London Underground Walking Tour

London Underground, or the Tube as it is affectionately known, is more than just a transport network – it is the first of its kind and an icon of London, with plenty of stories, trivia and world records hidden amongst its tunnels and stations.

The tour begins at the historic Baker Street Station. Over the two hours of the tour your friendly and highly knowledgeable guide will tell the story of the Tube’s evolution, including how trains moved from steam powered to electrified rails, how the tunneling process changed from hand digging to massive tunnel-boring machines, and about the acclaimed architecture of many stations along the way.

Fans of fun facts and trivia will love this tour too, with secrets revealed including:

• Which Tube station was designed to look like the inside of a clock
• The species of animal that can only be found on the Underground
• How many attempts and redesigns it took to reach the current, classic Tube map design
• The story behind the famous ‘roundel’ Tube logo
• Which very famous London landmark almost collapsed because of a Tube line
• Why early Tube users were terrified of 'huge sets of metal teeth' that helped them get to the platforms
• Which famous lady is rumoured to have coined the phrase 'Tube'

You’ll doubtless use the Tube a lot on your trip to London but after this tour, you’ll never look at the Underground in the same way again!

• You will need to bring one valid Oyster Card or Travelcard (Zones 1 – 2) per person
• You will receive an e-voucher when you book this tour
• Vouchers are open-dated but you must contact Insider London to confirm your tour date upon arrival in London or at least 48 hours prior to the tour – details will be on the voucher
• Tour departs at 11:00am on Fridays and 11am on Saturdays
• Private tours at a time and on a day of your choice are available on request
• Tour duration is around 2 hours
• Tour departs from the Sherlock Holmes Statue, Baker Street Station
• The guide will arrive 10 minutes before departure, and will be holding an ‘Insider London’ sign
• Tour finishes at Westminster Tube station
• Maximum 10 people per tour

Severe weather:

• If severe weather such as heavy rain or extreme cold is forecast for the day of your tour, please contact Insider London to reschedule
• The tour will only be rescheduled at the guide’s discretion
• Tours will go ahead in light rain and umbrellas can be supplied if requested in advance

Price does not include:

• Food and drinks

Disabled access:

• The tour is not accessible to wheelchair users

“Appeal for long-time Londoners as much as first-time tourists. Our guide was effortlessly friendly and, as far as we could tell, flawless in her facts. We even learnt a thing or two about our specialist subject. Splendid.“
– Londonist

“I am so glad I took the Underground Tour – we were exploring London with a knowledgeable friend, not being talked at by a tour guide. We learnt the history and architecture of the oldest metro system in the world and discovered parts of London our guidebooks didn’t mention. I’ll definitely sign up for another tour.”
– Kathleen Galan, Baker, New Jersey

"...what an enjoyable tour that was! The guide was really knowledgeable and the tour is designed to go through 150 years of the London Underground, with focus on architecture, design and history
- Lara Callegari, Coggiola, Italy

• All guides will be wearing masks and complimentary masks will be offered to guests at the beginning of the tour.
• Limited group sizes to 6 people per guide to allow for social distancing 
• Altered the route of the tour to avoid busier stations with tight walkways.