Mapping the Tube: 1863-2023
The London Underground map: evolution of a design icon
The Map House presents the new exhibition Mapping the Tube: 1863-2023 exploring the evolution of London’s Tube system and the iconic London Underground map over 160 years. The exhibition offers a rare opportunity to see and purchase hand-drawn and annotated manuscripts by Harry Beck on the 50th anniversary of his death. Beck's 1933 pocket map influenced the design of transport maps worldwide, and is an instantly recognisable design icon.
The exhibition will include the most significant collection of Beck manuscripts ever offered for sale, some gifted by Beck to his friend and biographer Ken Garland. Highlights include: a one-of-a-kind draft copy of Harry Beck’s first Underground map, annotated by Beck and his predecessor Fred Stingemore, which highlights some of the tricky design questions he had to overcome, such as whether to use the official name of 'Willesden Green (New Station)' or stick with a simplified 'Willesden Junction'; the resulting exceedingly rare 1st Edition Underground poster map (1933), of which only 5 copies of the original 2,000 are known; and a unique, unfinished sketch from 1950 drawn in coloured pencil showing a proposed new layout for the District Line branch to Richmond.
The exhibition is free and will be open to the public during The Map House's regular opening hours:
Monday to Friday - 10:30am to 6pm
Saturday - 10:30am to 5pm
Follow us on instagram @themaphouse for exclusive previews of the exhibition throughout September and October.
