Whilst we patiently wait (and hope) for a maximum temperature limit to be introduced for workers across the UK, we Londoners are unfortunately still required to continue as normal this week – despite the fact that the weather around us is acting quite the opposite. Yesterday, London experienced record-breakingly high temperatures, with thermometers soaring to the dizzying heights of 35.1°C in certain parts of the city. But if you are one of the capital’s courageous commuters that has still had to head underground and hop on a Tube in this hefty heatwave; please allow us to point you in the direction of all of the lines across London’s transport network that offer the sweet relief of air conditioning.
London transport aficionado, Geoff Marshall, kindly produced a handy map of all the air-conditioned lines across London a few years back. And despite it being created in 2024, the information remains pretty accurate, as far as we can tell. So, here’s what you need to know.
Which London Underground lines have air conditioning?
As the map above reveals, only 4 of the 11 London Underground lines offer air conditioning. Your best bet for keeping cool beneath the streets of the city are on the 4 ‘Sub-Surface Lines’: the District, Circle, Hammersmith & City, and Metropolitan lines. These trusty Tube lines will keep you nice and cool from Uxbridge to Upminster (although if that is your daily commute, my thoughts are well-and-truly with you).
What other London lines are air-conditioned?
The Elizabeth line and almost all trains across the 6 London Overground lines are also fully air-conditioned. London trams and the ‘Central Core’ section of the Thameslink will keep you cool on your commute, too. And one line that Geoff’s map doesn’t show is the DLR. The new fleet of trains on the DLR are fully air-conditioned. But whilst this shiny new fleet is progressively replacing the older trains on the line, not all of them have yet been replaced yet – meaning that some trains running on the DLR still do not currently offer air conditioning.
The new fleet of Piccadilly line trains is also almost ready to hit the tracks. When these new trains are officially set in motion, they will be the first ever ‘Deep Tube’ trains on the London Underground to feature air-conditioning. So, that’s something to look forward to, I suppose. In the meantime, I wish you luck, Londoners. May your coffees be iced, your fans be strong, and your Tube carriages air-conditioned.