The Great Western Railway (GWR) opened Twyford Abbey Halt just east of the site on 1 May 1904 as part of the GWR and Great Central Railway Joint Railway project (the New North Main Line) towards High Wycombe. It was closed 7 years later, replaced by Brentham station, later renamed "Brentham (for North Ealing)", to the west of the present location. That station was closed between 1915 and 1920 due to World War I economies. Brentham and most main-line stations between North Acton and West Ruislip were finally closed in 1947 when the Central line was extended from North Acton on electrified tracks built under the LTPB New Works Programme of 1935, the delay was due to World War II. The Central line station opened on 30 June 1947 as "Hanger Lane" as it was near that road.
Hanger Lane takes its name from Hanger Hill, the hill it travels over. The name comes from the Old English word hangra, meaning a wooded slope. The entrance and roof of the subsurface ticket hall form the centre of the Hanger Lane Gyratory System, a complex roundabout in West London where the A40 Western Avenue crosses the A406 North Circular Road in an underpass. Passengers must use pedestrian subways under the gyratory to access the station, which is itself above ground. Signage needs to be improved for the sight impaired. The station has payphones, toilets, a bridge and waiting room.
Connections: London Buses routes 83, 95, 112, 487 and 226 serve the station.