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.
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