Beyond its engineering achievements and ghostly lore, the London Underground is rich in myths, curious trivia, and surprising bits of information that even seasoned commuters might not know.

Myths & Legends:

• The Black Nun of Bank Station: While widely reported, there’s no historical evidence confirming Sarah Whitehead (the alleged nun) haunts Bank Station.
• Ghosts at Covent Garden: Many claim to sense the spirit of William Terriss, but again, conclusive proof remains elusive.
• Phantom Trains & Screaming Ghosts: Tales swirl of ghost trains pulling into South Kensington, or anguished cries in Farringdon. Some may come from other sources (train noises, drafts), but the stories endure.

Strange But True Facts:

• The shortest ride in the Tube system is between Leicester Square and Covent Garden, only about 260–300m, taking a mere 20 seconds. It is quicker to walk between than go into the station and get the tube.
• Chesham to Chalfont & Latimer on the Metropolitan Line is among the longest distances between two adjacent stations: around 6.3 km.
• A single Tube train travels around 114,500 miles per year, that’s nearly five times around the world.

Ridiculous and Amusing Oddities:

• Plastic owls: As mentioned earlier, some stations (like Upminster and Wembley Park) use fake owls to scare away pigeons.
• Curved station platforms: The most famous of which is found at Bank station, where the Central line platforms curve to avoid the Bank of England vaults. The curve causes a gap between the straight sides of the train and the platform, necessitating the warning “mind the gap”. 
• Hidden doors: At Westminster, there’s a revolving door hidden in the station that leads to Portcullis House, and further, to a tunnel into the Houses of Parliament.
• Highgate station quirk: The platform is longer than the trains, leaving a section visibly empty, a curious relic of older planning.

Myths Around Suicides and Infrastructure:

• Anti-suicide pits: The presence of these pits were originally for drainage, but can reduce the number and severity of injuries because a person can fall into it.
  • Contact the Samaritans on 116 123 (UK and Ireland, free to call, 24/7) or visit their website for confidential emotional support.
• There is a secret royal entrance: A myth persists that the Royal Family has a private entrance to the Victoria line at Buckingham Palace for emergencies. 
• Driverless trains are imminent: While driverless technology exists (The DLR), it’s not feasible for the entire current Underground network. 
• The Bakerloo line was just for the rich: It’s a myth that the Bakerloo line was built purely to serve wealthy commuters going to Lords Cricket Ground.
• Unique species of mosquito: It’s a myth that the London Underground has a unique species of mosquito. While there are mosquitoes in the Underground, they are the same species as those above ground, though they have adapted to the environment.
• Penalty fares were introduced in 1994 to clamp down on fare evasion, marking a significant cultural and operational shift. (This ties back to the history and regulation of fares.)

Quirky Naming & Trivia:

• According to some sources, Balham is the only Tube station whose name contains none of the letters in the word “underground.”
• There is a pub crawl around the tube, specifically the Circle Line, with 27 stops it is a test of endurance. Circle Line Pub Crawl
• There’s something called the “Tube challenge”, where enthusiasts try to visit every station in one day. On labyrinth-like artworks in stations, a number marks the station order for this challenge, old maps had 272 stations (before some extensions).

The London Underground isn’t just historic, it’s weird, whimsical, and full of surprises. Whether you’re intrigued by ghost stories, fascinated by architecture, or just curious about how a train can travel almost around the world in a year, there’s a Tube factoid to captivate you.