London Transport Museum -

Mapping the way This week, we're celebrating one of London's most iconic designs - the Tube map. The 'diagrammatic' map, designed by Harry Beck in 1931, is internationally recognised as an excellent piece of design and has inspired cities around the world to mimic Beck's concept - as well as being used as inspiration behind art pieces - from LEGO to acrylic paint! What's your favourite version of the map?

Discover the history of the Tube map From London's first public transport maps in the 1860s to new versions like the Night Tube map, discover the history of the Tube map with our gallery and story!

The Tube map story

Discover more on Collections Online We've got almost 7,000 map records on our Collections Online! Take a deep delve and explore over 200 years of map history. Including some weird and wonderful maps like the three below!

Maps on Collections Online

Quiz How well do you know your Tube map? Do you know your Overground from your Emirates Airline? Think you know what colour the Elizabeth line will be? Test out your Tube map knowledge with our latest quiz! Don't forget to share your results with us on social media too. Take the quiz

Map posters for your home Bring the Tube map into your home! Our range of posters includes many maps - from decorative maps of London by renowned artist MacDonald Gill to tube maps from as early as 1908, to modern versions of the map like the Tate or Chelsea Flower Show posters. See some of our favourites below and click the buttons to shop even more map posters.

Shop all map posters Shop Tube map posters

London Transport Museum - Celebrating the city's engineering marvels

Engineering marvels From iconic feats of engineering such as the world's first underground railway to lesser known engineering marvels such as a spiral escalator found at Holloway Road station, London has always been a leader in engineering innovations. In this week's e-newsletter, we look at some of the transport technology that has helped keep London moving. Keep your eyes peeled on our social media channels this week as we continue to share our favourite objects from our collection. Get involved and share yours with us too using #LTMLove!

When the world's first underground railway opened in London in 1863, engineers had to work out how to operate steam trains safely underground. After the Second World War, London needed a bus that was easier to operate and used fuel more efficiently.

Early Underground railways were built using the 'cut and cover' method. But building tunnels deep underground through London clay presented a different set of problems. As passenger numbers on the Underground increased at the beginning of the 20th century, more efficient ways of moving people to and from the platforms needed to be found.

Find out how engineers solved these problems - and more - with our online Engineering Marvels story.

Engineering wonders

Discover more engineering stories in our collection online

The Tube story The motor bus Electric trams and trolleybuses

Meet our Curatorial Technical Assistant, Alex Talbot Alex Talbot tells us how he became the Museum's first Curatorial Technical Assistant and shows us the skills he has learned over five years of working with our unique collection of vehicles at the Museum Depot. Watch the video

London Transport Museum - Celebrate the Jubilee line's 40th

Celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Jubilee line Back by popular demand! The Jubilee line, named for the Silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, was opened on 30 April 1979. This year, we continue to mark its Ruby anniversary - 40 years in service - as well as the 20th anniversary of the extension from Green Park to Stratford, which opened in 1999.

We're celebrating this landmark anniversary with two exclusive events next month! Travel on the original route of the Jubilee line, including the section between Green Park and Charing Cross which usually isn't open to the public, while hearing from experts about the history of the line. At Charing Cross, you'll be able to stay on the train as it manoeuvres into the overrun tunnel, and visit the driver's cab to see the rarely-seen view ahead, as well as join a tour of the station and tunnels below. Tickets on sale now! Prince Charles in the cab of a Jubilee line train on its official opening

Did you know? Charing Cross was one of the first stations to have recorded voice announcements! The first experiment seems to have been carried out in 1921 on the escalators at Charing Cross and Oxford Circus. Passengers heard: "Please keep moving. If you must stand, stand on the right. Some are in a hurry - don’t impede them"

London Transport Museum - New Hidden London tour dates

We’re launching a new season of Hidden London tours next week which includes the much in demand Aldwych station tour. Come and explore the station’s abandoned platforms and tunnels, original early 19th century lifts and deserted walk-ways. It’s a real hidden gem, rarely open to the public. Art deco fans will love 55 Broadway – London’s first skyscraper opened in 1929 while Churchill enthusiasts can discover Down Street: Churchill's Secret Station where the great war-time leader took refuge during the height of the Blitz. Experience the fascinating Charing Cross: Access All Areas tour where blockbuster movies like Skyfall and Paddington Bear were filmed and our Euston: The Lost Tunnels tour which gives visitors a glimpse of quiet and spooky passageways below this bustling station. Tickets go on sale to the public at 10:00, Friday 7 September but London Transport Museum newsletter subscribers will be sent a priority booking link on Thursday 6 September at 10:00 – allowing you an exclusive 24-hour booking window. To speed up the booking process, we advise you to set up a London Transport Museum account before trying to purchase tickets. If you already have a London Transport Museum account, please make sure you know your account login details and password before purchasing tickets. If you need to reset your password, please do this in advance of tickets going on sale as they get snapped up quickly. More info » Aldwych: The End of the Line Be transported back to where time stands still. Aldwych station is one of London’s secret places, holding myths and memories of times gone by. Opened to the public in 1907, it was never heavily used and eventually closed in 1994 after almost 90 years. The station has had a varied history; from providing shelter to Londoners during the Blitz, to being used for film and TV shoots including Darkest Hour (2017), Sherlock (2014), Mr Selfridge (2013) and Atonement (2007). More info » Down Street: Churchill's Secret Station  Get an intimate peek into one of London’s most intriguing hidden spaces. Located in Mayfair between Hyde Park Corner and Green Park stations, Down Street had a short life as a working station from 1907 to 1932, but became critical to winning the Second World War when it was covertly transformed into the Railway Executive Committee's bomb-proof headquarters. Experience the warren of narrow tunnels where the nation's railways were coordinated and Prime Minister Winston Churchill secretly took refuge at the height of the Blitz. More info » 55 Broadway: London's First Skyscraper Join Transport for London experts and enthusiasts for an exclusive tour inside London’s first skyscraper at 55 Broadway. A radical architectural milestone, which prompted much debate when unveiled in 1929, this Grade I listed structure is now acknowledged as a marvel of art deco London. Your tour will give you elite access to London Underground’s iconic former headquarters, and a new perspective on the capital city as you journey up 14 storeys (mostly by lift) to see beautifully designed offices, grand meeting rooms, and stunning rooftop views. More info » Charing Cross: Access All Areas Explore the disused spaces of Charing Cross Underground station, and go behind closed doors to exclusive areas not accessible to the public. Walk under Trafalgar Square and see London Underground in a different light. Closed to the public since 1999, the Jubilee line platforms at Charing Cross are now synonymous with movie and TV filming. This is a unique opportunity to view the sites where blockbuster movies such as Paddington Bear (2013), Skyfall (2011/12) and TV’s 24 (2014) were filmed. More info » Euston: The Lost Tunnels Think you know Euston station? Think again. Discover a labyrinth of dark and dusty passageways which were once used by the travelling public. See a gallery of preserved vintage advertising poster fragments that have been concealed for over 50 years. Learn about the newest innovations to the Tube and Network Rail station that serves over 42 million passengers each year, and witness the remains of its past before the site is transformed for the arrival of HS2. More info » Station Architecture Tours Our station architecture tours include The Stations of Leslie Green and Semi-detached Holden. Uncover the bold architectural principles behind Charles Holden’s Piccadilly line extension and find out how design can solve the tricky logistical problems posed by busy stations. You can also learn how Frank Pick, Managing Director of the Underground Group applied his 'fitness for purpose’ concept to London Underground station design. More info »