On Tuesday January 10, 2023, London marked 160 years since the first Tube journey between Paddington and Farringdon stations. This was, in fact, the world’s first underground railway, and has shaped the capital as we know it.
Without the TfL network, London would be a completely different place – and a far less environmentally conscious one at that. TfL is London’s strong, green heartbeat, constantly working towards a cleaner capital. So to celebrate the Tube's 160th anniversary, we’ve put together some tips on hidden green spaces across London that you can explore with the Tube (in fact, some of them are on the Tube).
There’s no doubt that communing with nature does wonders for mental and physical wellbeing – not to mention that it’s free! And thanks to TfL’s fares, including off-peak travel, these outdoor adventures needn’t break the budget.
Nearest Tube station: Monument
Right in the heart of London lies one of the capital’s most mesmerising gardens. Leaves climb the ruins of a church, which was severely damaged in the Blitz of 1941. The City of London decided not to rebuild it, but instead to turn it into a public garden. St Dunstan's Hill, EC3R 5DD.
Nearest Tube station: Holland Park
West London’s parks aren’t all perfectly manicured English gardens. Holland Park is home to Kyoto Garden, which opened in 1991 as a gift from the city of Kyoto to commemorate the friendship between Japan and Great Britain. Look out for flashes of koi carp in the pond. Holland Park, Holland Park Ave, W11 4UA.
Nearest Tube station: Canary Wharf
There’s far more to Canary Wharf than glass and steel: this beautifully designed garden is an oasis with some fascinating secrets. It sits almost exactly on the Meridian line, so plants have been arranged according to which hemisphere they are from in the world. Crossrail Pl, E14 5AB.
Nearest Tube station: Finsbury Park
In true London fashion, a former railway line connecting Finsbury Park to Alexandra Palace was turned into a wild, green walkway that starts at Finsbury Park and heads north towards Highgate. Finsbury Park, N4 2DH.
Did you know that 55 percent of the London Underground is actually above ground? And if you’re lucky, you might live next to one of the Tube stations with glorious gardens that are tended to by TfL employees. Each year, TfL hosts the In Bloom competition, which showcases the finest gardening efforts at stations across the network. Last year, Morden (pictured above) took out the top spot for fruit and vegetables, and Kentish Town was crowned the best cultivated station garden for transforming its land into a lush urban jungle.
The Mayor of London is on a mission for London to be net zero carbon by 2030, with an increase in nature and biodiversity. And with climate change already impacting London with heatwaves, flooding and severe storms, sustainability is central to make the network ready for the pressures of today and the future. Here are five that we’re most excited about...
The Tube is the biggest electricity user in London so saving energy is vital. Changes include increasing the amount of renewable energy supplying the network, LEDs replacing older lighting, regenerative braking on the Tube, resting escalators and turning off equipment when not in use. Nice one!
Storms, flooding and ridiculously hot weather: with London feeling the effects of the climate crisis, TfL needs to act fast. It’s begun installing Sustainable Urban Drainage systems (SUDs) across the capital, which manage surface water runoff to reduce flooding risks.
This is the big one: trains across the entire Tube network powered by electricity generated by wind and solar in less than a decade. Nature running London. We love to see it.
It’s never been easier to be a cyclist in London – and things are only getting better. These routes connect neighbourhoods so that cyclists of all abilities can get around safely and confidently to explore our great city. To discover your local route, explore TfL’s online cycle map.
If you haven’t already heard, to help clear London’s air and improve health, the Ultra Low Emission Zone is expanding across all London boroughs from August 29, 2023. This will help give the five million Londoners in outer boroughs clearer air to breathe. The scheme is targeted at the most highly polluting vehicles and more than four out of five vehicles already meet the emission standards. Find more information here.
Want to learn more about the Tube’s fascinating history? The London Transport Museum in Covent Garden is always a great shout. But if you’ve never been to a Depot Open Days event at London Transport Museum’s Depot in Acton Town, then you’re seriously missing out. The Depot is a treasure trove of more than 300,000 objects not on display at Covent Garden, including heritage Tube trains, trams, buses, maps, models and more than 30,000 original transport posters. The next Depot Open Days event, ‘Electric Journeys’ takes place between 24-26 March. Enjoy three days dedicated to how electricity has shaped London and its transport system over the past 160 years; there’ll be talks, tours, craft workshops, miniature railway rides and more. Tickets are £15 for adults and £7.50 for children (under threes go free).
As part of the 160 year of the Tube celebrations, London Transport Museum is running a special edition of its award-winning Hidden London tours. This virtual tour, called ‘Hidden London: Discovering the Forgotten Underground’, will be taking place on March 14 and 18.
Travelling into London during off-peak hours? You can get even better value. Off-peak fares apply every weekday between 9.30am and 3.59pm, and after 7pm. They also apply all day at weekends and on public holidays. Always touch in and out with the same card or device to pay the right fare. Touch in only on buses and trams. Check the cost of your travel on the TfL website.
Download TfL Go to your iOS and Android devices to plan your journey and check live arrival times or visit TfL’s website.
Wherever you’re going, by choosing public transport you’re making a good choice for you and a more sustainable choice for London.
