The exhibitions explore the link between transport and the growth of modern London, its culture and society since 1800. The collection contains a wealth of heritage vehicles, posters, artworks, photographs, film and video footage, engineering drawings, uniforms, station signs and tickets.

It also shows how Harry Beck developed the design for the iconic map for the underground that has been in use since 1933 and whose format has been adopted by all major transport operators. 

Highlights include the iconic red London Routemaster bus, the world's first Underground steam train and the 'padded cell' - one of the first electric locomotive Underground trains dating back to 1890.

2013 is the 150th Anniversary of the London Underground

On 9 January 1863 the world’s first underground train pulled out of Paddington station to make the first passenger journey - 3½-miles under the streets of London from Paddington to Farringdon and into the record books.

The original Underground line was built and financed by the Metropolitan Railway, a private company which had been formed in 1854 to undertake the project to link the mainline stations at Paddington, Euston and King’s Cross with the City centre business district to the east.

Travelling on the new railway was a novelty that thousands of Londoners were eager to experience and on the first day of public service – long queues formed at every station. The line was a huge success with 26,000 passengers using the railway each day in the first six months.

Visit their webiste for information about the special events planned to commemorate this

To get there from the Americana; take the Bakerloo Line southbound from Baker Street to Charing Cross.
When you exit from the station you will be on The Strand, Covent Garden is on the northside and is signposted from there.