The Central Line has been named the hottest London Underground line, according to new research from Currys. The survey found that 37% of commuters voted it the most uncomfortably hot, followed by the Northern Line at 23% and the Victoria Line at 22%. The Piccadilly and Bakerloo lines rounded out the top five, with 17% and 16% respectively.
Sauna Installation Highlights Tube Heat
To illustrate the extreme conditions, Currys installed a sauna inside an out-of-service Tube carriage at the Walthamstow Pump House Museum. The installation aimed to show that the heat on the Underground can rival that of a steam room, with subterranean temperatures regularly exceeding 30°C.
The research revealed that 80% of commuters find the temperature on the Underground unbearable, while 76% said it was more uncomfortable than sitting in a hot sauna. Additionally, 67% worry about arriving at work visibly sweaty.
Commuters Speak Out
Julia Gater, senior buyer at Currys, commented: "Anyone who has travelled on the Tube during a heatwave knows the feeling. The moment the doors close, it can feel like stepping into a sauna." She added: "When we discovered that three in four Londoners think travelling on the Tube without air conditioning is even more uncomfortable than sitting in a hot sauna, we wanted to bring that comparison to life."
Cooling Solutions at Home
While the Tube remains hot, Currys offers a range of products for home wellness, including portable steam saunas, infrared sauna blankets, facial saunas, and cooling devices. Gater noted: "While we can't cool down the Central Line, we can help people create moments of relaxation and recovery at home."
Top Five Hottest Tube Lines
- Central Line – 37%
- Northern Line – 23%
- Victoria Line – 22%
- Piccadilly Line – 17%
- Bakerloo Line – 16%
