Put That Oyster Card to Use! – By Allison Reynolds

Living first in a spread-out New Hampshire city and then in Ithaca, I’ve grown used to the idea that the need to get somewhere is best facilitated by a car. I’m far from an expert on public transportation, though I’ve had some experience with it. One thing I’ve learned in my few weeks here in London is that figuring out the Tube—the London Underground—is absolutely crucial, more so than I’ve ever experienced in Boston, the nearest major city to my home.

Now, I moved here at the beginning of January with a slight advantage: I’d visited London before and possessed a working knowledge of the Tube, at least of the Circle and District lines. Still, I didn’t know much about the different lines or the different parts of the city, but I went into this semester with a particular mindset that has made all the difference: I’ve pretended to know what I’m doing until, somehow, I actually kind of figured it out.

 

Of course, I’ve had some help. My friends and flatmates, for one. And then there’s the absolute godsend of all travel-related apps, as far as I’m concerned: Citymapper. I’m not sure if I’d be able to get anywhere without its magical calculations showing me the best routes. You’ll still look at sections of the Tube map plenty—but seriously, you’ll want this app!

Enough about figuring it out—what’s the Tube actually like? Well, it depends what line you take. I use some more than others simply because of where I live and travel. But the gist of what I’ve learned so far is this: the District and Circle line trains are the most comfortable and spacious, but they’re not as quick or reliable as others. The Piccadilly line trains are much more cramped—if you’re taller than I am at a whopping 5”4’, you may need to duck—but are generally faster and appear more frequently than District and Circle line trains. And no matter what line you take, rush-hour traffic will have you packed in as tightly as possible between around 5 and 7 p.m., so be certain to shove your way through the crowd before you miss your stop!

People on the Tube are generally quiet—opting to read their books or the newspapers handed to them upon entering a station—with the exception of a few talkative folks and the occasional performer serenading commuters with their rendition of “La Bamba.”

That’s it for now on the Tube. Really, traveling on the Underground is a lot of fun and surprisingly easy to navigate—coming from someone with limited previous knowledge of public transit. You’ll see some interesting people and things on the trains—potentially including a group of trouser-less commuters like I recently saw—so put that Oyster card to good use and take some time to get to know the Tube while you’re here.