Underground Map Landmarks

the definitive internet guide

If you just want to collect some examples of the major designs of London Underground map, the list below is a good starting point. I've outlined the key design changes, and given some indications of the minor alterations made between major revisions. If you want to see how Underground map design has evolved, then these maps will show you just about everything. Do note that this is not a comprehensive list of changes, this would take up too much space, and I have not included minor details like service time changes or station refurbishment closures. If you nonetheless think I have missed out anything important, then do let me know. I've not included the full printing codes here - much too much for me to type in - just enough information so that each map can be unambiguously identified. If you intend to be a serious collector, you will already have purchased the standard reference work, which has all the codes detailed:

I've started from 1949, post-WW2 maps are much easier to get hold of than pre-war maps. 1949 is also a good time to start because, for the first time, the Circle Line was shown as a separate line with its own colour. Maps in green are the ones that you should be looking out for. Names are included for designers who have been known to play a significant role, but it is possible that other un-named people might also have been involved.

Wot, no hi-res illustrations? Well, I happen to know of a couple of really good books that you might think about buying, which display the maps in all their spendour ...

June 1949: Designed by Henry Beck, printed by Johnson-Riddle & Co Ltd


The Surface Lines (Metropolitan, District, Circle) are given their own colours, with the Circle Line configured as an irregular polygon. Bakerloo and Northern Line extensions are optimistically shown, but at least the Central Line extensions into Essex, also shown, are progressively achieved. The lines are rather thick and clumsy on this map.

January 1951: Designed by Henry Beck, printed by Johnson-Riddle & Co Ltd


The Northern and Bakerloo Line extensions have been abandoned. The lines on this map are much thinner, making its appearance less heavy overall.

1954: Designed by Henry Beck, printed by Johnson-Riddle & Co Ltd


Beck's last basic design, with a rectangular Circle Line, and more geographical distortion than on any other London map, before or since. The 1955 map has a grid added (with a key on the reverse) but the map itself is unchanged.

1959 (3/59 on printer code): Designed by Henry Beck, printed by Johnson-Riddle & Co Ltd


Beck's final map, South Acton has been closed, but the entire map has been redrawn with more angular curves. I'm personally dubious that this map was designed in the late 1950s, my own opinion is that it was actually a prototype for the 1954 map, pressed into service when the artwork for the earlier map was damaged or became too worn to use.

1961 (8/60 on printer code): Designed by Harold H. Hutchison, printed by Johnson-Riddle & Co Ltd


Hutchison's notorious design, no curves, just jagged zig-zags, lots of badly configured stations, and an odd choice of angle (42 degrees). Upper and lower case lettering is used for station names for the first time, plus BR interchanges are shown (square boxes). From 1961 (5/61 on printer code) Metropolitan services to Amersham ceased.

1964: Designed by Paul E. Garbutt, printed by Johnson-Riddle & Co Ltd


The Underground map is "rescued". A more curved and better laid out design is produced, with a new 'thermos flask' shape for the Circle Line. BR interchanges are shown as dotted circles. There are still a few glitches though, and I also recommend that you get hold of the 1965 map, with many minor changes (e.g., King's Cross) and with the District Line services to Hounslow withdrawn.


1968, No 1: Designed by Paul E. Garbutt, printed by Johnson-Riddle & Co Ltd


A new design, and something of a puzzle, because I have so far been unable to find reference to it in LT records. To assist in fitting the new Victoria Line, the other lines are thinned and the centre is expanded. From 1968, No 2 to 1969 (get at least one of these if you can), the Victoria Line is shown under construction, and then progressively extended from Walthamstow to Victoria.


1970 (11/69 on printer code): Designed by Paul E. Garbutt, printed by Johnson-Riddle & Co Ltd


The Victoria Line was still not entirely happy in the previous map, and so some reconfiguration is necessary so that it fits better. The new BR double-arrow symbol is used to denote BR interchanges. The Victoria Line has reached Brixton by the time the 1971 (3/71 on printer code) map is issued.


1973, No 1: Designed by David Penrose at Cook, Hammond & Kell Ltd, with input from Paul Garbutt and Tim Demuth, printed by Johnson-Riddle & Co Ltd


The eastern side of the Circle Line is opened out in readiness for the Jubilee Line (which never arrived). The Bakerloo services to Watford are now shown as part-time only. To harmonise configuration with station posters, the horizontal dimension of the map is considerably reduced. Station names are now in upper case only, necessitating a reduction in type size. From 1975, No 2 the Heathrow extension is shown, and the District Line to Richmond takes on a very curious shape, from which it does not recover until 1976, No 1. Travel Centre symbols are also added to 1975 No 2, but their station names are now shown in red, making the most important names on the network the hardest to read! Johnson Riddle go bust in 1975, and a whole host of printers have a go (1975, No 2: HP Dorey & Co Ltd; 1978, No 2 (2/78): Impress (Acton) Ltd; 1981, No 1: Colibri Press Ltd; 1982, No 3: Staples Printers St Albans Ltd) but it doesn't make any difference, print quality is still rubbish throughout this period!


1977, No 1: Designed by David Penrose at Cook, Hammond & Kell Ltd, with input from Tim Demuth, printed by Impress (Acton) Ltd


At first sight, there are not many differences apart from the addition of the North London Line (under duress), but a closer look shows that there have been many alterations, so this map could well have been a completely new drawing. For example, look at Aldgate, Acton Town and Moorgate. For 1978, No 1 the Heathrow extension is now open, and the Jubilee Line is shown as under construction, opening for the first issue of 1979, No 1 (1/79 on printer code). From 1981, No 1 the folder is expanded and advertising appears, but the map itself is unchanged and the same size as before.



1984, Reference A: Designed by Douglas Rose at FWT Studios, with input from Tim Demuth, printed by Cullum Litho Ltd


Superficially similar to the previous version, but actually a complete redesign with changes everywhere. Part time services are shown as pecked lines. The Heathrow loop is shown as under construction. The first Underground map in which no station name is hyphenated, overlaps a line or water, or needs an arrow to connect it to its station mark. Also the first Underground map to use four-colour process printing.

1985, Reference A: Designed by Douglas Rose at FWT Studios, with input from Tim Demuth, printed by Cullum Litho Ltd


No changes to the map configuration itself, but major changes in appearance owing to (1) a return to upper and lower case lettering for stations, using the 'New Johnston' typeface for the first time on the map; and (2) BR lines now coloured orange (in the 1980s around the world, transport undertakings caught an infectious debilitating disease which made them want to colour everything orange). The North London Line makes an exit, but like all good villains, it will return. The Heathrow Loop is shown as open on the 1986, No 1 issue.


1987 (6/87 on printer code): Designed by Thames Cartography, with input from Tim Demuth, printed by Cullum Litho Ltd


Similar to the previous version, but with slightly clumsy thickened lines. The first Underground map designed using computer software. DLR and Thameslink make an appearance for the first time, and a change from black lettering to corporate blue (Pantone 072) transforms the appearance of the map.

October 1988: Designed by Thames Cartography, with input from Tim Demuth, printers are anonymous from now on


The lines are thinner and less clumsy-looking, but the Central and Northern Lines have acquired several kinks. The DLR Bank extension is under construction and the Heathrow loop has been rounded off. From April 1990 (no date on map but 4/90 on printer code) BR lines have reverted to black/cased and the East London Line has acquired a new identity; orange, in readiness for an extension that might just be completed by 2010 if we are lucky.


July 1990: Designed by Peter Markley at Lovell-Johns, with input from Tim Demuth


A completely new design, with extra kinks everywhere, partly because of the addition of the Beckton DLR extension - under construction - but also so as to enable the Piccadilly Line at Acton Town to be straightened. The North London Line reappears. Overall, the impression is that the suburbs have been squashed towards the edges. The Hammersmith & City Line also gets a separate identity for the first time. In November 1991 Aldwych collides with the new 'City Thameslink' station, and is pushed to one side to give it space in January 1992.

December 1993: Designed by Peter Markley at Lovell-Johns, with input from Tim Demuth


The Beckton DLR extension is opened, and the Jubilee Line extension is shown as under construction. There are numerous minor adjustments to Central London so that it will fit in, but this design of map will never see the extension opened. In May 1994 West Ruislip acquires a 'twitch' to facilitate station name placement on the Uxbridge branch, and in January 1995 the Waterloo & City Line joins the Underground network, but Epping to Ongar and Aldwych depart.


August 1997: Designed by Alan Foale at Clockwork Studios


A completely new design, with the thinnest lines and smallest type ever. This enables Central London to be compressed, making the suburbs less squashed. Apart from this, the basic layout is the same as before. The DLR Lewisham extension is shown as under construction. In February 1998 the West Ruislip twitch is straightened, and the Jubilee Line is progressively opened from April 1999 onwards. At the same time, all BR Lines inexplicably vanish (there are some changes to the layout too), and only the North London Line reappears (in September 1999). The Jubilee Line is completed for the November 1999 issue, which also shows the DLR to Lewisham open.



May 2001: Designed by Alan Foale at Clockwork Studios


The first issue of the current design. Zones are added (disrupting the flow of station names considerably), and interchange circles are over-used to denote every conceivable interchange, not just the ones between Underground lines.

October 2001: Designed by Alan Foale at Clockwork Studios


To ease pressure on the map, the key is moved to a fourth panel, giving Wimbledon some breathing space. The key now goes to new extremes of verbosity. In August 2002, Earl's Court acquires its current fussy layout, and the DLR under-construction extension to King George V is added in April 2003, open on the February 2006 map, which has the extension to Woolwich added.


June 2006: Designed by Alan Foale at LS London Studios


The disability lobby gets its hands on the map, with misleading simplistic ill-conceived wheelchair symbols adding yet more clutter (and making the map harder to use for people with visual or cognitive impairments). Waterloo is damaged in the process. At least the wheelchair symbols on the Victoria Line add comedy value. With operational facilities only at Tottenham Hale station, all passengers can apparently do is go on a sightseeing tour of Victoria Line platforms. A tiny, unreadable credit to Henry Beck is added in September 2006. Would he have approved? I suspect not!

November 2007: Designed by Alan Foale at LS London Studios


London Overgound, a motley assortment of rather poor-quality heavy-rail services is added to the map. Their justification for being there? They are part of Ken's trainset. The lines have been clumsily added, which is also sprouting information pollution like an ugly rash. Memorably, blogger diamondgeezer describes the additional railways thus: a big tangarine octopus has grabbed hold of the old tube network.

I make that 34 maps to collect, or 21 if you want to stick to the essentials. Good luck!

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Last updated 18/12/07