Why London Underground is called The Tube

Southbound Northern Line train leaving a tunnel mouth just north of Hendon Central station

Tourists are sometimes confused when the London Underground is referred to as the Tube, but the nickname seems rather obvious when you read the history of the Underground and the technology involved in its construction. The nickname “Tube” comes from the almost circular tube-like tunnels through which the small profile trains run.

Here are 50 facts you probably didn’t know!

• An average of 2.7 million tube journeys are made on the tube each and every day.
• Around 19 000 people work at the London Underground.

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