The least-used Tube station is a ‘tranquil’ stop that only sees 367 Londoners a day

The Central Line station sees less than 400 people pass through daily (Picture: John Keeble/Getty Images Europe) If you think finding a quiet spot on the Tube is an impossible task, think again. With just a fraction of the daily commuters passing through its gates compared to its central counterparts, this sleepy stop proves that even one of the world’s busiest transit networks has its hidden sanctuaries. Far from the chaotic crowds of Oxford Circus or King’s Cross lies a forgotten gem on the map. Situated in Buckhurst Hill in the Epping Forest district of Essex, Roding Valley is the least busy tube station on the London Underground. The station sees only roughly 367 passengers a day. According to a Freedom of Information request (FoI), in 2025, Roding Valley, which has been part of the Central Line since 1948, was the least busy station on the London Underground, based on entry and exit tap counts and boarding taps, with precisely 134,632. Compared to the busiest station, Tottenham Court Road, which sees 63.4million travellers a year, Roding Valley feels worlds away. The small Zone 4 station,just four stops before the Central Line ends at Epping, is also one of the only three Tube stations without any ticket barriers, due to space constraints, and has one single ticket machine. Why is it so idle? One reason for the station’s lack of occupation is its close proximity to Buckhurst Hill Station and Woodford Station, which see more frequent trains and are closer to residential areas. Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. Plus, as part of the Hainault loop between Chigwell and Woodford stations, direct trains to central London are limited. Passengers often find it faster to walk or travel to Woodford station to catch standard Central Line services into London. Latest London news Tubes run every 20 minutes for most of the day, making it one of the least frequent services on the entire London Underground network. Compared to King’s Cross, where tubes arrive every one to five minutes, this is rather a wait. Roding Valley is squished between Woodford and Buckhurst Hill stations, which contributes to its lack of usage (Picture: Google Maps) What do people make of Roding Valley? On TikTok, people have mixed views on the calm station. ‘I don’t get why they have such a low-use station,’ says @valley_chuckwalla. ‘Seems so weird seeing a tube station so quiet,’ adds @tmft6. @finalmystery calls it the ‘fare evader dream station,’ referring to the lack of barriers. But not everyone was negative, with @dngruxb calling it ‘quaint and nice for that last train home,’ and @missjonesrbq saying, ‘I wish every journey was like this!’ referring to its quiet, small nature. On Google reviews, many noted the lack of staff at the station. Due to it being used infrequently, there can often be only one or even no staff present. Plus, it lacks step-free access and lifts, which can make it harder or inaccessible for passengers with disabilities. As such, not everyone is a fan, and Olga Mas writes on Google reviews: ‘Delete this station!’ Vishnu Bachani refers to it as ‘a very idyllic Tube station,’ but notes that ‘the proximity to the other branch of the Central Line slightly interrupts the tranquillity’. While Daniel Brown says: ‘It’s perfect, absolutely perfect.’ Ultimately, trading the daily rush-hour chaos for an empty platform comes with its trade-offs, from 20-minute waits to a lack of step-free access. But for the few hundred commuters who tap through its gates each day, Roding Valley can be a welcome respite from the city’s usual frenzy. Busiest and least busy TFL networks (2025) Busiest London Underground: Tottenham Court Road – 634,604,11 taps DLR: Canary Wharf – 61,308,18 taps Elizabeth Line: Bond Street – 42,4010,32 taps London Overground: Shepherds Bush – 672,62,98 taps Tram: East Croydon – 193,95,04 taps River Bus: Canary Wharf – 3,997,93 taps Bus: Brixton Station (Stop P) – 411,75,94 taps Least busy London Underground: Roding Valley – 134,63,2 taps DLR: Beckton Park 279489 taps Elizabeth Line: Iver – 214,561 taps London Overground: Emerson Park – 222,294 taps Tram: Avenue Road – 473,70 taps River Bus: Cadogan Pier – 4,946 taps Due to many bus stops being temporary, TFL does not provide a ‘least busy’ bus What would you prefer for a Tube station experience? Centrally connected but busy atmosphereCheck Quiet and peaceful but irregular trains Check Sign up to The Getaway Expert, your exclusive seven-day guide to travelling with confidence from Metro's travel editor, Alice Murphy. 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