London's Tube Is Going Back To The 1930s For One Weekend This May

For most Londoners, a Tube journey is something to get through rather than an experience to savour. There is the familiar rush through the barriers, the scramble for a seat and the hope that the train isn't delayed.

But for one weekend, passengers can forget the modern commute and travel back to 1930s London instead.

A historic Tube train is returning to the Underground this May, giving passengers the chance to ride a beautifully preserved 1938 train along the Piccadilly line. The heritage journeys are being organised to mark the 120th anniversary of the line and will offer a rare chance to experience what travelling on the Tube was like before the Second World War.

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Step Inside A 1930s Tube Train

The four-carriage train is part of the 1938 Stock, a distinctive generation of Underground trains that operated on several of London's deep-level routes for around five decades.

It looks rather different from the trains Londoners are used to today. Inside, passengers will find wooden-framed windows and red and green upholstered seats, along with the Art Deco design associated with the period.

The 1938 Stock was also notable for putting all its electrical equipment beneath the floor - an innovation that helped shape the design of later Underground trains.

For passengers, though, the biggest attraction is likely to be the chance to simply sit down and take in the experience. The train offers a glimpse of the Underground as it would have looked and felt before the war changed the capital.
 

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Where Will The Heritage Trains Run?

The heritage journeys will take place on the Piccadilly line, including sections of the network with some of the Underground's oldest tunnels.

On May 2, the historic train will operate between Northfields and the Heathrow Loop. Each journey will last around 45 minutes and will start and finish at Northfields.

On May 3 and 4, passengers can travel between Cockfosters and Northfields, with journeys operating in both directions. These trips will take around 70 minutes and, again, passengers will return to their starting station.

How Much Do Tickets Cost?

There are two ticket options: Gold and Bronze.

Gold tickets offer access to the front carriage and cost £30 for adults and £20 for children. Bronze tickets cover the middle and rear carriages and are priced at £25 for adults and £15 for children.

Seats cannot be reserved individually, so your ticket determines which section of the train you can travel in rather than giving you a specific seat.

Children under three can travel free on all journeys.

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Can You Use An Oyster Card?

No. This isn't a normal Tube journey, so your Oyster card won't get you through the doors.

Tickets need to be booked in advance specifically for the heritage journeys.

And while the experience might look like a normal trip on the Piccadilly line at first glance, don't expect the usual tap-in-and-go routine. This is a specially organised heritage service, with limited journeys and dedicated tickets.

For anyone with an interest in London's transport history - or simply anyone who has ever wondered what the Tube looked like before today's trains - it is a rather good excuse to make the journey itself the destination.