Yes my dear readers I have done this too. The underground of London or is it the metro or the subway or even the tube!!! Anyway, you get the idea is below level, of the earth, quick easy but prefer do the walking above ground , see more, get it. Anyway, here is my take on something I have done the underground of London!
Let me tell you about the station I used the most for business and even show around my family on our visit, the Gloucester Road station.
The Gloucester Road underground station of the lines: Circle, District and Piccadilly of the London Underground, in zone 1. It is located in the district of South Kensington in the London borough of Islington. On the District and Piccadilly lines, the station is between South Kensington and Earl’s Court, (my line and lodging with the family), and on the Circle line, it is between South Kensington and High Street Kensington. On the District and Piccadilly lines, the station is between Earl’s Court and South Kensington, and on the Circle line, it is between High Street Kensington and South Kensington. Gloucester Road is the farther interchange between these three lines, although the tube map promotes the easier interchange at South Kensington.
The Gloucester Road station is in two parts: sub-surface platforms, opened in 1868 and deep-level platforms opened in 1906, The deep-level platforms have remained largely unaltered with no lift/elevator access, A two-story station building in cream-colored brick with arched windows and an ornamental balustrade at roof level was built . The planning of the line encouraged the local land owners, including Lord Kensington, to extend Cromwell Road westwards and the opening of Gloucester Road station, stimulated rapid residential development in the surrounding area , In the 1990s a deck was constructed above the District and Circle line platforms on which was constructed a shopping mall and apartment building. As part of the development over the sub-surface platforms, the station buildings were remodeled internally to share a single entrance and ticket office Space in the Piccadilly line building that was formerly used for operational purposes or as the exit to the street is now used for retail purposes. Art on the Underground have used the disused platform for temporary installations of sculptures, murals or photographs. Artworks have been by a variety of artists over the past 20 years, including David Shrigley, Chiho Aoshima and Heather Phillipson.
The London transports site on the Gloucester road underground/metro/subway: https://tfl.gov.uk/tube/stop/940GZZLUGTR/gloucester-road-underground-station
The London tourist office on the Gloucester Road station : https://www.visitlondon.com/fr/informations-voyageurs/endroit/35659257-gloucester-road-underground-station
Now a bit of expansion on the London underground and public transports in London from my humble point of view, Whether you’re an overseas visitor in London on vacation, or a UK citizen visiting the capital for the first time, the London Underground is an efficient and economical way of getting around. However it can be confusing if you’ve never used it before as any other. London is divided up into nine travel Zones. Central London is covered by Zone 1. As you move outwards, you pass through Zones 2-9. The London Underground is divided into 11 different lines which are color coded. Signs to each line will give both the line name, and it’s color, Regular underground stations are represented by a line. You can’t change between different lines at these stations. Interchange stations are represented by a white circle with a wide black outline. You can change between lines at these stations.
Tickets can either be bought from the machines available at each Underground station, from ticket offices on the station (be aware, not all stations have ticket offices, and they’re not open all the time), or in advance from the Visitor Shop also oyster cards as never use this visitor shop, If you are traveling to multiple locations , you can buy paper travelcards that allow unlimited travel on the Tube, trams, Docklands Light Railway (DLR), and London Overground services, as well as some National Rail services within the London travel zone. You can get them for 1 day or 7 days, from ticket offices on the stations, or online in advance via the Visitor Shop, Never use these only the tube at Gloucester Road and Earl’s Court mind you. You will need one Oyster Card or ticket per adult. Up to 4 children under the age of 11 can travel for free with an adult who has an Oyster card or ticket for the tube. 11 – 15 year olds will need to get either an 11-15 year old’s Travelcard, ticket or Oyster Card. Children 16 and over are counted as adults and have to pay adult fares. I used the Oyster Card , excellent choice, When getting on the train, stand to one side to let other passengers off first, rather than trying to battle your way through. Don’t worry about missing the train, or not getting on – everyone else will be doing the same.
If staying for a few days, or intend to visit the city in the near future a few times, you can opt for the Oyster cards, they are good reusable, rechargeable, and very convenient. I still have mine!! The official Oyster card for info:https://oyster.tfl.gov.uk/oyster/entry.do
Buses can be a cheap and easy way to get around. They run from 5 in the morning until not long after midnight. Major routes may also have night bus services that run from midnight until 5. I did try once the double decker bus by Gloucester Road.(see post) There are 2 types of river boat service ,the River Buses which operate as an alternative to the Tube and buses, (can use the oyster card here) or the River Tours which are more leisurely but are an excellent way of seeing London (not for oyster cards), I have used taxis once from the Heathrow airport to the Earl’s Court exhibition center way back, I have driven my own car in London ,piece of cake and avoided the congestion zone !
Some webpages to help you plan your visit that I have used are
The London transports body on planning your journey on public transports : https://tfl.gov.uk/plan-a-journey/
The London transports boday on congestion zones map in pdf file format for printing: https://lruc.content.tfl.gov.uk/congestion-charge-area-map.pdf
The London transports body on low emission zones to get in with your car : https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/ultra-low-emission-zone/ulez-where-and-when?intcmp=52227
There you go folks, it has been a while I wanted to do this post and finally is here. Hope you find it useful for your next trip to London, whenever possible nowdays. I have great memories of Gloucester Road and Earl’s Court underground stations.
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all!!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 