How do you keep cool on the Tube?

  1. Drink plenty of water. It is essential you carry water with you when you take the Tube, bus or train this week. ...
  2. Wear light clothing. ...
  3. Avoid Peak Travel Times. ...
  4. Carry a Fan. ...
  5. Plan to use air-conditioned routes. ...
  6. Alternatively – just avoid trains and buses altogether.




Keeping cool on the London Underground (the Tube) in 2026 requires a "strategic" approach to line selection and personal gear. The most effective method is to prioritize air-conditioned lines, which include the Elizabeth, Circle, District, Hammersmith & City, and Metropolitan lines (these use modern "S-Stock" trains). For the deep-level lines that are notoriously hot (like the Central or Northern), try to travel during "off-peak" hours when the trains are less crowded. A peer-to-peer "life-saver" in 2026 is a rechargeable neck fan or a small misting bottle. Many regular commuters also recommend carrying a thermal water bottle filled with ice, which acts as a "cold pack" against your wrists or neck during the journey. If you feel overheated, get off at the next station—many "deep" stations have natural drafts at the platform ends, and "Cool Spaces" maps are now widely available via the TfL Go app to help you find the nearest air-conditioned station or building to recover.

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Wear light clothing. Even if you think you might need to wear a jacket, when you are on the hot Tube, it's likely you'll want to take it off immediately. Heavy, dark, thick clothing will make you more likely to sweat, and hold on to the sweat your body does produce – keeping you hot and clammy for longer.

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Here are a few tips for keeping cool when using public transport when the temperatures soar.
  1. Carry water with you.
  2. Invest in a small hand-held battery fan.
  3. Dress light.
  4. If you feel unwell get off at next stop.
  5. Apply ice to pulse points.
  6. Chill your clothes.
  7. How hot weather can affect the railway.


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Under the guidelines laid out in the sheet, a rail temperature of 131 degrees requires a maximum speed of no more than 100 mph; a rail temperature of 140 degrees calls for a top speed of no more than 80 mph.

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If you're seeking a cooler tube ride, you'll want to stick to the Jubilee or Waterloo Lines. With an average of 26.9C and 25C respectively, they recorded the lowest temperatures.

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In 2010, new S-stock trains were delivered to replace the A, C and D stock trains on the subsurface Lines (Metropolitan, Circle, Hammersmith & City, and District). These have standard air-conditioning, as the subsurface tunnels are large enough to displace the exhausted hot air.

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Open windows (if it is safe to) when the air feels cooler outside than inside, for example at night, and try to get air flowing through your home. if you do go outside, cover up with suitable clothing such as an appropriate hat and sunglasses, seek shade and apply sunscreen.

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Ranked: London's worst Tube lines for delays
  • District – 244 days with delays.
  • Piccadilly – 202 days with delays.
  • Circle – 176 days with delays.
  • Central – 166 days with delays.
  • Metropolitan – 143 days with delays.
  • Bakerloo – 129 days with delays.
  • Hammersmith & City – 125 days with delays.
  • Victoria – 97 days with delays.


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Armed with a thermometer, ITV London reporter Rags Martel stepped underground to find out London's hottest tube. On board the Bakerloo line the heat rises fast, climbing from 28C to 32C by the end of a 5 minute journey. Commuters on the tube called it inhumane and like a sauna.

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Victoria The Victoria Line is teeming with bacteria, having the highest number of germs of all the Tube lines. Touching your face after coming into contact with dirty seats and handles can transfer a whole host of blemish-causing bacteria.

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Instead, air is passively released through ceiling grates and circulated when trains blast through the tunnels. (It's impossible to provide air conditioning in stations, because the system wasn't built with space for the machinery, and there are too many openings to the street.)

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