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Introduction

Read about all of London’s modes of transport from riverboats in the 1800s to Tube trains, buses, bicycles and even cable cars of today

Stories

Our Metropolitan Railway coach dates from 1900. Read more about one of a group of coaches designed to be hauled by steam locomotives on the Metropolitan Railway.

Metropolitan Railway Bogie Stock coach No 400, 1900

Our West Ham Corporation electric tram dates from 1910. Learn how electric trams operated in London from the early 1900s to the 1950s.

West Ham Corporation Tramways Class WH double deck electric tram

Our Leyland X2 type bus was one of the ‘first generation’ of motorbuses to run on London’s streets. Learn more about one of the earliest surviving motorbuses in the country.

Leyland X2 double deck bus registration LN7270, 1908

As well as the red bus, the other iconic vehicle of London’s streets is the black cab. Read a short history of the Carbodies FX4S Plus taxi.

Road vehicle. Carbodies FX4S Plus taxi, registration E272 MYL, 1988

London’s public transport system is known the world over. Learn how and why posters were first commissioned by the Underground.

Harold Hutchison and London Transport Public Relations committee meeting by Colin Tait, 20 Jan 1950

A look back on the occasions when King Charles visited and travelled on London’s transport network.

Prince Charles in the cab of a Jubilee line train on the official opening, by LT Advertising and Publicity, 1979

A visual tour through the changes in ticketing and fare collection on London's public transport since the nineteenth century.

Contract ticket issued by LGOC in prepaid booklet form for a 6d bus fare, 1860s

The John Hampden was one of 20 locomotives built for the Metropolitan Railway Learn about the loco built for service between the City and Metro-land.

Metropolitan Railway Electric Locomotive No 5 'John Hampden' circa 1973

The Elizabeth line, originally known as Crossrail, opened in May 2022. Read more about ten of its brand new stations.

Elizabeth line booking hall, Farringdon Bond Street station, by Crossrail, March 2021

This locomotive and coach are the only surviving vehicles from the first electric underground railway in the world. Read more about the the beginning of the London Tube system.

City and South London Railway loco, LTM exhibition Tube Centenary, 1990

Learn more about how during its heyday, London had the largest tram and trolleybus system in the world.

Three-quarter front view of LCC cable car no 928, 1900

Discover the quirky hidden history of three former stations that formed the most remote and easterly portion of the London Underground network.

Steam train departing from Blake Hall station on the Epping - Ongar section of the Central line by Topical Press, 8 Apr 1953

Learn more about the Elizabeth line, London’s first accessible railway and the result of the biggest infrastructure project in a generation.

The Queen officially opens the Elizabeth line at Paddington station, 17 May 2022

Discover the hidden history of a station that was once part of London’s very first section of deep-level tube in 1890, but was abandoned less than ten years later.

A wash drawing of the interior of King William Street station, City & South London Railway, 1890

Since 1933, the Lost Property Office has tried to reunite passengers with lost belongings - including thousands of umbrellas and even a kitchen sink. Find out more about this fascinating part of TfL's history.

Digital image of storage at TfL Lost Property Office, by Stelina Kokarida, 2019

Since 1932, Victoria Coach Station has been a busy hub of coach travel in and out of the Capital. Learn more about its history here.

Exterior of Victoria Coach Station with National Express coach by Ian Bell, 2006

The Stephenson horse tram in our collection was built in the USA. Read more about tramways and Stephenson's who were considered the most experienced tramcar builders in the world.

London Tramways Company double deck horse tram No 284, built by John Stephenson & Co New York, 1882

The RT type bus formed London’s largest ever standardised bus fleet. Learn more about the bus which served London for 40 years.

AEC RT-type double deck motor bus bonnet No RT4712, 1954

Our Metropolitan Railway steam locomotive dates from 1866. Read more about the only surviving steam locomotive from the early years of the world’s first Underground.

Metropolitan Railway A class 4-4-0T steam locomotive No. 23, 1866

From 'safety bicycles' in the late 1800s to the familiar red Santander cycles on the roads today today, discover the history of cycling in London

TfL Cycle Hire docking station at the Olympic Park, 2016

Other stories

Browse stories by category

From the logo to the map and posters to moquette, London’s transport design is known across the world. Discover the stories behind them here.

Examples of iconic London Transport design

Stories about the marvels of engineering that have kept Londoners moving - from buses and trains to escalators and ticket machines.

A model showing workers building the first Underground tunnels

Discover the fascinating stories of the people behind London’s transport – including directors, drivers, canteen workers, architects and designers.

Black and white photo of a group of women stood in front of an early motor bus

London’s transport played an extraordinary part in both world wars. Find out more about the efforts of staff at home and overseas.

A line of buses carrying World War 1 troops