Ride a 1938 Art Deco Tube Train in London This Summer

Step back in time to the golden age of London transportation with heritage rides on a 1938 tube train this summer. The vintage train, adorned in an elegant burgundy art deco style, features four carriages complete with wooden frame windows, sleek light fittings, and a luxurious red and green cut and loop wool moquette.

These heritage trips will offer a unique experience on various lines throughout the summer season: Acton Town to Oakwood on the Piccadilly line, including a mini talk about the architect Charles Holden at Oakwood station, and a transport collectables pop-up stall at Acton Town, scheduled for Sunday, June 9, 2024.

Uxbridge to Harrow-on-the-Hill on the Metropolitan line, featuring a costumed actor portraying Charles Holden and music from a TfL busker, set for Saturday, July 20, and Sunday, July 21, 2024. The Heathrow Loop on the Piccadilly line, offering a pre-ride drop-in craft activity for families, is planned for Saturday, August 10, and Sunday, August 11, 2024. Amersham to TBC on the Metropolitan line, scheduled for Saturday, September 7, and Sunday, September 8, 2024.

Each experience includes a souvenir booklet, and tickets can be purchased on the London Transport Museum website. Originally, over 1,100 of these 1938 cars were built, some of which remained in use in London until 1988. While a few of the trains found new life on the Isle of Wight’s Island Line, they were eventually replaced with newer London Underground stock in 2020. 

While these vintage trains are now mainly on display in museums and depots, this summer provides a limited opportunity to ride on one and experience a piece of London’s rich transportation history firsthand.

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