Let’s talk about the actual journey, because that’s where the real stories live. You’ll board at somewhere like Oxford Circus or London Bridge, and instantly you’ll feel like a sardine in a can. Don’t make eye contact with the person wedged into your armpit. Just stare at your phone and pretend you’re checking “important emails.” Everyone knows you’re just scrolling Instagram, but it’s the social contract of London transport.
One time, I saw a guy trying to eat a Gregg's sausage roll on the Jubilee line near Canning Town. The heat of the carriage had turned it into a pale, sweaty sponge. He took one bite, sighed, and put it back in his pocket. That’s the energy you need for the O2. Resignation and hope. Because when you finally step off at North Greenwich, it’s like escaping a submarine. The air is cool, the dome is huge, and you’ve forgotten your bus pass exists.
Waterloo Underground Station To The O2 Arena – WDXO
When the Train Gets Cancelled
Here’s a fun one—when you get to North Greenwich and the sign says “District line suspended.” Wait. That station doesn’t have a District line. See? Even your brain short-circuits with excitement. But seriously, if Jubilee is down—which happens more often than my diet starts on Monday—you’ll want to know about Maze Hill or Charlton stations. Those are the “emergency exits” of the O2 journey. Maze Hill is a 20-minute walk through a park that’s lovely in summer and feels like a murder mystery in winter. Charlton is a 15-minute walk past a shopping centre that sells electric scooters and disappointment.
I tried Maze Hill once. It was pouring rain. I ended up looking like a drowned otter who’d just been told the gig was cancelled. Spoiler: it wasn’t cancelled. I just looked ridiculous. The moral is: stick to North Greenwich if you value your dignity and your hair.
