London's Iconic Underground

Here at Trippa, we love London. London is our capital city. At one point it was the capital city of the world, at the centre of the world's largest empire. It is now a thriving, modern metropolis - a financial centre for the entire globe and a destination for millions of tourists each year. Visitors come from all around the world, and nearly every single one of them will already be familiar with the city - an abstract version of it anyway.

The London Underground Map is one probably the most iconic representation of London, and appears on mugs, t-shirts, and posters from Hawaii to Honk Kong.

The map is a design classic, and has won praise from artists, academics and graphic designers. It is an instantly recognisable representation of Britain's capital, a cultural icon and symbol of the colourful and multifaceted city which it serves.

However, the map isn't geographically accurate. It simplifies and morphs the city into a presentable, cool design. It displays the lines and stations in relation to each other, but the distances between them are not to scale. Have a look at a geographical map of the Tube! That isn't the London we all familiarise ourselves with before we arrive in the Big City!

The fact is that London is enormous. The abstract map makes us feel that the city is a little more ordered, compact and easy to handle. But once you step outside of your first Tube station, emerging for the first time into one of the world's most complex urban environments, you start to understand the huge sprawl that lies before you and spreads for miles in every direction.

London's Tube map gives you the confidence to go and explore without panicking at the enormity of such a task. And there really is a Tube station nearby at all times. In fact, some stations are nearly right next to each other, even on the same line. Only 260 metres separates Leicester Square and Covent Garden - a mere 20 seconds on the tube (which would cost £4.50) - but the time it takes you to walk down through the station, wait for the next train, travel and then walk up through the next stop is nearly double how long it would take to walk!

One of the world's most convenient and well-known transport system, the London Underground does effectively make the city smaller. You can get anywhere you want on the Tube, but if you saw the geographical map, you'd run scared from the complicated network of tunnels and tracks. Part of the reason the iconic map of the system is so famous is because it makes the capital seem manageable. You get all the excitement of the metropolis packaged neatly and efficiently, and it allows you to enjoy your time in the Capital of the World.

If you're still a little scared that it will all be too much for you, we're developing Trippa London to help you find your way around. We love London, and we want you to love it too. So we've been everywhere there is to go and we've selected the very best, and we've suggested them in the handy little app that will ensure you have the most enjoyable, relaxed and stylish stay in the capital of the United Kingdom. If the Tube still seems daunting, Trippa London will help you find your way around. We're still making sure it's as helpful as it can be, so keep a look out for it's release!

Our other city guide apps help you find your way around some of Europe's most amazing cities, so check out our destinations to make your holiday a little more luxurious!

Photo Credit: davidhc