London Transport Maps (showing the Underground) 1933-2000

Index to this page:

London Connections

British Railways have produced maps of the railway system in the Greater London Network. The earlier specimen (1965) has a main map that owes nothing to the Beck style of London Underground; and a small monochrome Garbutt map on the reverse. The later specimen (1975) has a different non-Beckian main map, but with a very small monochrome Garbutt map in the centre of the main map.

London Transport issued a map entitled "London's Railways", designed by Tim Demuth, which applied the Beck style consistently to the whole of the Greater London area. I have found maps in this series only for three years (1973, 1974, and 1975). These maps are signed T.P. Demuth. We then seem to have a gap of seven years! Thereafter, the same design was published in a somewhat different layout under the title "The London Connection". I have found three specimens in this series (1982, 1983, and 1984). Only the earliest one (1982) is signed T.P.Demuth, but the other two are in precisely the same style. Then, from 1992 onwards, the British Railways Board issued a series of maps entitled "London Connections", with a basically similar design but which deviated significantly from the Beck orthodoxy. The design is at first unsigned (1992), but the 1995 map is subscribed "Computerized cartography by FWT 25-4-1995 (LSE) from an original design by Bernard Slatter", while the 1996 map is subscribed "Designed by Phil Taylor and Doug Rose - computerized cartography by FWT 19.9-1996 (L&SE)". Thereafter the map is unsigned.

Published Dated Reference Title N
1965/04 1 April 1965 P.2617/65 British Rail "Greater London Network Map"
Printed by J.Weiner Ltd		 1
1973/01 March 1973, No. 1 173/M/300,000 "London's Railways" 1
1974/02 1974 outside
July 1974 No. 2		 274/1333M/500,000 London's Railways 1
1975/06 1974 outside
July 1975 No. 3		 675/2553M/500,000 London's Railways 1
1975/06 July 1975, No. 3 675/2553M/500,000 "London's Railways" 1
1975/05 (None) BRB 25973/2750/575 British Rail "Your Awayday journey planner
The easy way to get from A to B in the South East"		 1
1982/11 (None) BRB P578/A443.5/1182 "The LONDON CONNECTION
Rail, Underground and Bus travel in and around London" Designed in the Publicity Office of London Transport by T.P. Demuth.
Drawn in the Cartographic Dept of Cook, Hammond & Kell Ltd, London.
Published by BR Central Advertising Services.
Printed by W.Caple / Sage 2.		 1
1983/06 (None) P00239/A500/683 "The LONDON CONNECTION" Map has same design as previous edition, but no credit given to Demuth or LT Publicity Office.
Published by BR Central Advertising Services. Printed by Belmont Press, Northampton.
 1
1984/03 (None) P00845/A325/384 "The LONDON CONNECTION" Map has same design as previous edition, but no credit given to Demuth or LT Publicity Office.
Published by BR Central Advertising Services. Printed by Belmont Press, Northampton.
 1
1991/02 8 July 1991 -
10 May 1992		 CAS(BRB)BS/BS-2/91 "CONNECTIONS
The London Connections Map"
Back cover:
"NETWORK MAP
The Network SouthEast Map"
Designed by Bernard Slater.
Printed by Cripplegate, ref BO1324/A750/7.91-5.92		 1
1992/05 10 May 1992 -
16 May 1993		 ASU/BS-44/92 "The London Connections Map"
(Designer Bernard Slater)		 1
1995/05 from 29 May 1995 - "The London Connections Map"
(from an original design by Bernard Slater)		 1
1996/05 until 29 May 1997 - "London Connections
Rail and Underground Services"
(from an original design by Bernard Slater)		 1
1996/09 until 27 September 1997 (None) "London Connections
Rail and Underground Services"
(from an original design by Bernard Slater)		 1
1997/05 until 27 September 1997 - "London Connections" 1
1999/05 until 23 September 2001 (None) London Connections
Rail and Underground Services		 1
1999/09 until 19th May 2001 (None) London Connections
Rail and Underground Services		 (None) 1
2000/10 until 27 May 2001 (None) "London Connections
Rail and Underground Services"		 1
2000/05 until 27 September 2000 - "London Connections" 1
2000/09 (None) ATOC/LS/September 2000 "London Connections" 1

LONDON

This is a series of maps somewhat ambiguously titled "London", that were published from 1956 to 1972. (There might be editions before 1956 or after 1972, but I haven't seen them.) From 1956 to 1969, the main map was designed by B.G. Lewis. From 1970 it was taken over by N.V.McKay but retained its elegance. The content of the map retains much of its validity today, as a clear depiction of the geographical layout of the Underground. Sadly, for the past quarter of a century, London Transport (now renamed Transport for London) have not seen fit to reissue such a clear and useful map.

There is no clearly defined title, and they are generally referred to as "London" maps, as the front cover is dominated by a roundel with "LONDON" written across it. The subtitle lines say

"UNDERGROUND
BUS ROADS
GREEN LINE
COACH ROADS
BRITISH RAILWAYS
PLACES OF INTEREST
It is printed on stiff paper, 22.6 x 17.6 inches (multifolded to 3 x 5.7 inches). One side is taken up with a large and detailed map of London, showing London Underground lines in their usual colours, plus British Rail lines in black-and-white, plus Green Line coach routes as solid green lines, plus all other bus routes in outline grey lines. The map is geographically accurate and also shows rivers, lakes, parks, and such-like. The majority of the series were designed by B.G.Lewis, whose name appears in the corner of the map. On the reverse side of the sheet is a small monochrome, diagrammatic map of the London Underground by H.C.Beck, together with illustrations in the style of the late fifties, and an assortment of textual information. The map was issued by the Publicity Department of London Transport, and available free at stations.

B.G. Lewis is not very well known, but the elegant beauty of his map, and the sheer virtuosity of his draughtsmanship, makes this a very fine map. He deserves to be better known. (Lewis also designed the "Welcome" map from c.1962 to 1965.) It is a remarkable achievement to have compressed so much information into the map without losing clearness. N.V.McKay did not make any major changes to the map when he took over in 1970.
Published Dated Reference Title Variants N
1956/11 (None) 1156/26340/200M "London" (None) 1
1958/06 (None) 658/1309M/250,000 (A) "London" (None) 1
1958/11 1959 1158/2729M/250,000 (A) "London" (None) 1
1959/09 1960 959/2434M/250,000 "London" (None) 1
1960/10 1961 1060/2512M/250,000 "London" (None) 1
1961/10 1962 1061/3033M/250,000 "London" (None) 1
1962/11 1963 1162/3131M/250,000 "London" (None) 1
1963/11 1964 1163/3230E/250,000 "London" (None) 1
1964/10 1965 1064/3703/250,000 "London" (None) 1
1966/02 1966 266/346z/250M "London" (None) 1
1966/12 (None) 1266/3871Z/250,000 "London" (None) 1
1968/01 (None) 168/74Z/250M "London" (None) 1
1969/01 (None) 169/192Z/250M "London" (None) 1
1970/02 1970 270/572M/250M "London" (None) 1
1971/02 1971 271/1478M/250M "London" (None) 1
1972/04 1972 472/2073M/250000 "London" (None) 1

Tourist maps

This series has gone through several radical revisions, and the claim that they form a single thread is, perhaps contentious. The common factors running through them, though, are: (a) the inclusion of both a bus map and a diagrammatic Underground map; (b) text specifically oriented to visitors, especially tourists; and (c) sometimes editions in different languages. The different series are as follows: Note: B.G. Lewis also designed the excellent "London" maps from 1956 to 1969. 1962-1965
The earliest specimens I have seen in this series.

1966-1967
The 1966 version is a large sheet folded into sixteen panels of 4 x 8.5 inches. There are is one large map (six panels) in full colour, a full-colour Underground map, and various smaller maps. The large map shows coloured bus routes plus a single black line for all underground lines. It is quite an elegant map and well-thought-out map, with the main streets and parks shown but no excessive clutter. The Underground map is signed by Paul Garbutt, and appears to be identical to the pocket map (Diagram of Lines) for that year -- except that the map on the tourist sheet omits the grid lines. Unfortunately, the size of Underground map (8.8 x 5.9 inches) does not quite mesh with the 4 x 8.5 inch panels, so it inelegantly occupies 2 and a bit panels.

The next issue, in 1967, has changed its title from "MAPS FOR VISITORS" to "VISITOR'S GUIDE TO LONDON TRANSPORT", but the contents and layout of the sheet are similar. The sheet is larger: folded into sixteen panels of 4 x 8.5 inches. The main map is the same size but has been redesigned as the ugly standard bus map with thick red lines and unreadably small numbers showing bus routes. The Underground map is now the same as the pocket map for 1967 (again omitting the grid lines), but Paul Garbutt's name is now curiously omitted from the copy on the tourist map.

1972-1979
By 1972, the sheet has been redesigned. Now renamed "Tourist Information" and subtitled "INCLUDING UNDERGROUND AND BUS MAPS", the sheet has shrunk to twenty-four panels of 2.7 x 5.75 inches. The bus map has expand to fill all of one side. The Underground map is still a copy of the current pocket map (still without grid lines, but with Paul Garbutt's name reinstated). In 1977, the title was modified to "London Transport Official Tourist Information". In 1978, the grid was added to the Underground map, and a green background was added outside a white-background 'Central Tube Rover Area'. The green background made it much harder to see the green District line.

1980-c.1985
In 1980, there was another redesign. Now subtly renamed "LONDON Official Tourist Information". The tube map retained the same design but was truncated north of Bounds Green and east of Elm Park on the District line. Paul Garbutt's name is also lost.

c. 1991
In the this series, "Seeing London", the Underground map is enlarged but still severely truncated in its coverage.

c. 1996-present
The next series is entitled "Travelling in London". The Underground map is expanded to the same size as the bus map, and is a full-colour zonal map.

Published Dated Reference Title Variants N
1962/06 (None) 662/137E/250M "WELCOME" (None) 1
1963/02 (None) 263/349E/250M "WELCOME" (None) 1
1965/06 (None) 265/453Z/250M "WELCOME" (None) 1
1966/03 1966 366/731M/200M MAPS FOR VISITORS (None) 1
1967/05 (None) 567/1280Z/250M VISITOR'S GUIDE TO
LONDON TRANSPORT		 (None) 1
1968/01 (None) 168/120Z/750,000 VISITOR'S GUIDE TO
LONDON TRANSPORT		 (None) 1
1971/02 1971 271/1355m/500,000 "TOURIST INFORMATION
including Underground and bus maps"		 (None) 1
1972/02 1972 272-1526M-1,000,000 Tourist Information
INCLUDING UNDERGROUND AND BUS MAPS		 English 1
1972/02 1973 272-1526M-1,000,000 Tourist Information
INCLUDING UNDERGROUND AND BUS MAPS		 English 1
1974/02 1974 274-1212M-1,000,000 Tourist Information
INCLUDING UNDERGROUND AND BUS MAPS		 English 1
1974/12 1975 1274-3086M-1,000,000 Tourist Information
INCLUDING UNDERGROUND AND BUS MAPS		 English 1
1975/08 1976 875/2712M/750,000 Tourist Information
including Underground and Bus Maps		 English 1
1975/08 1976 875/2714M/200,000 Informations Touristiques
avec Plans du Metro et des Autobus		 French 1
1976/06 1976 676/2215M/500,000 Tourist Information
including Underground and Bus Maps		 English 1
1976/12 1977 1276/3068M/500M Informations Touristiques
avec Plans du Metro et des Autobus		 French 1
1977/03 1977 377/1665M/500M London Transport Official Tourist Information
Including Underground and Visitor's bus maps		 English 1
1977/10 1978 1077/2726M/500,000 "Offizielle London-Transport-Touristen-Information" German 1
1978/12 1979 1278/2893M/1,000M London Transport Official Tourist Information
Including Underground and Visitor's bus maps		 English 1
1979/04 1979 479/2057M/1,000,000(R) London Transport Official Tourist Information
Including Underground and Visitor's bus maps		 English 1
1979/08 1979 879/2871M/1,000,000 London Transport Official Tourist Information
Including Underground and Visitor's bus maps		 English 1
1980/04 <(None) 480/1808M/1,000,000(R) LONDON Official Tourist Information
Including Underground and Visitor's bus maps		 English 1
1980/07 <(None) 780/2304M/1,000,000(R) LONDON Official Tourist Information
Including Underground and Visitor's bus maps		 English 1
1981/02 1981 281/1206M/1,000,000(R) LONDON Official Tourist Information
Including Underground and Visitor's bus maps		 English 1
1983/12 1984 1283/06855/3,500,000(R) LONDON Bus, Tube and Street Maps and Tourist Information (None) 1
1983/12 1984/85 1283/06855/3,500,000(R) LONDON Bus, Tube and Street Maps and Tourist Information (None) 1
1983 1984/85 (None) LONDON Bus, Tube and Street Maps and Tourist Information (None) 1
1985 1985/86 (None) Visitors Guide to Central LONDON from London Transport"
Main map dated 1983.)		 (None) 1
1991 1991 (None) "Seeing London" (None) 1
1996 1996 (None) "Travelling in London" English 1
"Se déplacer à Londres" French 1
"Verkekrsmittel in London" German 1
1997/02 1997 297/21644 "Travelling in London" English 1
"Se déplacer à Londres" French 1
"Verkekrsmittel in London" German 1
1997/05 1997 597/21644 "Travelling in London" English 1
1998 1998 (None) "Travelling in London" English 1
"Se déplacer à Londres" French 1
"Unterwegs in London" German 1
"Muoversi a Londra" Italian 1
"Para recorrer Londres" Spanish 1
1999 1999 (None) "Travelling in London" English 1
"Les moyens de transport à Londres" French 1
"Unterwegs in London" German 1
["Travelling in London", translated into Greek script] Greek 1
"Muoversi a Londra" Italian 1
["Travelling in London", translated into kanji script] Japanese 1
"Para recorrer Londres" Spanish 1
2000 2000 (None) "Travelling in London" English 1
"Les moyens de transport à Londres" French 1
"Unterwegs in London" German 1
"Muoversi a Londra" Italian 1
["Travelling in London", translated into kanji script] Japanese 1
"Para recorrer Londres" Spanish 1
2001 2001 (None) "Travelling in London" English 1
"Spostamenti a Londra" Italian 1
"Viajar en Londres" Spanish 1

Dutch tourist map

I'm not sure where this item fits into the bigger picture. It is a Dutch tourist map. apparently issued by London Transport, with a monochrome map of 'De Londense Ondergrondse'. The blue cover has an odd version of the roundel, in which the roundel seems to be converted into a cog. (Or is it supposed to be the Sun, with rays coming out? If so, it is an odd symbol, as the rays would then be transvers to the direction of propagation.)

Published Dated Reference Title N
1975/05 (None) (None) "REIZEN DOOR LONDEN" 1

Special Event Maps

In content, there is very little in common between these maps. The one exception is the main map of the 1937 and 1953 coronation maps.

Published Dated Reference Title N
1937 May 1937 (None) "CORONATION ARRANGEMENTS
WEDNESDAY MAY 12 1937"
Main map: 'Geographia' geographical map, showing Underground system as thin black lines, and the Coronation route shown in colour. Reverse side includes monochrome Beck-style Underground map.		 1
1946/05 (None) 546/1081F/120,000 "VICTORY CELEBRATIONS
TRANSPORT ARRANGEMENTS
LONDON TRANSPORT AT LONDON'S SERVICE"
Main map: geographical, with Underground system as thin monochrome lines. Procession route shown in colour.
1
1948/04 1948 448. 822 H. 450 M. "OLYMPIC GAMES LONDON 1948"
Subtitled: "How to get there by LONDON TRANSPORT"
Includes Beck-style monochrome Underground map of central area. 		1
1950/11 1951 1150/2737H/1,000M (Festival of Britain logo at top)
"Welcome to LONDON"
(with "London Transport" in roundel, plus "British Railways" in BR emblem)
Main map: geographical, with colour-coded Underground lines, signed James Hart. 		1
1953/06 2 June 1953 (None) "Elizabeth R Coronation"
(with "London Transport" in roundel, plus "British Railways" in BR emblem, and "Metropolitan Police" in its emblem
Main map: Geographia. Reverse side includes a monochrome Underground map, signed H.C.Beck. 		1
1981/06 29 July 1981 681/073RP/5T "The Royal Wedding Route"
(with a blind LT roundel and a London Tourist Board emblem)
Subtitled: "A Souvenir Guide with the compliments of LONDON TRANSPORT & THE LONDON TOURIST BOARD, in association with HIS GRACE THE DUKE OF WESTMINSTER on the occasion of the marriage of H.R.H. THE PRINCE OF WALES TO THE LADY DIANA SPENCER".
Includes an almost illegibly small Garbutt Underground map in full colour. 		1
1995 6-8 May 1995 (None for leaflet)
Map: Diary 11.94		 "VE Celebrations
Commemorative journey planner"

Includes a standard full-colour Underground map		 1