Discover the Best Aspects of London Underground

History of the London Underground

The history of the London Underground dates back to the 19th century when the construction of the metropolitan railway station started. This station was then opened in 1863 with steam locomotives that had gas-lit wooden carriages. In 1902, the Underground Electric Railways Company of London or UERL was established to provide funds for the electrification of the railway and to operate three tube lines. During WW I the people used the tube stations to shelter themselves from the Zeppelin air raids, and the same is true for WW II. In the year 1953, an aluminium train was introduced, which became the standard for new trains. In 1981, the London transport introduced the fare zones to reduce the travelling costs. After this, the capital card and travel card came into existence.

Understanding the London Underground Map

The underground London Railway comprises nine zones with eleven tube lines. To understand these, Harry Beck designed a map of the tube system in 1933. Moreover, Transport for London offers free maps and guides for those who want to navigate through the tube system. First, you need to know the meaning of the different colours:

• Solid colours: underground lines

(For example, brown for Bakerloo, yellow for circle, red for central and others)

• Orange and white: over-ground lines
• Blue and white: Docklands Light railway

The stations are well-marked and named. The stations marked by white and black circles are the ones where you can change lines. In addition, the maps are also displayed on every London underground tube station to assist the passengers.

Tips for Navigating the Underground

Navigating through the stations with only one line is easy. However, when you are at a station that has multiple lines going through it you need to be extra careful. Hence, the following are some tips that can help you navigate safely through the underground London tube system.

• If possible, do not travel during rush hours (between 7 to 9 AM and 5.30 to 7 PM).
• While on the escalator, always stand on the right-hand side.
• Keep your ticket ready before you reach the barrier to avoid any hassle.
• If you have boarded the wrong train, you should not panic and get down at the next stop.
• Before stepping out plan, and check for any closures of the underground Londonlines that you need to travel on.
• Do not hesitate to ask for help from the officers who can guide you through your journey.

London Underground Fares & Payment Options

The following table shows the different fares for travelling through the London tube system:

Cash payment: If you are paying for a single journey using cash the following charges will be applicable for you. The following are the details:

Single Journey Ticket - cash-

Contactless payment: In the case you are making a payment using an oyster card or with the help of your debit/ credit card then the following are the applicable charges for you:

Oyster / Contactless Payment Card-

For children below the age of 11 travelling is free. In case they have an oyster card, then they can travel for free till the age of 15 years. Also, for children with an oyster card, the off-peak fare is £1.70 (INR 191), and the peak fare is between £4.05 - £7.45 (INR 455 to 837).

Further, you can make the payment using an oyster card, travel card or a contactless payment card (debit or credit card).

Must Know Underground Stations

There are a total of 272 tube stations that comprise the tube system. However, there are some that may be the oldest or most famous, and you might come across them while travelling through the city. Hence, the following are some tube stations in London that offer an insight into the city’s history.

1. King’s Cross Station

It is located in the North part of the city and is one of the most well-known London tube stations. The station comprises six different lines with access to many places in the UK and other cities. It was built in the year 1852 and became famous due to the Harry Potter movies.

Location: Euston Rd., London N1C 4QL, UK

2. London Victoria

This station is connected to the Gatwick airport and the central London region. It is believed to be the underground London station that is visited more by the heads of state and royalty. There are a lot of shopping outlets here.

Location: Victoria St, London SW1E 5ND, UK

3. Liverpool Street

It is famous among the commuters as the most haunted tube station. It connects passengers from the north-eastern parts to the rest of the city. There is also a sculpture dedicated to the Jewish refugee children who came here in the 1930s.

Location: London EC2M 7QA, UK

4. Paddington

It is situated in Westminster and was built in 1838. This underground station became famous because of a kid’s movie with the same name. Moreover, between Easter and Christmas, the Great Western Railway band also plays here.

Location: Tyburnia, London, UK

5. London Bridge

This station connects the southeast region of the city with other parts and also to the Gatwick and Luton airports. There are a lot of shops and eateries here. It is also the fourth busiest Underground London station.

Location: Station Approach Rd, London SE1 9SP, UK

Hidden Gems & Fun Experiences on the London Underground

If you want to explore the secrets or past of the London underground, here are some places worth visiting. Moreover, you can easily book a tour of these places and explore disused ticket offices, platforms and tunnels.

1. Aldwych

It is a disused terminal of the Piccadilly line, which was closed to passengers in 1994. You can explore the two platforms, ticket houses, interconnecting tunnels and walkways.

2. Baker Street

Here, you will get to know the 160-year history of the underground railways. You can explore the passenger corridors and original Victorian waiting rooms. Here, you also get to hear the testimonials from the first passengers.

3. Charing Cross

This is another disused railway station that is used as a location for filming. Here, you get to discover the Jubilee Line concourse, passenger tunnels and platforms. You can also witness the testing of new designs for the London underground tube stations.

4. Dover Street

Dover Street is a station hidden within a station. You can discover the 20th-century lift landings and passageways here. This station also played a crucial role during WW II. You can also explore the underground London ventilation tunnels for the Jubilee and Victoria lines.

5. Euston

If you are a fan of labyrinths, then this is the place for you. Here, you can explore the secret passageways at the Euston station. The walls here are still covered with the advertising posters of that era. You also get a tour of the 1907 original construction tunnels.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Using the Tube

There are some basic etiquettes that you need to have in order to travel through the London tube system. The following are a few of these:

• Do not eat in the carriage.
• Avoid leaning on people who are sitting next to you.
• Put your backpack down so that you accidentally do not hurt other passengers.
• Do not lean against the pole.
• Let the passengers get off first before you get on the tube.
• Do not walk too close to the yellow line marking on the station.

Conclusion

To sum up, hope this blog helped you understand the London underground railways better. If you follow the map and the simple rules, then you can have a great experience of travelling by tube. Also, if you are a student in London interested in finding student accommodation in UK, which is close to the tube system, you can connect with our experts. They will provide you with options based on your preferences.

Suggested to read:London Zones.

Suggested to read: Things To Do In London.

FAQs

1. What is the London Underground?

The underground railway station of the metropolitan area of London is referred to as the London underground or the tube. It is also called tube because of the shape of the tunnels. This underground system of railways was opened in the year 1863.

2. How do I pay for travel on the London Underground?

There are a lot of ways in which you can pay for the underground London railways. Some of these include:

• Oyster pay
• Contactless and mobile payment
• Travel cards, etc.

3. What are the London Underground operating hours?

The timings for London Tube from Monday to Saturday is from 5 am to midnight. During Sundays the operating hours are slightly reduced. There are five tube lines that run 24 hours on Fridays and Saturdays.

4. What is the difference between peak and off-peak fares?

There are two peak fares time zones one is from 6.30 to 9.30 the other is from 16.00 to 19.00 for Mondays to Fridays. The rest of the time periods come under the off-peak fares. Also, if you are travelling to Zone 1 from outside during 16.00 to 19.00 then it is considered in the off-peak fares.

5. What should I do in an emergency on the Tube?

In case you find yourself in an emergency while travelling on the underground London tube, then the following are a few pointers for you:

• Follow the instructions for your safety.
• You can also press the red alarm button close to the doors to alert the driver.
• There are also tools to unlock the doors when in an emergency.
• During evacuation, you need to find the nearest exit sign and leave the station.