When it comes to directions, I am by far the worst person to ask on the CBR news desk. I routinely get lost and quite regularly go the wrong direction on the tube. Often after closing time, I am left with a sense of dread that I am now in my own Hunger Games, fighting to get home with no transport or directional awareness. However, today I can add to the chorus of celebration from my fellow Londoners, the Night Tube has finally arrived!
Officially launching today, August 19, the Night Tube will see the Central and Victoria lines running throughout the night. The central line will run a reduced service between Ealing Broadway and Loughton/Hainault, while the entire Victoria line will stay open. Although open, there is a danger for those of you who are directionally inclined as I – namely getting lost and spending 6 hours on the tube. CBR is here to help, with the best apps for those of you unsure of the blue or brown line – hopefully you won’t get lost!
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Tube Map London Underground
The officially licensed app from TfL has been a life saver for Londoners and tourists alike. Free to download, the app allows you to see the status of all the different lines and plan your route anywhere around London. You can set up notifications for different lines as well as view live departures. The interface is well designed and relatively simple for the amount of info it packs in.
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Citymapper
This may be an app for those of you who rely not just on the tube, but buses and walking, to get to your destination. This free app boasts a full offline tube map alongside the standard line statuses, departures and route planning. The app calculates the best route for you to take, using preferred transportation, with real-time routing that updates every minute. Taking into account tube travel, bus travel or walking, the app calculates the cost of a journey and how long that journey will take.
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Tube Exits
Do you live for that small thrill of the train doors stopping directly in front of you? Then this app is for you. Tube Exits boast that it can save you time and allow you to beat the crowds – it does this by giving you accurate information on which side of the carriage you will alight, info on street exits, which carriage to board and a shortest journey calculator. It claims that it can cut 10 minutes on an average journey, making this an app for those who don’t like to battle the crowds.