What is the London Underground Map?

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It’s a very famous map that shows you all the different tube lines and stations all over London!

When did we first get the tube map?

Maps of the underground started around 150 years ago.

At first each different train line had their own separate map. This was okay to start with as there wasn’t many lines, but as more and more got made it all got too complicated so they decided to start putting them all in one easy to read map.

So when did the tube maps start looking like the one we have now?

It was all the way back in 1931. A man called Harry Beck created the first design with all the lines on one map like we have today.

He was inspired by electric circuits, he used only horizontal, vertical and 45 degree lines, and each Underground line was represented by a different colour.

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Do we use the same map the Beck made in 1931?

No!

The map has always been updated to make it easier to read, more useful to travellers and it had to be updated to include new stations!

Here are some of the tube maps through history…

1908

1933

1941

1962

2016

Today

Want to know more?

London Transport Museum have loads of cool stuff you can check out.

Click here to visit their website.

This educational series is made with support from London Transport Museum

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