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All the United Kingdom England London London Underground Labyrinths

London Underground Labyrinths

A labyrinth hides in plain sight at each of the city's 270 Tube stations.

London, England

Added By
Mictlān Tēcutli
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Covent Garden labyrinth.   Jack Gordon/cc by-sa 4.0
Piccadilly Circus.   Jack Gordon/cc by-sa 4.0
London Bridge.   Jack Gordon/cc by-sa 4.0
Elephant & Castle.   Jack Gordon/cc by-sa 4.0
South Kensington labyrinth.   Jack Gordon/cc by-sa 4.0
Labyrinth.   Jack Gordon/cc by-sa 4.0
Victoria Tube labyrinth.   Jack Gordon/cc by-sa 4.0
Maryleborn Station labyrinth.   Jack Gordon/cc by-sa 4.0
Kensal Green.   Jack Gordon/cc by-sa 4.0
Northfields   royhinchliffe / Atlas Obscura User
OXFORD CIRCUS   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
MOORGATE   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
ST. PAUL’S   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
Westminster Station   themilby5 / Atlas Obscura User
Earl’s Court Station   themilby5 / Atlas Obscura User
EMBANKMENT   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
EUSTON   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
GREEN PARK   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
Farringdon Station  
Temple   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
Farringdon   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
Chancery Lane   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
Blackfriars   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
Putney Bridge   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
Richmond   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
King’s Cross   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
Waterloo   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
Tottenham Court Road   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
Lambeth Labyrinth   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  MaryGold / Atlas Obscura User
Kilburn Park labyrinth.   Jack Gordon/cc by-sa 4.0
  rbenn250 / Atlas Obscura User
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About

In the 2000s, London’s government asked artist Mark Wallinger to make an art installation commemorating the Tube’s 150th anniversary. Wallinger chose to create a labyrinth for each of the city's 270 underground stations, with each labyrinth embodying a unique geometric design and meaning.

These labyrinths are often in plain view, yet they often go unnoticed by the thousands of commuters and tourists who pour through London’s subway system each day. The hidden-in-plain-sight imagery of the designs is a fitting metaphor for the labyrinthine nature of the underground transportation system itself, and for the wider city environment, which can often seem like an urban maze.

But the labyrinths are also, according to the artist, a spiritual metaphor for the daily journey commuters embark upon while traveling through the city. They also have a much broader meaning, as throughout history the labyrinth has been a symbol of the journeys of life itself.

Related Tags

Labyrinths Art Public Art Subways Underground Subterranean Sites Subterranean Transportation Infrastructure

Know Before You Go

A labyrinth can be found in every one of London's 270 underground stations, just keep your eyes peeled and you will inevitably find one hiding in plain view. When you do find one, don't get too lost in contemplating the labyrinth, as in any city, there are thieves and pickpockets that operate on the London Underground. Be mindful and aware of your surroundings. If you have an iPhone, you can download a web app "Labyrinth" to learn more about how the art was made and what it represents.

Community Contributors

Added By

Monsieur Mictlan

Edited By

Fat ron, SEANETTA, lmdani09, rbenn250...

  • Fat ron
  • SEANETTA
  • lmdani09
  • rbenn250
  • themilby5
  • edintucson
  • royhinchliffe
  • MaryGold

Published

February 14, 2019

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  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Wallinger
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Wallinger
London Underground Labyrinths
275 Pentonville Rd
London, England, N1 9NL
United Kingdom
51.5308, -0.120459
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