Matthew Somerville, who now lives in Pimlico, created the map so that people could easily visualise the data from TfL’s API: tracking the entire network of trains’ exact whereabouts in any moment. The live tube map serves no real purpose, it’s just a fun little tool that’s quite mesmerising to watch in action.
The web developer made a similar live tube map back in 2010, where the trains were displayed on top of a geographical map of the city, but this one is overlaid onto TfL’s official tube map. It shouldn’t be trusted as 100% accurate and, like I said, it’s basically pointless. But all credit to Somerville for distracting me from my hangover for a hot minute so that I could share it with you anyway.
Or take a look at these other (mostly) useful tube maps:
The map that shows you how unaffordable London really isThe map that will show you London’s best avocado spots (it’s exactly what your life was missing)
The map that shows you where to find all of London’s weird and wonderful food trends The map that shows you how much you’re paying for extra time in bedAnd finally, the map that shows us what the tube map will probably look like in 2040