Exploring Earth's Priciest Abandoned Structures

8. London's Crystal Palace Subway

Location: England's London 1865 is the year. Expensive: $3.2 million (2022 Renovation Award) The vast, vaulted crypt-like building beneath London's Crystal Palace Park is a testimony to the grandeur of the Victorian era. History buffs will be happy to hear that Crystal Palace is undergoing a $3.2 million restoration that will hopefully restore it to its former splendor. This building is known as the Crystal Palace Subway.

Advertisement

London's Crystal Palace Subway ©Shutterstock/I Wei Huang The Crystal Palace was created by Italian cathedral artisans, which explains why it has a crypt-like appearance. It has octagonal pillars, red and cream hues, and stone ribs. This stately subway station was converted into an air raid bunker during World War II. It developed into a raving destination forty years later. Following the arrival and departure of these revelers, "safety concerns" led to the closure of the Crystal Palace. These worries will now be allayed because of the current renovation that the London government has organized.