Tube Trivia
The first section of the network was the Metropolitan line, which opened on 10th January 1863.
The London Underground is the oldest and longest system of its kind in the world. But not the biggest.
There are 11 different lines, 270 stations and 9 zones.
Waterloo is London’s busiest tube station in the mornings. Victoria is busiest overall.
The Jubilee line is the only line that connects with all the other lines. It’s also the youngest line.
1,073 million passengers travel on the tube each year.
Stratford station has the shortest escalator and Angel has the longest.
The first baby to be born on the tube, came into the world on a Bakerloo line train at Elephant and Castle in 1924.
US chat show host Jerry Springer was also born at East Finchley station in 1944 , while his mum was sheltering from an air raid.
Harry Beck’s map design was initially considered too radical but was well-received by the public when finally published in 1933.
The stations at Bank, Balham and Marble Arch were all bombed in the blitz, causing serious casualties.
A fire at Kings Cross in 1987 killed 31 people.
The Underground logo first appeared in 1908.
An estimated half a million mice live within the Underground system.
Disused Aldwych station is used for filming (it bears the original ‘Strand’ name). It’s also said to be haunted.
Disused British Museum station can still be seen as you travel on the central line between Tottenham Court Road and Holborn.
Disused stations are known as ‘ghost’ stations.
Busking has been licensed on the Underground since 2003.
It’s takes about an hour to travel around the circle line.
