Transport stories
Introduction
Read about all of London’s modes of transport from riverboats in the 1800s to Tube trains, buses, bicycles and even cable cars of today
Discover more through our collection
Stories
The Circle line today is not so much a circle as a loose spiral, but its existence is fundamental to the history of the Underground. Read more about the history of the Circle line.
In 1970, control of London Transport passed from central government to the Greater London Council (GLC). Read about buses, politics and privatisation, 1970 - 1999.
The Bakerloo opened in 1906. It has been through more changes than most other Tube lines and its history is linked to both the oldest line on the Underground, the Metropolitan, and the youngest, the Jubilee. Read more about the history of the Bakerloo line.
The Jubilee line covers 36km of track from Stanmore in the north-western suburbs into the West End and eastwards, via Waterloo and Canary Wharf, to Stratford. Read more about the Jubilee line.
The Piccadilly is the second longest line on the Underground after the Central line, but it has more stations, which are closer together on average. Read more about the the Piccadilly line.
There was no ‘back to normal’ for public transport in post-war London. Read more about buses and the post-war challenge, 1945 – 1970.
Although the first motor bus operated in 1899, early experimental vehicles were not practical or reliable. Learn how sturdier buses began to emerge and how London’s biggest bus companies operated them.
The Central line opened as the Central London Railway in 1900. Today it runs from Epping in suburban Essex through central London to the west London suburbs. Read more about the Central line.
Other stories
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Tom Eckersley: master graphic designer and king of collage. Read more about an influential poster designer with a distinctive style.
Our Metropolitan Railway coach dates from 1900. Read more about one of a group of coaches designed to be hauled by steam locomotives on the Metropolitan Railway.
Our West Ham Corporation electric tram dates from 1910. Learn how electric trams operated in London from the early 1900s to the 1950s.
Our Leyland X2 type bus was one of the ‘first generation’ of motorbuses to run on London’s streets. Learn more about one of the earliest surviving motorbuses in the country.
Abram Games was among the most influential poster designers of his generation. Learn more about his commissions for London Transport.
Edward McKnight Kauffer made his name as a master of poster design in the UK. Read more about the star designer of LT's posters.
As well as the red bus, the other iconic vehicle of London’s streets is the black cab. Read a short history of the Carbodies FX4S Plus taxi.
London’s public transport system is known the world over. Learn how and why posters were first commissioned by the Underground.
Learn about LT's advertising across history, from enamel signs in the late nineteenth century to digital screens in the twenty-first
Hans Unger was one of the UK’s most important post-war graphic designers. Explore Unger’s lively and varied LT posters.
Since 2004, London Underground have commissioned a variety of British and international artists to create covers for their pocket Tube maps, representing one of the largest public art commissions in the UK.
A look back on the occasions when King Charles visited and travelled on London’s transport network.
From the logo to the map and posters to moquette, London’s transport design is known across the world. Discover the stories behind them here.
Stories about the marvels of engineering that have kept Londoners moving - from buses and trains to escalators and ticket machines.
Discover the fascinating stories of the people behind London’s transport – including directors, drivers, canteen workers, architects and designers.
London’s transport played an extraordinary part in both world wars. Find out more about the efforts of staff at home and overseas.
