Postcard: London Underground

As the world looks to London for Friday's festivities, I had to go with this simple and wonderful postcard version of the London Underground map for the postcard of the week. My friend Ryan sent this to me in 2001, with a greeting that said "London is positively the tops."

A famous bit of efficient information design, the symbol and map for the London Underground (aka "The Tube"), have become a part of the popular culture of the British capital. The modern Tube map was designed by Harry Beck in 1933, and is characterized by a revolutionary, non-geographical layout of the lines, with an extra bit of clarity provided by simple color-coding. In a word, it's genius.

The Underground is the world's first subway system, opening in 1863! Today, it has over 250 miles of track, serving 240 stations and more than a billion passengers each year.

Mind the gap.

Comments

[LynellMarie]

I loved traveling The London Underground! I was in awe whenever I went on. I actually think it's easier traveling the English tunnels than the French tunnels.

[little augury]

I do hope you will weigh in on the royal gown, you owe it to us..pgt