Published May 28, 2026 5:13pm
Updated May 28, 2026 5:20pm
East Londoners will likely be familiar with a pair of train carriages, which sit on the roof of Village Underground, near to Shoreditch High Street Overground.
A local landmark, while they’re a great photo-opportunity, the public has never been able to access the quirky spot — that is, until now.
This summer pub-goers will finally be granted access to Village Underground rooftop, including the carriages, in a newly opened rooftop bar, with stunning views over East London.
And if the city sees another heatwave, it’s likely to be a popular spot for those wanting to queer their thirst.
Named the Village Underground Rooftop, the bar (which up to know has only been used as overspill offices for staff at the venue) will be open from July 3. From then, it’ll be serving from Wednesday through to Sunday each week.
There won’t just be drinks: Bad Boy Pizza Society will be setting up shop here too, dishing out gooey 12-inch, New York-style slices to the masses.
In their previous lives, the carriages themselves served on the Jubilee line, and were hoisted atop the building back in 2006.
Since then, they’ve become an iconic part of the city’s skyline — and they’re not the only link the venue has to transport.
Beneath the rooftop lies a Victorian warehouse, which, when it was first built, served as a storeroom for coal used to power the railways.
Over time, this space also ended up needing a bit of TLC, so the team from Village Underground zhuzhed it up and converted it into the downstairs venue, which plays host to things like gigs and club nights.
Auro Foxcroft, founder of Village Underground, said of the new opening: ‘For nearly 20 years, we’ve had this suntrap spot on the Shoreditch skyline to ourselves, so it’s exciting to finally be able to share it with our audiences and the local community.
‘The train carriages have been part of how we’ve used the space day to day — from working to interviewing artists — and this feels like the natural next step, opening them up and making them part of the space for everyone to enjoy.’
Elsewhere in the world of London rooftops, if you’re keen to escape the heat with a dip in the pool, why not try one of Metro‘s favourite spots?
Five-star hotel art’otel has a fabulous infinity pool on the roof, set against the dramatic backdrop of Battersea Power Station and its huge chimneys.
As well as the Power Station, the rooftop also boasts stunning panoramic 360-degree views across London, so everywhere you turn, there’s something new to see.
If you’re looking for somewhere to swim in the sunshine, while enjoying spectacular sights, this is the place.
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