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Each city has its secrets, most of which will betray a tourist in a heartbeat! London is no different, so I’ve compiled a list of details that will help you navigate the tube like a pro! First things first though, download a copy of the tube map below.
Notice: Some of these should be considered law, but others are sneaky little secrets I’ve found over the years!
Platforms
I used to live right at the end of the Northern Line so I really wanted to get a seat whenever I was going home. To have the best chances, you need to stand so the doors stop right in front of you. Two ways you can figure this out; first, look at the yellow safety line, and can you see where it’s worn? Stop there! Another one is waiting in front of the station names as they’ve been placed to line up with the train doors and voila, a seat!
Contactless
It’s not a new feature, but it’s a useful one. You no longer have to buy an oyster card to get around; you can tap in and out with your bank card. The daily cap still works this way, so you’re not losing out! Yay! If you get charged per transaction on your card then you can still purchase an Oyster Card at every station.
Way out
A great way to look like a local is to realise where you’re going. As soon as your train pulls into your platform, place yourself by the doors and discreetly look at the signage as it slows down. That way when they open you’ll know which way to turn. Trust me, whomever you are travelling with will be very impressed!
Escalators; It’s a simple one, but definitely not to be forgotten! Stand on the right and walk on the left. PLEASE!
Fastest Line
Time for a fact, in case you are running late; London’s quickest tube lines are Victoria (blue), Jubilee (grey) and Central (red) so aim for these if you need to shave off a couple of minutes. Interactive tube map for reference.
A&C vs Blow Dry
You may not be the only one that knows about it, but grab your chance if you see it! The trains can get really hot in summer but if you stay by the door that leads to the other carriage then you get a nice breeze coming from the cool tunnels! Remember to stand at the ‘front’ to get the wind, if not you will have quite a hairdo at the end of your journey!
Doors
This betrays a lot of London tourists and newcomers… ALL of the doors open at ANY and ALL stations. You do not need to press the door button, I promise!
It’s one of the busiest stations and therefore slower to get around. A sneaky secret that avoids the slow queues to get onto the platform is taking the second left once you are down the escalators heading to the Northern Line; It leads you directly to the trains.
Although they look joined up on the tube map, do NOT change between Bank and Monument stations. It’s a good 10-minute walk from platform to platform and the tunnel feels like it goes on foreveeeeer…
Ask any Londoner and they will tell you Bank is the worst station… And I agree! Therefore you want to get out of there as quickly as possible, so when you get off the Northern line (from any direction) don’t follow the directions to the DLR that lead you out via the ends of the platform. Instead, look for the small signs in the middle showing a downward arrow. This way takes you straight down to the DLR.
I have mixed feelings about the DLR, but it can be a nicer journey than the tube, especially at sunset. I always make sure to get a seat at the front, and one of my most guarded secrets is to aim for the RIGHT seats. This is because the staff cannot easily patrol the carriages at peak times, so take the controls at the front of the train, which is located on the left side…
It’s a very useful line, I’ll admit, and therefore EXTREMELY busy! Avoid it whenever possible, especially in summer as it gets atrociously hot. The same goes for peak times…
My husband discovered this one the hard way, bless him… Clapham Junction is actually nowhere near Clapham High Street, it’s about 45minutes walk away. Both have great pubs, but if your end goal was to get to Clapham North, Common or South, stick to the Northern Line only!
Just to reconfirm; Clapham Junction is NOT within walking distance from Clapham North, Common or South stations!
You may know this one already, but the walk from Piccadilly Circus through Leicester Square onto Covent Garden is about 15 minutes max. It’s quicker for you to walk rather than go down to the trains, wait for it and get back out at CG. It’s also a nice stroll with all the shops and secret streets.
Being the newest financial district, it’s been planned out and carefully built to handle an intense rush hour! Add British people to that and you have a very organised system. When you get onto the (extremely wide) platform, you notice little queues in front of the doors, stand in them and DO NOT try to jump them. You will get a lot of dirty looks!
If there is one to remember it’s this one… Do NOT change from the Piccadilly to the Victoria Line (and vice-versa) at Green Park station. It’s sooooooooo long!
As mentioned, I used to live on the Northern line so I could get from South to North London on one train. However, if I was in a rush I would switch to the Victoria line at Stockwell. It’s a platform hop station, with fewer stations and faster!
Please mind the gap between the train and the plarform.
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