The London Underground has twelve color-coded lines. It may seem confusing the first time you try to find your way, but with practice, it can be quite straightforward.
What is the tube?
Do you keep hearing everyone refer to the tube but don’t know what it is? To find out!
Color-coded lines
Find out how to recognize color-coded tube lines, find out their names, where each line begins and ends, plus helpful stops on each line.
How to save money on London transport
Using an Oyster card offers cheaper rates than paying cash on tubes and buses.
Online trip planner
Journey Planner is on the Transport for London website. It allows you to send exactly where you want to start and end your journey and offers you the best routes.
Weekend engineering jobs
Weekend engineering jobs are planned on the London Underground every weekend. This means the closure of full and partial lines, so you should check the status of the line in advance if you have any important travel, like getting to the airport on time.
Do not drink alcohol or smoke
Drinking and transporting open containers of alcohol has been banned since 2008, making tubing a safer and more enjoyable experience for passengers.
Smoking has been banned on tube trains since 1987 (after the King’s Cross fire), but was extended in 2007 to include all public spaces such as train platforms (even when outside), bus shelters, and bus stations .
Stand to the right
We have an unspoken rule about London’s underground escalators: always be on the right. This rule has surprised many visitors to our city as it is unclear when you arrive, but if you get in the way of a London traveler, they will soon let you know!
The night tube
Since the end of 2015, London has had a 24-hour tube service on weekends.
Avoid rush hour on the subway
Avoid riding the metro during rush hour as these are commuter times and it can be terribly crowded.
Luggage
There are no chargers on the London Underground system so you will need to be able to load and unload your luggage on your own. Remember to take your backpack off and place it on the floor, it’s easy to turn around and knock out a local!
Never leave your belongings unattended, and give yourself time to verify that you have not forgotten anything before you have to go, as left luggage generates security alerts every day, which means that metro stations have to close since the Customer safety is paramount in the underground system.
London has many free newspapers, but do not leave your newspaper in the tube as it is considered littering, which carries a fine. Bring your paper and dispose of it in a recycling bin outside the station.
Standing behind the yellow line
All metro platforms have a yellow line marked about a foot from the edge where the train will arrive. While waiting for your train, do not go over this line as there is an obvious danger of falling in front of a train or being hit by an unexpected train.
Photography without flash
Flash photography or any other form of additional lighting is not permitted on any London underground platform. This is a safety issue, as you can imagine poor drivers coming out of a dark tunnel and cameras flashing in the face can cause some accidents.
Technically, you are not allowed to take photos on the subway, but the staff are generally forgiving if you just want a few vacation photos. If you want to take some serious photos, you will need to apply for a photography permit.
Check for delays
The Tube is continually updated and restored and this can sometimes lead to the closure of the station or the line, especially on weekends. To avoid delays, check tfl.gov.uk before traveling.
Lost property
Transport for London finds more than 160,000 pieces of lost property each year in buses, tubes, taxis, trains, trams and stations.
