Donate
Lifestyle

What the London Tube looks like past midnight

The World
This boisterous group jumped out at Oxford Circus. They walked toward me and started acting up for the cameras as they saw me taking pictures.

(2:00 a.m.) "This boisterous group jumped out at Oxford Circus," says photographer Orlando Gili. "They walked toward me and started acting up for the cameras as they saw me taking pictures."

Orlando Gili/PRI

Something unusual happened on London on Friday night. The Tube — officially the London Underground — opened up two of its lines for 24-hour service.

Since its creation in the 19th century, the Tube has never been a 24-hour service. Most lines close around midnight.

That's left generations of Londoners ending their evenings in a mad dash — like Cinderella — to make it on to the last Tube heading home.

Documentary photographers Orlando Gili and Joseph Fox and spent Friday night riding the Tube, capturing the extended-hours mood. Here's what they saw.

It was quiet down the labyrinth like corridors of Oxford Circus in the early hours until the sound of giggling girls rang down from the escalators. Immediately heading to the foot of the stairwell as well as a lone cameraman we simultaneously captured thi
(1:41 a.m.) It was quiet down the labyrinth like corridors of Oxford Circus in the early hours until the sound of giggles rang down from the escalators. Immediately heading to the foot of the stairwell, we captured this moment. Orlando Gili/PRI
By 2 a.m. the central line trains were a hot place to be. Subsequently it meant that people were lulled into taking a nap on their way home. Surprisingly the tube didn't just cater for the party goers, it was also used by city folk on their way back from
(2:30 a.m.) By 2:30 a.m., the Central Line trains were a hot place to be. After that, it was naptime for some. Beyond the party people were city folk back from working late. Joseph Fox/PRI
Only 36 minutes into the first ever night service on the Central Line and some revellers were finding it all too exciting. In this image a man gazes at his phone while his friend is sick into a garbage liner pinched from the platform.
(12:36 a.m.) Only 36 minutes into the first ever night service on the Central Line and some revellers were finding it all too exciting. In this image a man gazes at his phone while his friend is sick into a garbage liner pinched from the platform.Joseph Fox/PRI
These two had just been on a night out in the West End and were on the way home. Moments before taking their portrait a mouse darted out from the bench behind me causing a great fright to the ladies. We changed angle and they momentarily relaxed before ca
(3:14 a.m.) These two had just been on a night out in the West End and were on the way home. Moments before taking their portrait, a mouse darted out from the bench, causing a great fright. Their conclusion: Next time, Uber. Orlando Gili/PRI
I approached this group of rowdy punks on the Victoria line train as it headed under the Thames toward north London. They were more than happy to act up toward the camera. They were on the way home after a big night out in south London. Drinking on the Tu
(4:29 a.m.) "I approached this group of rowdy punks on the Victoria Line train as it headed under the Thames toward north London," Gili says. "They were more than happy to act up toward the camera. They were on the way home after a big night out in south London. Drinking on the Tube has been officially banned, but that hasn't stopped drunken antics from occurring."Orlando Gili/PRI
This Catalan couple had been out clubbing in the south London hotspot Brixton. It was 4 a.m. and they were heading back across the river to sleep. It can take a while to travel across London but the Victoria line quickly links the fashionable areas of Bri
(2:57 a.m.) This Catalan couple had been out clubbing in Brixton. It was 3 a.m., and they were heading back across the river to sleep. It can take a while to travel across London but the Victoria line quickly links the fashionable areas of Brixton, the final station on the line in the south, and Walthamstow, the last station in the north. Orlando Gili/PRI
As the night wore on the time for dancing shoes came and went. This woman clearly felt at ease as she rode the Central Line west in the direction of White City.
(3:14 a.m.) As the night wore on the time for dancing shoes came and went. This woman clearly felt at ease as she rode the Central Line west in the direction of White City.Joseph Fox/PRI
A passenger headed east takes a few moments to gather his thoughts while waiting for the next train to Hainault. During the night service trains ran at an average of 14 minute intervals, not the usual 3-4 minutes.
(4:09 a.m.) A passenger headed east takes a few moments to gather his thoughts while waiting for the next train to Hainault. During the night service trains ran at an average of 14 minute intervals, not the usual 3-4 minutes.Joseph Fox/PRI
Bond street is all but deserted apart from a few stragglers who just manage to board the final night Tube of the morning. Usual service resumed at 5:40 a.m.
(4:45 a.m.) Bond street is all but deserted apart from a few stragglers who just manage to board the final night Tube of the morning. Usual service resumed at 5:40 a.m.Joseph Fox/PRI

Something unusual happened on London on Friday night. The Tube — officially the London Underground — opened up two of its lines for 24-hour service.

Since its creation in the 19th century, the Tube has never been a 24-hour service. Most lines close around midnight.

That's left generations of Londoners ending their evenings in a mad dash — like Cinderella — to make it on to the last Tube heading home.

Documentary photographers Orlando Gili and Joseph Fox and spent Friday night riding the Tube, capturing the extended-hours mood. Here's what they saw.

It was quiet down the labyrinth like corridors of Oxford Circus in the early hours until the sound of giggling girls rang down from the escalators. Immediately heading to the foot of the stairwell as well as a lone cameraman we simultaneously captured thi
(1:41 a.m.) It was quiet down the labyrinth like corridors of Oxford Circus in the early hours until the sound of giggles rang down from the escalators. Immediately heading to the foot of the stairwell, we captured this moment. Orlando Gili/PRI
By 2 a.m. the central line trains were a hot place to be. Subsequently it meant that people were lulled into taking a nap on their way home. Surprisingly the tube didn't just cater for the party goers, it was also used by city folk on their way back from
(2:30 a.m.) By 2:30 a.m., the Central Line trains were a hot place to be. After that, it was naptime for some. Beyond the party people were city folk back from working late. Joseph Fox/PRI
Only 36 minutes into the first ever night service on the Central Line and some revellers were finding it all too exciting. In this image a man gazes at his phone while his friend is sick into a garbage liner pinched from the platform.
(12:36 a.m.) Only 36 minutes into the first ever night service on the Central Line and some revellers were finding it all too exciting. In this image a man gazes at his phone while his friend is sick into a garbage liner pinched from the platform.Joseph Fox/PRI
These two had just been on a night out in the West End and were on the way home. Moments before taking their portrait a mouse darted out from the bench behind me causing a great fright to the ladies. We changed angle and they momentarily relaxed before ca
(3:14 a.m.) These two had just been on a night out in the West End and were on the way home. Moments before taking their portrait, a mouse darted out from the bench, causing a great fright. Their conclusion: Next time, Uber. Orlando Gili/PRI

This Catalan couple had been out clubbing in the south London hotspot Brixton. It was 4 a.m. and they were heading back across the river to sleep. It can take a while to travel across London but the Victoria line quickly links the fashionable areas of Bri
(2:57 a.m.) This Catalan couple had been out clubbing in Brixton. It was 3 a.m., and they were heading back across the river to sleep. It can take a while to travel across London but the Victoria line quickly links the fashionable areas of Brixton, the final station on the line in the south, and Walthamstow, the last station in the north. Orlando Gili/PRI
As the night wore on the time for dancing shoes came and went. This woman clearly felt at ease as she rode the Central Line west in the direction of White City.
(3:14 a.m.) As the night wore on the time for dancing shoes came and went. This woman clearly felt at ease as she rode the Central Line west in the direction of White City.Joseph Fox/PRI
A passenger headed east takes a few moments to gather his thoughts while waiting for the next train to Hainault. During the night service trains ran at an average of 14 minute intervals, not the usual 3-4 minutes.
(4:09 a.m.) A passenger headed east takes a few moments to gather his thoughts while waiting for the next train to Hainault. During the night service trains ran at an average of 14 minute intervals, not the usual 3-4 minutes.Joseph Fox/PRI
Bond street is all but deserted apart from a few stragglers who just manage to board the final night Tube of the morning. Usual service resumed at 5:40 a.m.
(4:45 a.m.) Bond street is all but deserted apart from a few stragglers who just manage to board the final night Tube of the morning. Usual service resumed at 5:40 a.m.Joseph Fox/PRI
Less than .05% of listeners will donate. Can we count on you?

Our coverage reaches millions each week, but only a small fraction of listeners contribute to sustain our program. We still need 224 more people to donate $100 or $10/monthly to unlock our $67,000 match. Will you help us get there today?