Tube photographer Luke Agbaimoni — aka Tube Mapper — tells us about his Favourite Stations project.
The London Underground is something quite special — one of the city's defining features and one of its biggest attractions. As the oldest underground railway in the world, it functions as the heartbeat of London.
For many people, it's also the easiest and most familiar way to travel around the city. As a result, most of us have experiences, memories and opinions connected to the Tube.
I've always been drawn to discovering what makes London Underground stations special to people since I began the Tube Mapper project. What has fascinated me most, as I've shared my images online, in my books and through my calendars, is the connection people have with stations. I regularly hear from people who tell me stories about them, some personal, some historical, some deeply emotional, and others light hearted — but all expressing why they love the Underground and, in many cases, particular stations.
Over time, that gradually led me to start the Favourite Stations project — in which I get people to show me their favourite Tube stations, and explain what they are special to them.
Central stations are generally the most popular, as they tend to be the busiest and most used. The two stations that get mentioned most often are probably Piccadilly Circus and Baker Street.
That said, people are often drawn to stations they grew up near or places where they have particularly fond or memorable experiences. Personal connections frequently matter more than the station itself.
When I ask people about their favourite station, I'm always amazed by the memories, stories and life events that emerge. Fiona, a singer and songwriter I interviewed, chose Peckham Rye station because, during a difficult period when she was homeless and working, she would practise singing in the waiting room before teaching lessons. The acoustics made it a perfect place to rehearse.
TV presenter and interior designer Anna Campbell-Jones chose Barons Court because, in the 1990s, there was a barber shop outside that was one of the few places willing to cut women's hair short. It also became a popular meeting point for her and her friends.
I also enjoyed stand-up comedian Shalaka Kurup's simple reason for choosing Finsbury Park: the ease of transferring between the Piccadilly and Victoria lines in the same direction via a straightforward platform passageway.
One of my favourite photographs is of Nay, a London Underground train driver, at Bow Road station.
She grew up in a flat above the District line and remembers feeling and hearing the rumble of trains beneath her home as a child. It was wonderful walking through Bow Road station with her and hearing her describe the experience of driving a District line train for the first time and passing underneath the very flat where she grew up.
I get asked about my favourite station all the time, and my answer usually surprises people: Bank/Monument.
For those unfamiliar with it, Bank is a giant labyrinth that fills many Londoners and commuters with dread as they navigate its seemingly endless corridors and lengthy interchanges. It's a station many people avoid if they can.
For me, though, it's absolutely fascinating.
Monument station first opened on 6 October 1884 under the name Eastcheap, and the wider Bank/Monument complex contains sections from many different periods. Walking through it feels a bit like exploring a museum of London Underground design, showcasing well over a century of architectural and engineering history.
I also find it amusing that the station has 16 marked entrances.
Am I covering all 272 stations in this project? Not necessarily, but you never know. The aim is simply to collect as many interesting stories as possible.
Check out more photos and videos from the Favourite Stations project, on Tube Mapper's Instagram.
