UK Tube Station Bans DSLRs from Tours

Only point-and-shoots allowed on this tour.

Aldwych tube station, which was closed in 1994 but recently re-opened for public tours, has forbidden the use of DSLR cameras inside the building. Though many museums and tourist attractions do not allow flash photography, it seems it's the resolution and quality of the images produced by digital SLRs that is the issue here. A sign spotted by photographer Tim Allen sits outside the station and reads:

"Due to their combination of high-quality sensor and high resolution, digital SLR cameras are unfortunately not permitted insider the station."

A spokesperson has since confirmed the ban in a statement to the British Journal of Photography.

"Terms and conditions for the recent sale of tickets to visit Aldwych Underground station clearly stated that digital SLR cameras were not permitted, as these are classed as professional equipment," said Wendy Neville, a spokesperson from the London Transport Museum that talked to BJP.

However, rather confusingly, Neville then goes on to gave another reason entirely for the ban on DSLRs. 

"[...] we were concerned that people using them could delay the tours for others, as it was a very tight schedule with more than 2500 visitors going up and down a spiral staircase of about 160 steps to get to and from the platforms," she's quoted by as saying.

When asked why DSLRs might delay the tours but other photographic equipment wouldn't, Neville is reported to have said "some DSLRs are big" and that they did not want to risk the safety of people on the tour for a minority of participants.

Whether or not safety is really the reason for the ban remains to be seen. However, if Aldwych station is simply worried about the superior or professional quality of pictures that can be produced with a DSLR, it's probably time someone told them that the camera doesn't actually do all of the work when it comes to taking great photos.