Underground City

I was quite surprised to hear the announcer describe London's Tube system using words like confusing, lost, in limbo & jumbled mess. Perhaps he had a rare bad experience, but the Tube is actually the exact opposite. It is well organized, easy to follow & extensive! Do not be put off by this listening to this article. London is the best city in the world and with a Travelcard it is easy to navigate your way through this safe system.

It's one of the best and economical ways to see London city and go visit family and friends. Every time I'm in London, I sure make use of it.

A rather negative view of the Underground. The card is named 'Oyster' referring to the world is your oyster, or in this case 'London'.
Pick up the handy London transit guide, take a moment to check out where you need to go and plot your route. It will soon become easy to navigate and its definitely the fastest way to get around the city.

I agree Lisa ad Jaspal. I think it is one of the easiest transportation systems to navigate. As long as you know your north, south, east , west coordinates you are fine. Fin what station your destination is close to and you have it made. I find myself even giving suggestions to people when I am there when they are wondering how to get across the city - and I am rom Canada. Now NY's system is another matter all together.

i agree with Lisa, im originally from London, always use it when back home & whilst more expensive than Toronto subway it is way more extensive & easy to use with many helpful agents for the out of towners -if you put some planning into your hotel location & underground route its not hard to use at all , i think i would have been put off by the presenter rather than found it helpful if i didnt know the system

While he gives some good tips, the presenter does use words like 'odd' and 'confusing', which the underground isn't. What is maddening, for tourists and locals alike, is when the lines are shut (particularly over the weekends) for maintenance. Let's see how they fair during the Olympics this summer!

The "Tube" system is NOT a jumbled mess as this author eludes to!
It is clean and easy to use and for a visitor, the most economical and efficient way to get around London. If you get confused, just ask someone...they will always help! I love London! Can't wait to go back!
PS..why would you post an article that would make a traveler nervous. You want people to fly to London....

Rubbish!
The London underground is one of the easiest if not the easiest to navigate in the world. I live in Toronto and while ours is 1/100th the size it is far more complicated. I have used the London underground for years and it is a breeze to navigate. This fellow is wrong - dead wrong. Where did you get him from?

First thing you do when you get off the Heathrow Express or the train from is to buy an Oyster Card. Staying in London for a week? - Buy the 7-day pass. Only staying for a few days? - load it up with £20-£30.

And if you really want to see London, stay off the Underground! Take the bus! You can use your Oyster Card for both the Underground and the bus.

But - always make sure you swipe your card going into the turnstile/onto a bus and swipe your card when you get off.

As for being confusing? Well, it's only confusing if you make it confusing.

I have visited London many times in the last
33 years. When I first arrived there I travelled
mostly by the tube. However, not because I was confused, rather wanting to explore
London more completely I opted for the network of buses. The only time I take the tube now is if I have less time. I know my way around London like a native and I would recommend a combination of bus and tube
travel for anyone who wants to see London at its best. I have other suggestions and I have given advise to friends, clients and relatives over the years. I think about
London on a daily basis from my home in the Ottawa Valley and can't wait for my next visit.

I agree with Lisa also! For heavens sake! Has he ever tried to get used to the New York City system? Jumbled mess?? I hardly think so. London is easy compared to many other cities of that size.

Lynda Brown maybe it's something about the Ottawa valley then? I'd move to London in a heartbeat.

I think this man was comparing the Toronto subway to London and therefore to him London is a "jumbled mess" That' because the Toronto lines are not NEARLY as large at all. It's simply not comparable as a system. I can't really believe this "report"passed muster before it was recorded.

I lived in London for 6 years. The tube is dead easy to navigate, in fact the man who made the tube map won awards for making it so easy. I will say that the advice about switching lines is correct for some stations like Bank where the tunnels to walk to the next line are quite long.

I agree with the others who have posted. I've only been to London once but found the Oyster card and the tube system easy to use and great to get around the city. I think Air Canada should re-do this video!

I thought the London Underground was great. I visited London for the first time on my own last November and didn't find it confusing at all as long as you can read a map. Purchasing an Oyster card is the best the way to go.

I think the Tube network in London is totally awesome!!! Imagine all the work and study that went into planning and building such a amazing , complex transportation system Hats off to all the UK engineers! Diane, Victoria, BC Canada...

London Underground is the most amazing public transportation in large city around the world. Since the first time I visited London, I have no problem to reply on it. After another 2 visit, I can use it as the local citizen. The main point is for sure you are on the right color and which zone you are in. Even you haven't brought enough fare, no problem........let the staff know, he or she will let you go to ticket counter to pay for the rest

I also agree with the negative comments about the video, provided by other commenters.
The London Underground is easy to navigate - even when changing lines. Walking a few minutes is not a long distance (unless one is mobility impaired) and provides a visitor with more of the ambiance of the place.
The frequency of the trains makes up for any time lost while walking - arriving every 3 minutes on the more central lines, during the day.

We have "tubed" it on every one of our 30 visits over the last 40 years using a 7 day Traveller's pass covering from 2 to 7 zones which you must purchase before leaving Canada. The tube map is an absolute essential making it very easy to find your way through the well signed stations. There is always someone there for guidance at the station if you need help. Yes, some transfers require a long walk but with a little experience, you can cisrcumvent these. The tube also takes you to the leafy suburbs like Kew, Richmond & Hampstead in just minutes. The Transport Museum at Covent Garden will provide you with a special appreciation as does the living history of each station.

Fail. That's the grade this video would get from an objective assessment panel.

I travel the world with my work from my Canadian East Coast home, and the London Underground is one of the best public transport systems I have used - yes it's not perfect, but name one in a city the size of London that is perfect.......

I watched the video because for the first time I'm planning a family trip to London in May.

For a tourist planning a trip, this video does nothing but introduce unhelpful comments. It does not mention some of the benefits of the tube such as: being part of an integrated public transport system - rail, bus, BOAT and underground; or the ease of use of the underground map.

From a neutral perspective, all the video does is address the frustrations of Peter Robinson, which were probably born from a journey in the middle of the Monday morning rush hour, having just stepped off an overnight from the West Coast in Economy class sat next to a crying baby.

The video would have been a lot more useful if it had shown how to get a travel card from a machine in a typical station forecourt, with a brief explanation of the zone system. Possibly it could have shown how to find a tube station on an overground map, or where is the best place to get off the tube and get a sightseeing tour, or where to get off and get a river bus? Maybe the video could have mentioned which hours should be avoided if you don't want to be stuck in the rush hour, and that it takes upto 1hr to get to central London on the Underground from LHR - where most of us arrive on our Air Canada flight? If it had done this, the video may have served more use than to simply put people off using this great metropolitan transit system.

If Air Canada need a re-make, give me a call!

Hi - Just wanted to say that I agree with many of the posts - the underground is not confusing! It is really quite an easy system to navigate and things are very clearly posted. Getting an oyster is the best Idea as well, as it allows you to travel on the Overground as well as some train lines as well.

I lived in London in 1960's and I thought the "tube" was the best way to get around. The season pass was a steal.
Definetly AC needs to review this video. Making it with specific, up-to-date info would be most helpful for visitors.

Sorry! Having been to London numerous times and used all possible transportation, I would like to disagree with the report. I have lived and travelled through the subways of New York, Toronto, DC, Rome, Paris, etc and still think the Tube is by far the best and most efficient method to travel. Getting a pass and planning your trip goes without saying in any of these cities. Can't wait to be back in London!

This video provides some of the worst advice I have heard. The Underground is not confusing, if you know what North, East, South, and West means. Even the Metro in Paris is more complicated by miles and miles.

As for taking as few lines as possible, the main reason to do so is not confusion. Instead, it saves you time from having to walk up and down the stairs and corridors, since platforms are on different levels.

As for practical advice, ALWAYS STAND ON THE RIGHT when you are on an escalator. Move into the CENTRE of the compartment, especially during rush hour. Have your Oyster card READY before you reach the ticket barrier, it's annoying if you get it out right at the barrier.

Avoid taking the Tube if you are within 3 stations when you are in Zone 1. Within 3 stations, pretty much everything is within 15 minute walking distance. I laugh when tourists get on at Leicester Square and get off at Covent Garden.

the london tube is the best system in the world. lived in the uk and never used a car. the tube left you within walking distance of anyplace you wanted to go. hurray....for the britts.

I agree that this video should be removed. Replace it with one showing how to add money etc. to your Oyster card at a machine in a station. Add some warnings about taking too long to complete a journey e.g. if there is a delay on the system, you can be fined when you arrive for taking too long. It is a pain to get the fine reversed. A good plan is to watch out for Pink Card readers at many interchange stations. Slapping your card on it, tracks your journey and proves that you have not abused the system. Explain how the underground and overground are now seamlessly integrated.

I respectively disagree with virtually every poster on this board. The tube is confusing to the first-time user and its poor record for being on-time and closing lines is precisely what the presenter is referring to. I suspect that the posters on this wall are savvy travellers who have figured out the tube. The video is not intended for them: it clearly states for the "Beginner" and much of the advice is geared to that audience. As for those that say the London Underground is efficient and easy to use, give me a break. It's a source of embarrassment for many that live there or who visit often (myself included). Perhaps, compared to North American options (aside from New York), it's better but that has to weighed up against how hellish it is to drive in London versus North American cities. it's the lesser of two evils, which is NOT the same thing as being efficient.

With all due respect, the presenter is much more accurate than others like to give him credit for. In fact, many of the same people who are voicing their displeasure offer precisely much of the same advice the presenter has in the video. I'm a bit confused as to why they are so upset. "A jumbled mess" is a bit harsh but otherwise, the narrative is spot on, in my view and I've visited London at least 30 times (most recently in January).

Folks: I agree that the Tube is a transport marvel but I also agree with the points made in the video. His wording is heavy at times but he could have been MUCH more critical if he wanted to. Delays, break-downs, crowds, unfriendly staff, labour disruptions, works shutdowns. The tube has much to be leery of. At the same time it's a brilliant tool to get around. I think that's the point of the video.

The Tube is very easy to navigate. The maps are easy to read and there are clearly-written signs to show you where to go.

My only complaint or issue with it, is that it felt very closed-in and small to me. I've never had the feeling of claustrophobia before using the London Tube.

The video is more accurate than a lot of writers want to admit. But i'm not surprised because the tube has that affect. people like to complain about it but also go to strange ends to defend it. I worked in London for an ad agency and we did many photoshoots on the tube. It was surprising to what length you had to go to shoot certain things, so that's likely why the video doesn't show certain shots that others are crying out for on this board. You would NEVER be allowed to shoot swiping Oyster cards, or staff members without the Tube vetting the video. Be thankful that Air Canada allowed an unvarnished look at the Tube.

The Tube is a lesson in under ground Transportation .A great peice of Work.