The line to Rickmansworth was authorised in 1880[8] and the station opened on 1 September 1887 as the terminus of the Metropolitan Railway's extension from Pinner.

There was a proposal in the New Works Programme to extend electrification to Aylesbury, but this was postponed at the outbreak of the Second World War.

Rickmansworth hosts the headquarters of the operational side of the northern section of the Met, controlling signals on the line from Northwood to Watford and Chorleywood.

[10] On London Underground, the station is served by trains on the Metropolitan line to Amersham and to Chesham from Baker Street and at peak times from Aldgate.

There are occasional services between Rickmansworth and Watford which use the 'North Curve' of track: in the 2021 timetable there are two early in the morning plus one late in the evening.