Bethnal Green (Stop D) station

The brilliant thing about the tube is that they always put time, effort, and craftsmanship into the design, even for the most ordinary stations. Look at the clocks on the platforms of Bethnal Green tube. Instead of having numbers on the clockfaces, they have small, golden-brass roundels. Gants Hill uses a similar design, but they’re not golden. During WWII, the station was used as an air raid shelter. One night someone tripped on the stairs, triggering others around them to fall; 173 people died in the ensuing crush. Take a moment to reflect on this darker piece of London history at the beautiful memorial outside the station.