Who: English commuters
What: The Tube
Where: Zones 1 to 4, subterranean London
When: Construction began in 1863. Extensions continue until the present day.
Why: A chance to get around the crowded, intimidating, and domineering city of London the way the locals do.
Your face when you realize you got on the wrong line.
Pre-trip: I figured the maps we bought would be clunky and difficult to use. So many lines. So many colors. I have only taken the subways in New York and Chicago before, and those are quite a bit easier to navigate because the train lines are quite grid-like. My head was hurting just trying to wrap around how I was going to get even one measly mile away from my hotel, let alone explore all that the great city of London has to offer. I was feeling rather apprehensive. I figured I would stick to Ubers and Black Cabs.
Post-trip: The first few times I took the Tube, I got confused, did not get to High Street Kensington, and had to walk back to the hotel from Gloucester (in the rain, mind you), which was not so fun. But I would say that after a good day, the inner workings of the Underground began to reveal themselves, and by my last day in London, using it was incredibly simple and fun. The first time I rode the underground, I went with the group. I was sick the day the group went to Westminster, so my first time on the trains was when we were off to Charlton. We had to stop at Victoria Station and get on a different track that took us there for the football match. Truth be told, for someone who is “green” to the train networks, it was good to leave London, switch trains, and do it all with a group. I would encourage newcomers to hop on and off trains and fully immerse themselves in the Tube experience. Navigation is easy, as all platforms have large maps of the train lines stuck up all over them. Plus, should you ever be in a pinch, there is a legion of helpful, well-informed personnel at the stations that can guide you to the train you must take to arrive at your desired stop. And of course, if that was not enough, there was always the map we had on us (as well as our phones… TECHNOLOGY).
Citation:
- “London Underground.” – Transport for London. Web. 23 Jan. 2016. <https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/about-tfl/culture-and-heritage/londons-transport-a-history/london-underground>.