We assessed every London tube line based purely on vibes — here’s our verdict

It mightiness not consciousness similar it during the chaos and vigor of unreserved hour, but the London Underground web is really the blueprint of each conduit networks.

So, arguably, it’s the G.O.A.T (greatest of each time) – adjacent though galore of america are spending immense amounts of our paycheck connected TfL. Those 3am transactions termination us.

And so, it felt lone close that we acceptable the grounds consecutive connected however Metro Lifestyle feels astir it – and we’ve gone purely connected vibes.

You know, based connected however apt you are to witnesser immoderate chaotic yet entertaining enactment past the watershed, oregon however amusive the spot patterns are.

So, we took the journalistic liberty of assessing each conduit enactment based connected vibes, from immaculate, to lukewarm, done to straight-up despicable.

And, earlier we commencement an all-out quality connected what does and what doesn’t represent a tube, we’ve included the DLR, Elizabeth enactment and Overground successful our rankings here. They’re tube-adjacent, truthful we had to honour them.

Jubilee

Vibe count: Lukewarm

The Jubilee enactment is simply a suspicious character. We privation to emotion it due to the fact that it’s rather cleanable and has a fresh, modern look (bonus points for the other furniture of solid doors that inactive marque it consciousness similar thing retired of James Bond), but something’s a small spot off.

Perhaps it’s a deficiency of enactment tone oregon the information that it’s got Canary Wharf, but the Jubilee enactment could effort harder to beryllium a spot much fun and a small spot little corporate.

It is technically the lone enactment that goes retired to southeast London though – and for that, we springiness a circular of applause.

Piccadilly

Vibe count: Lukewarm

On paper, the Piccadilly enactment should beryllium a steadfast favourite. The Elizabeth enactment mightiness present beryllium finished, but the Piccadilly has been connecting cardinal London with Heathrow Airport since 1977. Plus, the moquette is ace fun.

But recently, it’s not been the astir reliable of friend. In fact, successful 2023, it was named the slightest reliable enactment by the Evening Standard, portion December 2024 saw swathes of delays for commuters.

However, the caller Piccadilly enactment trains – owed to marque their debut astatine the extremity of 2025 – volition apt upgrade the vibes, since these volition beryllium afloat air-conditioned and much accessible.

Bakerloo

Vibe count: Immaculate

The Bakerloo enactment isn’t fixed capable praise. Yes, it mightiness not beryllium the astir fashionable line, and yes, the carriages mightiness request a spot of an overhaul arsenic they haven’t been replaced since 1972, but it’s got plentifulness of character.

For one, its property should beryllium worthy of respect. At 53 years old, the carriages aren’t conscionable the oldest connected the tube, but they’re the oldest rider trains successful the entirety of the UK. And yet they support chugging on, time in, time out? Impressive.

Plus, we bask that you’ve besides got the enactment of sitting successful a four-seater with friends alternatively than awkwardly choosing 2 pairs of 2 seats opposite, dividing speech into 2 camps, oregon a much unhinged four-in-a-row concern that inevitably means the 2 pals connected the extremity are neglected.

When it’s quiescent too, the deficiency of armrest tin springiness the accidental to dispersed retired ever truthful somewhat much than you would connected different lines. However, the deficiency of boundaries tin consciousness somewhat chaotic – possibly adjacent anarchic.  

Central

Vibe count: Despicable

No 1 is nether immoderate illusions here: the Central enactment has got to beryllium the worst of them all. We cognize we’re not ranking them with numbers (and conscionable vibes), but if we were, it would people a steadfast 0.

It’s excessively warm, excessively busy, and riding it astatine unreserved hr ever feels conscionable ever truthful somewhat degrading. Plus, there’s arguably excessively overmuch abstraction successful the aisles which tin consciousness unsettling if footfall is sparse – but astir apt because, let’s beryllium honest, nary 1 who ever rides it usually manages to get a seat. Poor.

DLR

Vibe count: Immaculate

The DLR gets a batch of hatred – and we get it. It feels grimy, and undoubtedly needs a small spot of a refresh (which is presently connected the way, FYI).

But who didn’t unreal to beryllium the operator of these driverless trains erstwhile they were little? Even successful 2024, this inactive feels similar a ridiculously futuristic concept. And yes, the Elizabeth enactment is technically self-driving, but the trains are inactive monitored by a operator truthful it’s not the same.

Yes, taking a travel done the Canary Wharf buying centre each clip you privation to get connected it tin consciousness somewhat bizarre, but it undoubtedly spices up the commute.

Elizabeth

Vibe count: Lukewarm

Speaking of driverless trains, it might’ve been unfastened for 3 years, but the Elizabeth enactment inactive feels similar a novelty.

For commuters successful areas of London antecedently thought to beryllium much far-flung (Woolwich and Abbey Wood, we’re looking astatine you), the advent of the beloved purple enactment remains a godsend. And the moquette is arguably the astir awesome of them all.

However, it loses points for repeated issues with precocious arrivals, arsenic successful December 2023, Sadiq Khan noted that it has ‘not met the consistently precocious standards’ expected by Londoners.

After all, who could hide the clip passengers were stranded for much than 3 hours relating to overhead cablegram damage?

Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan, and Circle & District

Vibe count: Lukewarm

Aesthetic-wise, the Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan and Circle & District lines – which each stock trains and tracks – are ever a pleasant experience. The trains are clean, person aerial conditioning, there’s plentifulness of space, and there’s a stunning moquette.

The Circle enactment successful particular, though, is arguably annoying due to the fact that the links consciousness similar they could beryllium much frequent. Dare to locomotion somewhat slower connected your greeting commute and you’ve missed the Edgware Road connection. Plus, it’s sometimes plagued by delays since it shares tracks.

Likewise, the Metropolitan enactment tries its champion to springiness itself thoroughfare cred with a magenta taxable to the TfL logo, but let’s beryllium honest, it’s not the astir breathtaking line.

We privation these lines had much quality and were chiseled from 1 another, but we can’t person it all.

Northern

Vibe count: Immaculate

Every Londoner has a blistery instrumentality connected the Northern line. It’s similar Marmite: you either emotion it oregon you hatred it.

Yes, the splits are capable to confuse adjacent the astir experienced Londoners (what connected world has go of the Battersea Power Station extremity since it opened?), but astatine slightest it keeps things varied.

But the Northern enactment feels similar classical London: you cognize what you’re getting, and what you’re getting is simply a work that’s not excessively hot, and runs neatly from northbound to south.

Plus, the conception betwixt Stockwell and Borough is the oldest conception of deep-level conduit enactment crossed the full network. Having opened successful 1890, it’s adjacent older than the existent banal of Bakerloo enactment cars.

The Northern besides feels similar the enactment you’re astir apt to brushwood idiosyncratic speechmaking a book, which is somewhat endearing (and utile if you’re nosy and request recommendations). And there’s 4G and 5G entree covering immense swathes of the underground sections. Elite.

Victoria

Vibe count: Immaculate

The vibes connected the Victoria enactment are, rather simply, unparalleled.

Not lone does it person a fantastic moquette, but it’s besides location to immoderate of the liveliest behaviour astatine the weekend, connecting up the likes of Oxford Circus, Vauxhall and Brixton, each of which are known for hosting a decent enactment oregon 2 connected a Friday night.

And erstwhile it comes to range, the Viccy conscionable has it. Up astatine the bluish extremity of the enactment with Walthamstow Central and Blackhorse Road, you’ve progressively got a much wholesome, household ambiance going on.

Late astatine night, it’s apt to beryllium quieter up present – portion astatine the different extremity of the line, Brixton is thing but.

Plus, it lone takes astir fractional an hr to get from 1 extremity of the enactment to the other, and during highest times, determination are trains erstwhile a minute.

The lone antagonistic happening we could perchance accidental is that it’s way too warm, rendering it arguably indispensable to formal for 15 degrees warmer than extracurricular erstwhile boarding. And possibly a small spot noisy.

Waterloo & City

Vibe count: Despicable

We’ll beryllium honorable here, the vibes connected the Waterloo & City line aren’t popping.

Colloquially known arsenic ‘The Drain,’ this mysterious enactment has conscionable 2 stops connected it: Waterloo and Bank. Both are successful portion 1, and the travel betwixt them typically takes astir 4 minutes, a information which has seen disgruntled Redditors give it the rubric of ‘useless.’

So, if determination are lone 2 stations, wherefore was it built? In the precocious 1800s, a survey identified an overwhelming request to supply transport betwixt Waterloo and the City, arsenic astir 12,000 radical per time were travelling this way aft commuting successful from Surrey. And aft a four-year operation period, it yet opened successful 1898.

Naturally, due to the fact that determination are lone 2 stops, it’s the slightest utilized enactment crossed the network, which pushes it down successful our estimations. Apparently, though, 15 cardinal radical usage it each year. Who knew?

Overground

Vibe count: Immaculate

The Overground mightiness get an unfair vantage connected thing that runs underground, but determination are stunning views of East London connected connection here.

There’s usually an absorbing speech to beryllium overheard here, providing suitable entertainment, and if we’ve got capable 4G to respond to the radical chat, that’s lone a positive successful our eyes.

The lone downside is that, since you’ve got the East London edgy assemblage covered, you’re apt to consciousness somewhat intimidated by the prime of outfits connected show present (with the objection of the excessively rolled-up beanie, of course).

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Get successful interaction by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

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