Catching the Tube

Dear Readers, I have taken the Tube (train) several times this week, so naturally, I'm an expert on this aspect of transportation. I am here to bestow upon you the wisdom I have learned based on my experiences. The concept of riding the Tube may seem a bit scary at first, but take it from me, you will get the hang of it! (after missing your stop a few times!) Here are some things I learned from riding the Tube:

#1: Oyster Card

Unlike its seafood cousin, the Oyster card is your key to riding the Tube. It is equivalent to a metro card you use to access the subway systems of places like New York City. These can be purchased at any Tube station once you descend the stairs into the main area that leads to the platforms. You can purchase enough money to use the Tube weekly or monthly depending on how long you plan to be in London. The balance on the card can be replenished each time it runs out, and the card itself can be returned at the end of your travels and you can get some of the remaining balance on the card refunded to you. If you don't want to purchase an Oyster card, you can also do contactless pay via Apple Pay or Samsung Wallet, and tap your phone at the turnstile to enter the station.

#2: Escalator Etiquette

Believe it or not, there seems to be an unspoken practice where if you're riding the escalator in a Tube station and just standing on it, you stand on the right side to let people pass you on the left. This prevents pedestrian traffic and allows people to catch their train on time! The first time I noticed it, I was blocking the left side and didn't realize until someone was trying to pass me! I'm so accustomed to standing in the middle, so it is definitely important to remember here!

#3: Search for Signs

If you know the name of your stop, but the loudspeaker announcement is unintelligible over the noise, look at the tiles for the Tube logo with the name of the station on on the station stop walls. Each one, much like the subways in New York, tell you the name and it can be useful to look for. There are also maps of the Tube system on the walls of the train cars themselves, so just look for your stop and the ones that come before it! If all else fails and you miss your stop, just get off the Tube and ride the Tube going in the opposite direction. Be sure it goes to your stop first!

#4: There's an App for that

Need to look up train schedules? Not sure what system to use? Using apps such as TFL Go or Citymapper can help! These apps give you an accurate schedule of arrivals and departures and can measure the duration of your trip.

#5: People packed

From personal experience, the two busiest periods of the day would be between 8 and 9 am and 5pm and 6pm. This is especially true during the week, as most people's work days start and end around these times. If you're just visiting London and want to hit up all the touristy places, it is probably best to avoid traveling on the Tube at these times! The Tube gets packed, and during the summer, it is stuffy and sweaty!

It's perfectly normal to feel overwhelmed, there's a lot going on and it is a chaotic sea of people running to get somewhere, but with these tips, you're sure to become a pro!

Cheers!

-Mikayla