26 Clever Tips to Make Your London Underground Journey Easier

By Ethan Blake 3 min read

26 sneaky Tube hacks to make your London Underground trip a breeze

1. Predict the Optimal Carriage Position

Believe it or not, your journey on the London Underground can be significantly improved depending on where you position yourself in the carriage. Many regular commuters have this down to a fine art. In fact, there are apps available that actually show you where you should be on the platform for an optimal journey experience.

For instance, if you’re hopping off at a certain stop and want quick access to the station exit, these apps tell you exactly where to stand for speedy departure. If comfort during your trip is your priority, the apps also show where the less crowded areas in a train usually are. And when you’re traveling during peak hours, these can be lifesavers!

Here’s a simple hack. On the platform, you often see travellers spread out evenly from the front to the back of the train. However, if you notice closely, you’ll find the middle has less crowding generally:

Train enters the station: everyone stands at their calculated spots
You’re amidst the crowd: still pleasantly comfortable
Rush hour descends: the middle remains relatively hassle-free
People pile on: profoundly grateful for the extra elbow room
Reach your destination: easy dismount/run errands ASAP
Repeat the next day: friends wonder why you’re so stress-free

2. Embrace the Oyster Card

An Oyster card can be your best friend while traversing the London Underground network. It’s cheaper than buying paper tickets or paying with contactless and, once registered online, it can also protect your investment against loss or theft.

Without a doubt, having an Oyster card adds nifty advantages to your commuting experience. Besides being very economical, it saves time queuing for tickets. This way, you can sail past the queues at ticket machines and get straight into where the real action is – the Underground itself!

What makes it extra special? You know the minimum fare for travel in certain zones on the Underground? Well, with an Oyster card, you don’t have to always top it up to that amount. You can put lesser value on the card and when you tap in, the system will let you travel as long as you have a positive balance!

Once, Jose was running late with just under the minimum fare remaining on his Oyster card:

Jose sprints towards the station: beats morning traffic
Taps Oyster card: entry granted despite low balance
Fast train ride: sneakily consumes breakfast burrito
Avoids ticket queue at destination: successfully bypasses crowds
Adds money on Oyster card: ready for next ride
Overall result: makes it on time, still has breakfast

3. Utilize Maps Strategically

The Tube map, while iconic, is not geographically accurate. It was designed for simplicity and ease of use, not for geographical accuracy. For example, stations that appear far away from each other on the map might be within walking distance in reality.

If you find yourself needing to change lines multiple times for what seems like a short journey, consider checking a geographic map instead. At times, it could turn out quicker to exit at one station and walk or take a bus to your destination instead of changing lines several times underground.

A smart traveller knows all about strategically using maps and not just relying on the Tube map. Take Fred’s typical workday journey –

Fred studies the Tube map: plans route to work
Checks geographic map: spots potential walking shortcut
Exits Tube station: embraces fresh air outside
Takes a brisk walk: shaves precious minutes off travel time
Arrives at office: not frantically gasping for breath
Nods knowingly to his watch: secret remains safely with him

In Review:

All in all, improving your tube journey can be as easy as being conscious of where you stand, simplifying your payment system, and using maps to guide your path effectively. Indeed, the London Underground might have its quirks, but with these sneaky hacks on hand, every trip can feel a tad bit easier!

Ethan Blake Visual Storyteller, Photo Curator

Ethan believes every viral image has a story to tell. From jaw-dropping paparazzi shots to hilarious memes, he’s here to curate the pictures that make headlines and capture the world’s attention.