Globe.
It’s only 50 metres long but the giant red & white zebra stripes will have you humming Seven Nation Army as you peruse the trivia up one wall, and the Cabinets of Curiosities down the other. Everything is big and bold and easy enough to read without having to stop, in case you’re a commuter racing through to catch the last train home! And for the tourists taking shelter to avoid the rain, the miniature models of nearby attractions might even entice you to go back above ground to brave the queues.
Apparently this was created all the way back in 2016 by Sing London (@sing_london) and the Baker Street Quarter Partnership (@bakerstreetq). But I’m not often in the area, which is why I had no idea about it until recently. If you happen to be nearby I definitely recommend checking it out. It’s a lovely hidden treat that’s worth a peek.
Plan your visit
The Wonderpass is located at 43 Marylebone Road London, NW1 5JY
FREE
Please note, overnight gating of the Wonderpass means that it is locked each night between 20:30 and 6:00.
🖼️ Want more art? Visit the What’s On page to see a list of recommended shows, sorted by closing date. Don’t miss ‘em!