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London Underground Maps Show Evolution Of The Tube Over The Last 153 Years

The Evolution Of The London Underground Map In 27 Glorious Images
Chris York
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Of all the things in our nation's capital, the London Underground map is one of the most instantly recognisable.

Yet in its 153-year history, the key to the Tube has changed dramatically with early versions looking nothing like the highly stylised schematic versions of today.

Crossrail's Elizabeth Line is the latest addition to London's transport system prompting yet another change.

The first combined map, from 1908, is a hand drawn affair showing eight lines the vast majority of which are in central London, north of the river.

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The first combined Tube map from 1908

Fast forward to today and the current Tube map shows a sprawling network of undergrounds, overgrounds and even cable cars

For a comprehensive history of London Underground maps click here.

London Underground Maps
1889(01 of27)
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Early Tube maps were simply geographical versions with the lines overlaid. This shows the District Railway and the Metropolitan Lines and the Circle Line which joined the two in 1884. (credit:Transport for London)
1908(02 of27)
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An early example of 'UndergrounD' logo. (credit:London Transport Museum)
1921(03 of27)
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This map shows interchanges as white dots and discarded all detail other than the lines. (credit:London Transport Museum)
1933(04 of27)
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1933 saw the first example of Harry Beck's schematic maps, created in an attempt to make them more readable. The move marked a turning point in their design. (credit:London Transport Museum)
1937 (05 of27)
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This pre-war version shows areas of interest such as galleries and cathedrals. (credit:London Transport Museum)
1937(06 of27)
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(credit:London Transport Museum)
1936(07 of27)
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The words 'London' and 'Transport' added to the logo. (credit:London Transport Museum)
1943(08 of27)
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Evidence of Beck attempting to limit the use of diagonal lines in his designs. (credit:London Transport Museum)
1948(09 of27)
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(credit:London Transport Museum)
1951(10 of27)
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This version was adjusted so that Richmond was placed next to the Thames unlike previous maps. (credit:London Transport Museum)
1958(11 of27)
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The bends of the River Thames become more pronounced, reflecting the format of the lines. (credit:London Transport Museum)
1963(12 of27)
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The Underground's Publicity Officer, Harold F Hutchinson, took over design duties for this version but it's cluttered look did not go down well. (credit:London Transport Museum)
1964(13 of27)
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Paul E. Garbutt's design allowed for bends in the lines to create space for station names. (credit:London Transport Museum)
1970(14 of27)
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The more familiar 'Underground' logo appears with evenly sized characters. (credit:London Transport Museum)
1974(15 of27)
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The Victoria line all the way to Brixton appears. (credit:London Transport Museum)
1977(16 of27)
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One of the last pre-Jubilee Line era maps. (credit:London Transport Museum)
1986(17 of27)
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The original Charing Cross station is renamed Embankment. (credit:London Transport Museum)
1987(18 of27)
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(credit:London Transport Museum)
1990(19 of27)
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Jubilee line extensions added (credit:London Transport Museum)
1994(20 of27)
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(credit:London Transport Museum)
1998(21 of27)
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Zonal areas introduced on the maps. (credit:London Transport Museum)
1999 March(22 of27)
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(credit:London Transport Museum)
1999 December(23 of27)
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(credit:London Transport Museum)
2010(24 of27)
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(credit:London Transport Museum)
2012(25 of27)
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the 150th anniversary edition. (credit:TfL)
2016(26 of27)
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What we're familiar with today. (credit:TfL)
The vision for 2019(27 of27)
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(credit:TfL)

SEE ALSO: Elizabeth Line Tube Map Shows How London's Underground Will Look Like By 2019

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