There are few places more silently choreographed than a weekday commute through London.
It’s a city full of unspoken systems—behavioural codes that every regular commuter seems to know instinctively but never actually talks about. While locals might not flinch at a 5-minute signal failure or the 7:42 being “rammed again,” tourists tend to stick out like sore thumbs simply because they don’t know the rules. Here are some things that keep the London commute moving, and the unwritten etiquette that first-timers always seem to miss.
1. Stand on the right, walk on the left.
This isn’t a suggestion—it’s the law of the escalator. If you’re standing, stay to the right so other people can march up the left like they’re late for a meeting with Keir Starmer himself. Blocking both sides will earn you sighs, eye-rolls, and the cold shoulder all in one go.
Tourists often break this rule without realising, turning escalators into traffic jams. You’ll know you’ve committed this sin when someone behind you clears their throat loudly and edges uncomfortably close.
2. Don’t talk on the Tube.
Rush hour is not the time for loud catch-ups, singalongs, or voice notes played on speaker. Most commuters are either sleep-deprived, emotionally fragile, or mentally preparing for meetings—and small talk feels like a personal attack. The Tube is sacred quiet time. Conversations, if they happen at all, are hushed. Anyone audibly enjoying themselves during the Central line at 8:15 a.m. is immediately marked as “not from here.”
3. Have your card ready before the barrier.
There’s nothing worse than being stuck behind someone at the gate who’s rummaging through every pocket like they’ve never used public transport before. Tapping in should be swift, smooth, and done without fuss. Regulars prep their contactless or Oyster card like they’re drawing a weapon in a Western. The rhythm is fast, and any hesitation gets noticed—and quietly judged.
4. Don’t stop dead at the top of an escalator.
It might seem like the perfect place to check a map, send a text, or take in your surroundings. It’s not. The people behind you are moving fast, and if you stop, there’s going to be a pile-up. If you need to reorient, step aside—literally. Move out of the flow before pulling out your phone, or risk getting shoulder-checked by someone in a suit and trainers.
5. Don’t hold the doors open.
Holding Tube doors open delays the entire line and will earn you glares from every person in the carriage. It’s not heroic—it’s annoying. The doors will close with or without your suitcase in the way. If you miss the train, just wait for the next one. It’s London. It’ll be there in two minutes—four tops. The dramatic dash rarely ends well and always disrupts more than it helps.
6. Know where you’re going before you get to the ticket hall.
Looking up at the giant map and spinning in circles is a tourist trademark. Locals move with purpose, even when they’re lost. The key is pretending you’re not. Stand still too long in the wrong spot, and you’ll get swept up or side-eyed out of the way. If you need to figure things out, move to the side or lean against a wall. The middle of the station isn’t the place for pondering life choices or trying to understand fare zones.
7. If you’re not in a hurry, don’t push.
Some tourists get flustered in the rush and end up shoulder-barging like it’s a rugby match. But real Londoners only move that fast when they have somewhere important to be, and even then, it’s done with a weird kind of grace. The commute might look chaotic, but there’s a rhythm to it. Aggressive pushing throws everything off. If you’re not late for court or a client meeting, take a breath and match the pace without causing a ripple.
8. Take your backpack off during peak hours.
There is no spatial awareness quite like a Londoner’s on a packed train. People know exactly how to contort themselves into corners while giving just enough room to breathe. A swinging backpack ruins that delicate balance. Taking it off and holding it by your feet or in front of you shows you get it. Leave it on your back and expect passive-aggressive sighs, side-eyes, and the occasional sharp elbow.
9. Let people off the train before getting on.
This should be universal, but in London, it’s sacred. The flow depends on people getting out before new ones cram in. Blocking the doors is the fastest way to cause chaos, and to hear a muttered “seriously?” from someone behind you. Step aside, wait the two seconds it takes for people to disembark, then board. It’s not a race. The train won’t leave without you if you’re paying attention.
10. Don’t make eye contact for too long.
Looking someone in the eye on the Tube for more than a second and a half is considered either flirtation or a threat. The default gaze is down at your phone, your book, or the floor. Anything else feels invasive. Tourists sometimes forget this and stare around in amazement. That’s fine—just keep it brief. Londoners are experts in pretending no one else exists at close range.
11. Keep headphones in, and the volume down.
If you want to listen to music, podcasts, or a YouTube video, by all means, but keep it to yourself. There’s nothing worse than sitting next to someone whose music leaks into the air like an unwanted soundtrack. The general rule is: if you can hear it clearly, it’s too loud. London commutes are full of noise already. Be the exception, not the added chaos.
12. Never, ever block the walking lane at a station.
Corridors in London stations are tight and fast-moving. If you stop in the middle or walk slowly with a group side by side, you’re asking for glares, and probably a shoulder brush from someone late for work. Stick to the left if you’re moving slowly. Don’t take up the entire path. The flow of a station is a living organism, and the people keeping it going can smell hesitation from a mile away.
