Here’s where it gets fun. The UK actually has four major underground metro systems. Yes, four! Most people only know one, but the others are just as cool in their own way.
Besides London, we’ve got the Glasgow Subway, the Tyne and Wear Metro in Newcastle, and the Merseyrail system in Liverpool. Each one has a unique personality, like a quirky family member.
Glasgow: The Tiny Loop
The Glasgow Subway opened in 1896, making it the third-oldest underground system in the world after London and Budapest. It’s tiny compared to London – just one loop with 15 stations. You can ride the whole thing in about 24 minutes!
A journey through the history of London’s underground system, one of
Locals lovingly call it the “Clockwork Orange” because the trains were originally that bright orange color. It’s like a rollercoaster for your daily commute, but without the loops and screams.
Newcastle & Liverpool: The Hybrids
The Tyne and Wear Metro is part subway, part train. It goes underground in the city center, then pops up above ground to zip through the countryside. It opened in 1980, so it feels much more modern than the old Tube stations.
Merseyrail in Liverpool is similar—it’s not fully underground, but it has deep tunnels under the city. The coolest part? Some of its stations were originally train stations from the 1800s, so you feel like a time traveler when you step inside.
