The London Underground

The London Underground is a transit system that connects the Greater London areas as well as some parts of neighbouring counties. It is popularly known as the Tube or the Underground. People in England take pride in the fact that this rapid transit system is among the oldest and longest in the world.

Using the London Underground

London transport can be confusing for new visitors. There are a few things you can keep in mind to make travelling easy for you. Staying close to a station is a very good idea as the Underground makes it very convenient to explore the city. You could opt for hotels near Earls Court station, like Hotel Lily to reduce the time and money you spend on travelling.

• Before setting out of your hotel room, plan your journey in order to avoid chaos.
• Avoid rush hour, as a large number of people use the Tube to commute to work.
• Check out the routes and stations online. Visual maps of the Underground can help you remember better.
• Find out about any major delays before you set out.
• The London Underground is divided into six different travel zones. Confirm which zone you are travelling in to avoid confusion.
• If confused, take your time at the station and familiarize yourself with the signs.

The History of the London Underground

The history of this engineering marvel dates back to the nineteenth century. It changed the face of London, while also driving the city’s rapid expansion. The first visionary of the Underground, Charles Pearson,proposed the idea of ‘trains in drains’ in 1945. Did you know that The Times described this idea as “an insult to common sense” in 1862? It was the persistence of Pearson that led to The House of Commons giving its approval for a subterranean railway from Paddington to Farringdon. The experimental scheme was worked on primarily because the mainline railways terminated on the fringes of West End and the streets of London were choking with the crowd. John Fowler was the man behind the engineering of Person’s idea. With the help of funding by private institutions, excavation began in 1860.

Expansion

There were over 800 trains running in the Inner Circle in 1884. Five more tube stations were approved by the Parliament between 1891 and 1893. It was Queen Elizabeth II, the first reigning monarch, who took the inaugural ride from Victoria Lane to Green Park. Today, the Underground covers major areas and makes our visit to popular places like Westfield Shopping Centre, Earls Court, Harrods, Kensington and West Brompton Station near Chelsea Stadium an easy ride.

Art and Architecture

The 7 original stations of Metropolitan Railway were designed by taking inspiration from Italianate designs. Opening with the red brick building by Thomas Phillips Figgis,the architecture towards the Central London changed to pinkish-brown steel-framed buildings that were designed by Harry Bell Measures. With the first decade of the twentieth century came Leslie Green who pioneered the direction signs on tiled walls. Charles Walter Clark and Charles Holden brought in a series of neo-classical, modernist designs and art-decos respectively. The other architects who have contributed in making the Tube look fascinating are Misha Black, Norman Foster and Michael Hopkins.

The rail network has varied and unique interior designs. You would love a visit to this modern marvel. After you have booked at one of the cheap and budget hotels in Earls Court, you need to plan out your travel through the city. This is when the London Tube will come in handy.