21 things Tube newcomers absolutely need to know before using London Underground

Hopping on and off the Tube is a common activity for Londoners but for newcomers heading to the city there are 21 things you absolutely need to know. People absolutely love to have a moan about the London Underground. It's noisy, smelly, sometimes a bit dirty too.

But we would be absolutely stuck without it. And for newcomers to London it can seem like a bit of a maze trying to negotiate the map itself, let alone the unspoken rules of etiquette and tips that you only pick up after spending loads of time in the capital.

So, if you're spending a weekend in London, or if you're new to our amazing city and want to learn the ropes, look no further. Here we bring you our top 21 tips to make your life a little easier using the world's best underground rail network.

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1. Take hand gel

There is no doubt about it, the Tube is a pretty disgusting, unhealthy place. There's not a lot that can be done if you have to travel on it, but you can at least help yourself by staying as disinfected as possible. Smother your hands in the gel when you get off the Tube and definitely use it if you feel you must eat during your journey.

2. People will be angry...

It is likely that someone will be angry at some point during any Tube journey you go on, whether that's the Tube driver, a commuter, a tourist, or a Transport for London platform worker. Common causes of anger include slow walkers, bags on Tubes, people getting stuck in doors, and sometimes just looking at someone weirdly will spark an argument. The best way to avoid confrontation is to be aware of your surroundings and what you're doing. But also don't panic if someone does raise their voice. They're probably being unreasonable.

3. ...and loud

You may encounter someone playing videos out loud, chatting loudly on the phone, or having an over-animated conversation. Of course you expect noise on public transport, but sometimes it can get overbearing, people seem to make up their own rules on the Tube. The best thing to do is plug your headphones in and block out that noise.

4. Wear layers

Do not make the rookie mistake of wearing your coat on the Tube. There is pretty much no time of year when you will need to wear a coat on the underground, no matter how cold it is outside. Be sensible and take your coat off before you venture into the underground furnace. In the height of summer you will unfortunately melt no matter what you do.

5. Don't underestimate the walk between Tube lines

So many people end up being late to their meetings because they had no idea there could be a five-10 minute walk in between Tube lines at stations. Sometimes you even have to exit and re-enter the station, like in Hammersmith if you're changing from the Piccadilly to Hammersmith and City lines. If you're lucky, all you have to do is walk mere metres to another platform, but that's a rare treat.

6. Trains go to different destinations

Please please please if you're new to using the Tube, check where the train you're getting on is going. Not all Tubes go all the way to the end of the line and many Tube lines have several branches. Unless you know you can get any train, make sure you're paying attention!

7. TfL operators can check you've paid

Don't try to be clever by sneaking through a ticket barrier behind someone without touching in. You might not have got away without paying, because TFL representatives can check you have paid at any time, and if you're caught trying to travel for free, you could get an £80 fine.

8. You might be judged for eating

Eating on a Tube probably isn't the nicest experience, so it's best to avoid it when you can. The worst thing about the entire affair is how many judging looks you will get. A non-offensive cereal bar will probably be fine if you crunch quietly but anything hot and smelly will probably spark evils and gossip about you from nearby Tube-goers.

9. Bring some form of entertainment...

The underground can be so monotonous and, no matter how much they claim it, wifi does not always work. So use your Tube journey as a chance to do something else. Download TV shows or music to your phone, read, or get some work done. You will be painfully bored otherwise.

10. ...and a drink

Bring water or whatever your favourite beverage is along with you for the ride because if it gets hot you might be thankful for a way to stay hydrated. Coffee can get messy on busy Tubes so watch out.

11. People get fussy about bags

Mainly this applies to bulky backpacks that people keep on their backs, bashing into everyone in their paths. If you're on a busy Tube, you will have to remove bags like that and put them on the floor beside you or carry them, or else face the wrath of the Londoner.

12. You might encounter a dog

One of the best feelings you will ever have is walking onto the Tube to begin the same journey you have to take every day and realising there's a cute dog in your carriage. Dogs are absolutely allowed to travel on the Tube and over time you will see plenty of them. If you can station yourself next to a cute pooch, you will be in for a far better Tube experience than usual.

13. Sometimes, you will be a sardine

There's no avoiding the pain of rush hour. Pretty much every line heading into central London between 7am and 10am will be busy, and between eight and nine you will probably become a sardine for the majority of your journey. There's no waiting for a quieter Tube because it won't come, so instead make sure you've taken off all your layers and feel prepared to battle your way for a space.

14. There will probably be another train in two minutes if you miss one

Honestly, there's very little point in running for a Tube unless you know there's a significant gap until the next train because you're on a less popular branch of the line or it's a weird time of day. There will be another one in two to three minutes. Maybe even less.

15. Unless it's the middle of the night

Ok now you can be a bit more panicked about missing a train. Night Tubes do run in London, more on that later, but they can often operate with 10 to 20 minute gaps between them. If you're not keen on chilling on on the platform, you should probably run to get the train.

16. The night Tube is a god send

All hail the night Tube. On Fridays and Saturdays many of the Tube lines, including the Central, Victoria, Jubilee, Northern, and Piccadilly, run all night, for 24 hours. Double check your route because the night Tube doesn't serve all branches and stations, but broadly this will save you so much taxi money. Just be aware that the night trains are less regular.

17. Though going on it sober is an 'experience'

If you ever have to go on the night Tube at say 2am sober, you should probably psych yourself up. You will encounter every kind of drunk person imaginable, from the one who tries to strike up conversation with you to the sloppy ones to the ones who have fallen asleep and missed their stop.

18. Some lines close at weekends

Another nugget of information to store away is the fact that some tube lines can close at the weekends. Usually TfL avoids closing the main branches of the most used lines that serve key central areas of the city, but any others may well be closed for repairs so check your journey won't be disrupted.

19. You might get shouted at if you drink alcohol

TFL bans passengers from drinking alcohol or carrying open containers of alcohol on any of its Tubes, buses, trams and the DLR. This means if you are seen to be doing either, you will be asked to throw the alcohol away if you want to continue your journey.

20. Prepare for delays

It is an unfortunate reality that the busy Tube system gets delayed all the time for train, timetable, and passenger issues. You should ideally allow plenty of time whenever you travel anywhere because if a train stops in a tunnel between stations, there's not a lot you can do, no matter how important your appointment is.

21. There is seat etiquette. Learn it.

Please be a considerate person and take notice of those around you while on the Tube. You are completely entitled to a seat, but if a pregnant woman, older person, or someone with a disability gets on the train, you really should offer them your seat. Playing on your phone is no excuse, just ensure you look up and check who's around whenever you can.

And there you have it. Everything you could possibly ever need to know about getting the Tube in London. Now go forth. You will look like a true Londoner as you travel with your newfound knowledge.

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