London's iconic Poems on the Underground project is celebrating a remarkable 40-year milestone, having brought verses to millions of Tube passengers since its inception in 1986. Founded by American writer Judith Chernaik, this cultural initiative has transformed daily commutes into literary experiences, inspiring similar programmes in cities worldwide.
A Literary Vision for London's Transport
Judith Chernaik, an American novelist and essayist who moved to London in the 1970s, conceived the idea while reflecting on how poetry might enhance the commuting experience. "I used the subway all the time in New York," Chernaik recalled. "It was not one of my pleasurable activities." Falling "absolutely in love" with London, including its transport system, she recognised poetry as "part of the heritage of every Londoner."
Together with poet friends Gerard Benson and Cecily Herbert, Chernaik developed a plan to merge literature with public transit. The London Underground operators supported the concept, and the first poems appeared in Tube carriages in January 1986. "Somehow the idea of it worked, and here we are, 40 years on," said Chernaik, now 91 years old.
Global Poetry in Daily Journeys
The project's initial selections featured classic works by William Shakespeare, Robert Burns, W.B. Yeats, Percy Bysshe Shelley's "Ozymandias," and William Carlos Williams' famous "This is Just to Say." Over time, the repertoire expanded significantly to include international poets such as:
- Wole Soyinka
- Pablo Neruda
- Derek Walcott
- Anna Akhmatova
- Katalin Szlukovényi
The selection panel, which still includes Chernaik alongside poets George Szirtes and Imtiaz Dharker, refreshes the displayed poems three times annually. This careful curation blends contemporary works with centuries-old classics, from "Shakespeare and Sappho to poets that are really contemporary," according to Ann Gavaghan, who oversees cultural projects at Transport for London.
Bringing Poetry to Everyday Life
Nick Makoha, whose poem "BOM" (featuring Mumbai's airport code) appeared on the Underground in 2020, emphasised how the programme democratises poetry. "Poetry can often be taught as if it's this thing that you need to have high intellect, but we're normal people," Makoha explained. "Poets are normal people, writing about sometimes normal things, sometimes amazing things."
He added: "Poetry belongs to the community. It should be part of our daily lives, and the Underground is part of daily life. So, as it connects us to places, it also connects us to people. You could be sitting at Turnpike Lane Tube station, and all of a sudden I've taken you to Bombay."
A Cultural Fixture of London Transport
While London's transit network faces frequent complaints about delays, overcrowding, and cleanliness, it has long been celebrated for its artistic contributions. The Tube map is considered a design classic, and for over a century, leading artists have created posters for the system. Poems on the Underground has become a much-loved component of this cultural legacy, spawning several published collections and inspiring similar initiatives in New York, Dublin, Oslo, and Shanghai.
Ann Gavaghan highlighted the project's enduring appeal: "If you've had a hard day and you're wrapped up in your own worries and cares, being able to see something on the Underground that makes you think, that kind of shocks you out of that, is a real nice thing to have. And it could make you laugh, it could make you think. It really makes you empathize."
She concluded: "That's really powerful. And it's important to have, and that's why it's still going after 40 years." The programme continues to demonstrate how public art can transform routine journeys into moments of reflection, connection, and cultural enrichment for London's commuting millions.
