Hundreds to head Underground in underwear this Sunday, in first London No Trousers Tube Ride since pandemic

  • london
  • January 7, 2023
  • Comments Off on Hundreds to head Underground in underwear this Sunday, in first London No Trousers Tube Ride since pandemic
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All Londoners know there are some unwritten rules for riding the tube.

Don’t make eye contact or talk too loudly, keep your bag off the seat, and prepare for pas-agg stares if you eat something smelly. 

They all boil down to a certain London cultural standard: keep yourself to yourself, especially during commuting hours when everyone just wants to get there in peace. 

On Sunday however, all of that will go out the window, when hundreds board the Underground without their trousers on. 

The No Trousers Tube Ride will return to London this weekend for the first time since the pandemic.

Every year, Londoners get on the tube in their underwear to honour this bonkers stunt, which was started in New York two decades ago. 

Organised by The Stiff Upper Lip Society here in the UK, the event was cancelled for two years due to Covid restrictions, but is back with a bang for 2023.

This year will also be the ‘inaugural trouserless Tube ride’ on the newly-opened Elizabeth Line, so taking part could be a good way to go down in history – however silly the reason.

The name of the game is to get on the tube trouserless but do normal tube things, like reading a book or listening to music. 

The idea is that people board the tube in the middle of winter without wearing trousers – but with all the usual winter clothing on their top half, such as hats, scarves and gloves.

Anyone can take part. Just head to Newport Place in Chinatown (WC2H 7JR), to meet the event organisers, who will lead the gaggle to nearby stations.

The Stiff Upper Lip Society keeps quiet about the route, so heading to Chinatown is the only way to get involved. 

There are rules: no small pants, thongs or anything see-through. Commuters can only handle so much. 

Started by the NYC Improv Everywhere group in 2002 with only seven participants, the day is now marked in over 60 cities around the world.

This year’s No Trousers Tube Ride will take place at 3pm on Sunday January 8.

The event – which you can sign up to on Facebook – starts at 3pm in Chinatown opposite the Canton Restaurant.

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