Historical version 5 of Category Tube (view current version)
The Underground, near-universally known as the Tube, is the way most out-of-towners get around, and fairly well used by residents, too. It's unfortunately expensive, crowded at rush hour (and closing time), and it's patchy in its coverage; it's also probably the best value method out there. Sometimes it doesn't work; see the status page at London Transport.
Bits of it are getting on for 150 years old, and it also contains some of the oldest deep tubes in the world. The Tube map and Tube roundel are design classics known the world over.
Lines can be split into two main groups: Subsurface lines were built by 'cut and cover', even in the centre of London. These are the oldest lines on the network. Tube lines are the ones that go deep underground, with the vast majority of the central London sections dug in the 'tube boom' between 1900 and 1915. The following useful table comes from the London Underground page on Wikipedia.
| Line Name |
Colour on Tube map |
Type | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brown | 1906 | Deep level | |
| Red | 1900 | Deep level | |
| Yellow | 1884 | Sub-surface | |
| Green | 1868 | Sub-surface | |
| Orange | 1869 | Sub-surface | |
| Pink | 1864 | Sub-surface | |
| Silver | 1979 | Deep level | |
| Purple | 1863 | Sub-surface | |
| Black | 1907 (part) | Deep level | |
| Dark blue | 1906 | Deep level | |
| Light blue | 1969 | Deep level | |
| Teal | 1898 | Deep level |
There's the obligatory official website, or the independent tubeplanner.com or Clive's UndergrounD Line Guides.
Tube things:
- View all grubstreet pages in Category Tube
- LUL service update and TFL graphical map of current Tube delays
- [Tube Buskers]?
- Tube Stations Retaining Original Decor
- [Tube Station Name Changes]?
- Tube Etiquette
- Rush Hour
- Tube Ticket Touts
- British Transport Police
- Air conditioning/ventilation on the Tube
- Lost property
Tube Frequently Asked Questions:
- What does the "Inspector Sands" announcement mean?1
- Why does it take so long to repair escalators?
- What are "delays due to passenger action"?
- How quickly could you visit every Tube station in one day?
- What happens when the alarm handle is pulled?
1 I heard the "Inspector Sands" announcement at Bank station. Having read the blurb on the Guardian "Any Answers" page (see link above), my first thought was "Yikes!" My second thought was "Double Yikes!" owing to the fact that there was a Firemen's strike on. Then, the doors closed on the tube train I was on and it departed the platform. --IvorW
As someone comments on that Guardian page, "I often hear it at Notting Hill Gate". I can verify this; I have to admit that it's quite worrying. At least they've finally got rid of the wooden escalators now, though. --Earle
I've heard calls for "Inspector Sands" a few times at Stratford station. Often they seem to want him to go to the control room. --mstevens