Harry Beck's sketch for the Underground map (1931-01-01)TfL Corporate Archives
In 1933 London's trains became a unified network
Harry Beck's revolutionary map changed the way the network was viewed, and has remained the basis of the Underground map ever since. But what did the tube network look like before this? How did the tube lines take shape?
1. The Metropolitan Railway
The world's first underground passenger railway formed the basis of the Metropolitan line.
Opened in 1863, the Metropolitan Railway was built in shallow 'cut-and-cover' tunnels, and ran from Paddington to Farringdon.
Former tracks are now used across the modern network.
The Metropolitan proved very popular
It was extended east to Moorgate, with the new extension opening at the end of 1865.
This 1865 map shows that when the extension opened there were already plans for a further extension north from Baker Street.
2. Hammersmith & City
The Hammersmith & City Railway was finished in 1864, connecting Hammersmith to the Metropolitan Railway, in 1936 it was extended further east to Barking.
The line was always the Hammersmith & City
But it was shown on tube maps as part of the Metropolitan line until 1990, when it was rebranded as a separate line and given its own colour
The map shown here, from 1988, still has the Hammersmith & City line's route in the Metropolitan magenta colour
London Transport Map and Guide for Visitors (1988-06-15) by London Regional TransportTfL Corporate Archives
Colour key to lines, 1988, before the pink Hammersmith & City branding was introduced
3. Metropolitan District
The Metropolitan District Railway first opened on Christmas Eve 1868, between South Kensington and Westminster
The District Railways Map of London Timetable (1890-06-15) by District RailwayTfL Corporate Archives
The intention was for a merger with the Metropolitan
But by 1871 the 2 companies had parted ways, and the lines were run independently of one another
This timetable from 1890 highlights the District Railway's route in red, and shows that by this date the line had dropped the word Metropolitan from its name
4. Inner Circle
The Metropolitan and the District Railways had planned to link, creating a circular route option. But because of the conflict between the 2 companies, the circular route remained incomplete
In 1884, the Government and inner London businesses got involved
Map of London's Underground Railways 1926 (1926-06-15) by Underground Electric Railways CompanyTfL Corporate Archives
External pressure meant the Inner Circle was completed
A new station was built in 1884 to complete the circle, named Mark Lane. It was later renamed Tower Hill and then relocated, leaving Mark Lane disused
The location of Mark Lane is shown here in a 1926 map
5. City & South London
The Northern line was formed from 2 railways: the City & South London Railway (opened 1890), and the Charing Cross, Euston and Hampstead Railway (opened 1907)
The C&SLR was the 1st railway built by tunnelling underground, rather than the earlier cut-and-cover style
Map of Railways of South London including City and South London Extension to Wimbledon (1923-06-15) by Underground Electric RailwaysTfL Corporate Archives
The line saw significant extension work after WWI
In 1922, plans were announced for a 6-mile extension of the City and South London Railway down to Morden
This hand-drawn map from the same year shows the planned extension
6. Waterloo & City
The Waterloo & City is the Underground’s shortest line and has only 2 stations, Waterloo and Bank
The line was first opened in 1898 by the London and South Western railway, and later transferred to British Rail
Underground Map 1994 (1994-05-01) by London Regional TransportTfL Corporate Archives
It's one of the oldest lines on the network
But the Waterloo & City wasn't transferred to London Underground until April 1994 - 96 years after it opened
This tube map, from January 1994, shows the Waterloo & City line still colour-coded as a British Rail service
7. Central London
Now the longest line on the network, the Central London Railway was opened in 1900, linking Shepherd’s Bush and Bank. It was gradually extended over several decades
Underground Map of Central London (1926-11-11) by Underground Electric RailwaysTfL Corporate Archives
This 1926 map shows the line’s early route
It originally served stations such as Post Office (now St Paul’s station) and British Museum (now demolished)
8. Baker Street and Waterloo
The Baker Street and Waterloo Railway was opened in 1906. The long name was shortened by the London Evening News to the Bakerloo, which caught on, and the name was officially adopted in July of that year
Map of Baker Street and Waterloo Railway and its connections (1906-03-10)TfL Corporate Archives
This map is from 1906, the year the line was opened
It shows the original route from Baker Street to Elephant & Castle, and the proposed extension to Paddington, completed in 1913
When it was passed to public ownership in 1933, the route was changed again, and the line now runs from Elephant & Castle to Harrow and Wealdstone
9. Great Northern, Piccadilly and Brompton
This map from 1904 shows a sketch of the upcoming Great Northern, Piccadilly and Brompton railway. It was issued to potential investors, as capital had to be raised to build the line
Its name was eventually shortened to the Piccadilly line
Track Plan of Western Extension of Piccadilly Line (1035-06-15) by London Passenger Transport BoardTfL Corporate Archives
The line originally ran from Finsbury Park to Hammersmith
In 1932-1933 the line was extended West towards Uxbridge and Hounslow, and north to Cockfosters. It was extended further to Heathrow Airport between 1977 and 2008
10. Victoria
The Victoria line was the 1st new line to be opened after the unification of the network in 1933. Parliamentary Powers to build the line were obtained in 1955 but difficulties with funding meant construction didn’t start until 1962
Victoria Line Route Plan (1957-06-15) by London Transport ExecutiveTfL Corporate Archives
This 1957 map shows the proposed route
Originally running from Walthamstow to Victoria, suggestions for the name included the Walvic line (Walthamstow-Victoria) and the Viking line (Victoria-Kings Cross)
After the line was opened in 1968, it was extended from Victoria to Brixton (opening in 1971)
11. Jubilee
What is now the Jubilee line was originally going to be be named the Fleet line, after the River Fleet
Plans for the line were discussed as early as 1939, but works didn't start until the early 1970s
Jubilee Line Extension Route Map and Interchanges (1990-06-15) by London Regional TransportTfL Corporate Archives
It was renamed to honour Queen Elizabeth II’s Silver Jubilee
The line opened in 1979, 2 years after the Queen's Silver Jubilee. Hence its name, and its colour!
The line was extended significantly from 1993-1999
This map from 1990 advertises the proposed extension to Stratford, which opened in 1999
Underground Map 2000 (2000-03-30) by London Regional TransportTfL Corporate Archives
We hope you've enjoyed this tour of the network's history
Transport for London’s network has grown organically since the first Metropolitan Railway, and continues to develop to serve London’s changing transport needs.
Story compiled by TfL using information in records at the Transport for London Corporate Archives. The Corporate Archives seeks to preserve and make accessible records, not to interpret them. A wider range of material is available for physical consultation.
Permission is granted to reproduce for personal and educational use only.
