London Underground TikTok video guide resurfaces

British commuters were left in hysterics after a video resurfaced of a comedian explaining London’s underground system to American visitors.

The video, posted to TikTok, walked the average tourist through the subway in the capital city and explained the network.

Narrated by a comedian using the username @PhilC84, the clip jokes about how the late-night subway serves to frustrate black cab drivers and that some underground stations use fans to cool the platforms, often to no avail.

Several times in the clip, he pointed out that passengers should stand on the right hand side of escalators when traveling through the station.

After the video was posted, Londoners and people who have visited the capital joked that they could relate to many of the points Phil was making.

At the beginning of the video, Phil says, “Here are some hands-on trips on getting around on our subway, or as they call it, Subway (give me strength).”

And he adds: ‘For God’s sake, stand to the right of the escalator. The left is for walking. If you mess up this perfect system, any idea you have of British courtesy will be quickly forgotten.

For anyone who might have difficulty navigating the London Underground network, Phil puts their minds at ease by explaining that the tube map helps you understand where you need to go.

However, it says: “Note that it is not geographically accurate: it was designed to be easy to read.”

TikTok user @PhilC84 posted a video on the platform teaching American tourists how to navigate the London Underground.

Phil joked that one of the most important rules to follow on the London Underground is to be very quiet while traveling.

He then posts a photo of the geographically accurate subway map before saying, “Yeah, it’s just as confusing for us as it is for you.”

Phil then goes on to explain the reduced-service night tube that runs on weekends, joking that it was “set up to scare and anger black cab drivers”.

He then jokingly adds that the Mayor of London “realized that this is all black cab drivers are.”

Next, he explains the ventilation (or lack thereof) in tube stations. He says, “There’s no air conditioning, so it can get incredibly hot in the subway.”

He then posts pictures of huge fans working in subway stations, which he jokes are to “move hot air.”

The most important rule Phil addresses is asking people to be quiet on the subway “unless it’s late at night.”

He jokes: ‘We are simple people who like to travel in silence. It’s not that we don’t want to talk or listen to you; We don’t want to talk or listen to anyone. So please respect us as a city.

After the video was posted in 2021, people left comments joking about their own experiences on the London Underground and adding their own tips.

One person quipped: ‘And don’t be surprised when you have to walk all over London trying to find your way out of Bank station!’

Along the same lines, another said: “Avoid Bank and Green Park unless you also plan to raise money through a sponsored walk.”

One Londoner, who very much agrees with Phil’s advice, added: ‘Keep your headphones on and keep your head down. The only acceptable conversation is to say ‘I’m sorry’ 20 times when you meet people.’