The Tube

Like fish to water, we have taken to the Tube! 

While we were topping up our pre-paid Oyster cards the other day, the very British gentleman in the suit buying his full-fare ticket at the machine next to us said "Oh, you have the card--very good--I still haven't got one!" Silly man!

We have thoroughly enjoyed zipping here and there, changing lines, and negotiating stations and jam-packed platforms. We even know where the lights go out as you round the bend on the Circle line. We really like the deep platforms, especially the ones that run under the Thames.

There was only one mis-step, on our first day, before we realized that the platform we were on shared both the Circle going West (yellow), which we wanted, with the District going East (green), which we didn't--and we took the first train that came along and it was the wrong one! Oh well, one stop, reverse route--no worries!

We do not particularly like the miles-long passageways at Bank--so we avoided the Northern line (black) to Bank by taking the Jubilee line (gray) from London Bridge and changing at Westminster for the Circle (old but reliable).  

London Bridge is the oldest station, and as the Tube is 150 years old they are renovating it piece by piece. The Jubilee line at London Bridge has fancy new barricades so that you can't fall onto the tracks. They only open when the train doors open. On other lines they still remind you to "Mind The Gap,"

Our other stand-by is the Central line (red) as it goes to Notting Hill Gate and we are right between that station and Kensington High Street. However, Tom likes Kensington High Street better because we pass a couple of good bakeries, a gelato place, and the Greek deli with the feta and mushroom phyllo roll-ups. 

You will be happy to know that the station just outside Harrod's is for the Piccadilly line (blue), change at South Kensington for the Circle.

We did actually do some above-ground sightseeing while we were in London, we were just really glad that we were able to get to those above-ground destinations via the Tube!