Background

The roundel, the symbol of London’s transport system, is mainly associated with the London Underground, the “Tube”. The roundel, consisting of a red circle with a blue bar across its center bearing the word UNDERGROUND (or other words), can be seen at almost every entrance to London Underground stations

 

, on line maps

 

, and on publications and signage of Transport for London (the body responsible for transport in the city of London)

 

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The roundel in its current form was designed by Edward Johnston in 1916, and since then it has been in continuous use and has become one of the iconic symbols of the city of London.

The roundel in the Underground
It is hard to miss the presence of the roundel on the London “Tube”. As noted, it serves as a directional sign indicating the location of a subway station

 

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, appears on station building walls , on railway maps

 

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and on individual lines. Above all, the roundel is prominently displayed on station platforms. On platforms, the station name replaces the word UNDERGROUND, allowing passengers to identify the station even while inside the train

 

. Very often, this roundel is incorporated into an artwork unique to that station

 

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and many others.
On the newest Underground line - the Elizabeth line - the color of the roundel’s circle was changed

 

, reflecting the distinctive color of this line compared to the others.

Special roundels
At times, special designs have been created for roundels. Thus, at Westminster station, the symbol is modified for various events - the following symbols were installed in 2020 to mark Pan-African Nations

 

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. In another roundel, the circle was changed into a heart shape to mark the 160th anniversary of the Underground

 

, and Pimlico station is known for its illuminated roundels

 

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On the occasion of the Let’s Do London project, a project launched in 2022 with the aim of encouraging tourism in London, the roundel in Leicester Square was changed to the one marketing the project

 

At Victoria Bus Station, a special roundel can be found, apparently designed to mark the station’s 90th anniversary

 

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