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Any Londoner will tell you that the tube(that’s a subway to you Americans, metro to the French),is one of the handiest, most fast ways of getting around the city (and if they don’t, the high property prices perfectly aligning with the tube map will set you straight). While the underground is one of the quickest means of transport, it comes with its own difficulties and set of rules. Often overcrowded and stressful (particularly at rush-hour), here are a few tips to making your tube travel as painless and easy as possible…
Take note of priority seating
If you are one of the privileged few lucky enough to nab a seat, take note that seating is reserved for those with priority i.e. the elderly, the disabled, pregnant women, and anyone less able to stand. Keep an eye out for anyone who might need your seat more than you do.
TfL has recently released a new set of badges reading ‘Please Offer Me A Seat’ – introduced in an attempt to remove the pressure of having to publicly say you’re ill, un-well, or less able to stand on the train and asking someone to move. Be considerate and make an effort to stay aware of anyone who may need to sit down.
Grab something to read
There are often companies handing out free magazines outside tube stations. For example, magazines like TimeOut and Stylist are available every week (look out for TimeOut on a Tuesday morning). This is an easy way of keeping yourself entertained on the tube, without having to spend a penny. It’s also often a good way of keeping up-to-date on what’s going on in the city E.g. new exhibitions, shows, restaurant openings etc.
Wait a few minutes
The great thing about the tube is there is normally one every couple of minutes or so. This means you don’t have to stress if you can’t fit on the first train that comes along – wait just a few extra minutes and you’ll be able to have a much more comfortable journey. It also means you don’t have to sprint for the train and get on sweaty and out of breath.
Plan your exit
For those who don’t already know, Citymapper is a must-have app (link to previous article on apps here to create backlinks and help with SEO) for every Londoner! Not only does it help you plan your journey, showing the quickest routes and live train times, but it also shows you the best tube exit for getting to your final destination quickly (some of the larger stations have multiple exits, and exiting from the wrong one can be extremely confusing). Citymapper will also tell you where in the train you should sit to ensure you’re closest to your exit once the train stops! Magic.
Consider an alternative route
While the tube is great, it is not the be-all and the end-all. Try not to think of the tube map as a map of London, as there may be quicker ways to get where you want to go. For example, walking between stations can be much quicker than you think! The walk between Leicester Square and Covent Garden stations is less than 4 minutes, and much faster than riding the tube. For a handy map of the walking distances between tube stations, look here.
On a similar topic, TfL has just released a new tube map highlighting which stations are underground and which aren’t. This is geared towards those who suffer from anxiety and claustrophobia and are keen to avoid going underground.
There you have it, our insider’s guide to using the tube!