Arsenal tube station - Definition and Overview

Arsenal tube station, in Highbury, north London, is a London Underground station that lies just around the corner from Highbury, the home of Arsenal football club. It is on the Piccadilly Line, in zone 2, between Holloway Road and Finsbury Park tube stations.

In its earlier years, the station was known as Gillespie Road, after the road that runs past the station's entrance. However, in the 1930s the football club campaigned successfully to have it named after them, and it has stayed that way ever since. However, even today, the original tiled walls of the station platforms bear the Gillespie Road name spelt out in huge letters.

The station must be one of the least-used on the whole London Underground network, remaining largely deserted except on matchdays. Even then, it is neglected by many supporters in favour of the nearby Finsbury Park station, which in addition to having a link to the Victoria Line is also a bus and national rail interchange. The latter is also popular with Arsenal supporters because it has a club superstore just outside.