The London Underground, famously nicknamed the ‘Tube’, is such an iconic transport system it can almost be considered a tourist attraction in its own right. A visit to the bustling city is hardly complete without at least one Tube ride, but with up to five million passenger journeys per day, 11 lines and 270 stations, it can be a little overwhelming.
To help you conquer the historic underground railway, opened in 1863, I have thrown together a list of tips for riding the Tube like a local, as I did for a couple of years as a resident of this incredible city.
- Download a transport app
There are many Tube apps available for you to download for free, which will prove an invaluable tool as you navigate your way through the city. One such as the Citymapper app, recommended by the official site visitlondon.com, enables you to plan your journey, choose the fastest routes and, if you are connected to Wi-Fi or on data, receive up-to-the-minute information that will help you avoid station closures and other delays.
- Invest in an Oyster card
The Oyster card is your speedy ticket around London, valid on all public transport. If you plan to use any transport more than once, the Oyster card is a worthwhile investment that will help you keep costs down as you zip about the city.
- Choose the fastest route, rather than the least changes
Often, it can feel a lot easier to catch two trains that take longer as oppose to three that offer the shortest travel time – but with the London Underground, this is not necessary. Transferring between trains is easy with clear signage in all stations, as well as staff to assist you if required, and trains are so frequent it is extremely rare that you will have to wait for more than five minutes.
- Know where you’re going before entering the station
Londoners know where they are going, and they are going there fast. If you know which line you are looking for, and which direction, you can almost pretend you are part of the local traffic on entering the station – and will not cause exasperated sighs from others as you pause to look at a map in a busy corridor.
- Stand on the right, walk on the left
Etiquette on the Tube escalators is clear and locals strictly adhere to it. The unwritten rule is to stand on the right, and walk on the left, so if you wish to remain still on the escalator, be sure to stand on the correct side or risk facing annoyed commuters who know, with no uncertainty, that you are a tourist.
- Let others off the train first
This might seem obvious, but allowing others off the train before boarding is not just a polite consideration on the London Underground – it is another etiquette every single person follows. So, stand aside, let others disembark, and remember to mind the gap as you board.
- Don’t smile at others
Well, you can if you like, but the Tube is notoriously a rather serious place busy with commuters and their newspapers, on their dreary way to work. The general standard is to avoid all human contact, and keep to yourself or have a quiet conversation with your companion. I admit this is a rather less serious tip than, for example, the importance of standing to the right on escalators (that one was no joke) – but this list is about helping you look like a local, so this must be included.
- Take ‘door closing’ warnings seriously
Take it from someone with first-hand experience – those doors will close on you and will not register that they have trapped a human. On one of my first outings as a new resident in London, I was with a group who suddenly decided we would change trains at an earlier station than planned. I was at the tail end of the group as we disembarked, and the doors closed right on me. My friends had to pull me out like some sort of new-born calf. So, make sure you get out, or in, before the doors begin to shut.
- Keep your Oyster card ready
After using your Oyster card to enter the Tube station, you will need it to get out, so don’t put it away before you are finished your journey.
Happy riding!
Courtney Gahan is an Aussie serial expat, traveller and freelance writer who has bartered with Moroccan marketeers, seen the sun rise at Angkor Wat and elbowed her way through crowds on NYE in NYC. Currently based in Amsterdam.
