Looking for something?

Tap outside or press close

InspirationPhotography

The Tube Mapper: Photographer Luke Agbaimoni's mission to document every London Underground station

A trip on the London Underground isn't just an exhilarating experience for those who occasionally visit the capital; it's the beloved backbone of the city, a system treasured by Londoners of all ages and backgrounds, for helping them to easily get around.

Written By:
Person jogging past a red and white London Underground train reflected in flood water

Yes, we might moan about it sometimes, particularly when there are delays or long queues. But it's public transport London couldn't live without. It also happens to be the inspiration for 'Tube Mapper', an ongoing photography project by Luke Agbaimoni, which has just been turned into a new book.

"The London Underground is part of our identity," he says. "A network of shared experiences and visual memories. My project captures moments of subconscious recognition and overlooked interests, showcasing images that can be seen near or at every London tube station."

Based in London, Luke is an author, photographer and designer who has an arts background with a degree in graphic design. His photography, however, was self-taught after he graduated. With a special love for dusk and night photography, he enjoys the technical challenge of capturing low light images.

Luke began his ongoing Tube Mapper project back in 2016, just as his first child was born. He has since covered just about every London Underground, Overground and DLR station in the capital – from Aldgate and Angel to Baker Street, Clapham North and White City – he's photographed them all. "I realised that the free time I used for creative photography of cityscapes at dusk was likely to disappear. So I devised a new project that would fit more comfortably around my work schedule. The Tube Mapper project was born and I started capturing moments on my commute on the London Underground," he explains.

On his website, he helpfully categorises each station and also provides collections such as Animals, where we see charming pics of dogs, cats and even birds on the transport system, and for the Wes Anderson fans amongst us, Symmetry.

Follow the Tube Mapper project on Twitter or Instagram. And if the new photobook isn't enough, you can also grab a 2021 calendar, featuring some highlights from the series.

Woman standing on London Underground platform with motion-blurred commuters and a train in the background
Symmetrical view down a London Underground escalator tunnel with fluorescent lighting, passengers standing on both sides descending into the distance in black and white
White cat sitting on the platform edge beside yellow tactile paving at a London Underground station at night, with an illuminated train in the background
Blurred motion photograph of a commuter standing on a London Underground train platform with passengers and motion streaks surrounding them
Two commuters wait on a London Underground platform as a train passes, with their reflections visible in a puddle below
Baker Street London Underground station platform with passengers waiting beneath five illuminated tunnel entrances in black and white
A red and blue London Underground train stands stationary at a platform with passengers visible through the windows, framed by the station's geometric architectural features
Two people stand in a flooded Westminster Station platform with the illuminated roundel sign and blue station nameplate visible above the wet floor
Passengers stand on a London Underground platform between two red trains with motion blur, symmetrical composition down the centre line
Symmetrical view of a London Underground station staircase with white tiled walls and black trim, leading upwards to a distant figure
Symmetrical view of a London Underground station platform with red trains on either side, central staircase, green tiled walls and red ceiling panel, with way out signs visible
Symmetrical view down a concrete Underground station stairwell with blue handrails and fluorescent ceiling lights, a lone figure visible at the top
Brick railway arch dramatically lit in green and orange, with a figure standing on the wet ground below and pink neon light reflecting in a puddle
Two trains pass each other in a dark London Underground tunnel, their red tail lights glowing against the black surroundings
Man with dreadlocks and glasses reading a publication while standing in the doorway of a red London bus
Share

Further Reading