Vintage 1930s trains return to London this summer

Fancy a ride on a vintage train this summer? (Picture: London Transport Museum)

This summer, one of the London Underground’s top lines is running a 1930s tube – but you’ll have to be quick as tickets are limited.

Established in 1863, the London Underground is now one of the world’s largest metro systems and transports approximately two million people per day.

While many use it for sweaty commutes to and from work or sightseeing around the capital, your July tube rides could be given a nostalgic twist thanks to the London Transport Museum’s latest addition.

Across three days next month, the Transport Museum will allow passengers to ride on an art deco Underground train from 1938.

The art deco train first ran in 1983 (Picture: London Transport Museum)

Having undergone restoration ensuring it is fit for purpose in 2025, the heritage train will run on the Piccadilly line, which is the Underground’s fourth busiest line and second longest.

Journeys will take place from Friday, July 11, to Sunday, July 13, making it a perfect weekend activity.

The only catch is that you must be prepared to pay a little extra, as the fares aren’t the same as your average Tube ride.

Passengers must buy tickets in advance via the London Transport Museum website, and prices vary depending on the day, with set journeys scheduled.

Passengers can book tickets at varying prices (Picture: London Transport Museum)

On the Friday, the train will take passengers to and from Northfields and around the Heathrow Airport loop via Terminal 4.

Ticket prices range from £30 per adult and £20 per child in the ‘gold ticket’ range for the front carriage to £25 per adult and £15 per child in the bronze rank.

There will be four trips made that day, beginning at 10:10am and the last one leaving at 3:35pm.

Each journey will last approximately 45 to 50 minutes.

The next day, passengers will be taken on the iconic route up to Uxbridge and back, travelling through traditional Charles Holden stations.

These journeys begin slightly later at 10:45am and end at 2:40pm, lasting approximately 90 minutes each.

As for pricing, silver tickets cost £27.50 per adult and £17.50 per child, while bronze tickets are £25 for an adult and £15 for a child.

Commutes on the London Underground are very different in 2025 (Picture: Nick Edwards)

Rounding off the vintage train’s run on Sunday, it will cruise through central London via some of the city’s oldest tunnels.

This is a single journey departing from Ealing Broadway Underground station to Cockfosters.

Just two services will run that day, one at 10:35am and another at 2:35pm.

Like the first day, tickets range from £30 for a gold adult ticket to £25 for bronze.

On all three days, children under the age of three travel for free but they must sit on an adult’s lap. There also isn’t any reserved seating for any passengers on board.

In total, over 1,100 of these 1938 cars were built, and some were still being used in London until 1988.

Much like the ticketing system in place for these trips, early London Underground trains were also split into classes. Of course, that’d be a nightmare to implement now.

It isn’t often passengers get to ride the vintage trains anymore, but the opportunity does arise every once in a while. Otherwise, they can be marvelled at in museums and at depots.

Do you have a story to share?

For even more unmissable travel news, features and inspiration in your inbox each week, sign up to Metro's The Getaway newsletter.