I still remember my first solo visit to London when I was fifteen years old and my wide-eyed excitement at navigating the Tube all on my own for the first time. Now being older and having spent time living and working in London I’ve spent many a morning squashed in next to commuters on the trains, but I often close my eyes and think back to the times when I looked at the Tube through rose-tinted glasses and saw nothing but charm in the experience. That’s why I was excited to blog about original London Underground luggage racks that had been salvaged from a decommissioned Metropolitan line train and fashioned as shelves for homes in January last year. They were a big hit and I’m pleased to learn that as part of the on-going year of celebrations commemorating 150 years of the London Underground (yes, 150 years – amazing), the London Transport Museum are set to launch a collection of home and fashion accessories based around each of the Tube line colours. As well as the the luggage racks (now powder-coated in an array of Tube line hues) there are also metal storage trunks, LED desk lamps, furniture by Anthony Hartley and eco-friendly leather handbags to be found in the new collection. I like the idea of stacking a few of the metal storage trunks in a pile so that they can be fashioned as a side table. Being in a relatively small apartment it would be great to have the dual functionality of a side table that also offers plenty of storage. I’d love to know which pieces and colours appeal best to you? Here’s a list of which line corresponds to which colour:
Blue – Piccadilly Line
Sky Blue – Victoria Line
Mint Green – Waterloo & City Line
Red – Central Line
Orange – East London
Yellow – Circle Line
Pink – Hammersmith & City Line
Purple – Metropolitan Line
Green – District Line
Silver/Grey – Jubilee Line
Black – Northern Line
Brown/Bronze – Bakerloo Line
Gold – to celebrate 150 years of the Underground
White – for the map background
// Photography by London Transport Museum | Styling by Poppy Norton
13 Comments
Wow, what a wonderful array of colours and so fun. I think your idea of stacking some of the storage trunks is a great, it would be fab for a childs bedroom – funky colours and like you say – a great storage solution. Vibrant fun furniture is great, injecting immediate colour and style and brightening up a space – goodbye dreary days!
It’s so hard to choose …. could I have all? 😉
Serena
@Serena – Go for it!
The luggage is amazing!! The colours are so vibrant!!
Such a brilliant concept, WOW!
BRIGHT! I want everything
@Elba – You and me both!
I want the gold luggage rack.
Have a nice weekend too! hx
Personally I’m struck by the pale pink and pale blue. I think one was Victoria and the other Hammersmith and City. I used to travel primarily on the District, Circle and Central lines when I lived in Whitechapel and Bow but they’re a little too bright for my tastes these days,
Jo xxx
These are amazing, what a brilliant idea. I seriously need some of those suitcases, am thinking stacked to be used as storage would look amazing
great post here matey, i used to live close to the northern line but i’m not much for the use of black unless it’s with white or brown. cracking use of the luggage racks, giving them some more years of life,. i’ve heard some great stuff about the transport museum, sounds like they have some top stuff going on of late. it’s in covent garden right? I need to visit.
Hi. Where can I buy the luggage rack. I am from Denmark but saw them in Covent Garden last week.
@Linda – They used to be sold in the London Transport Museum Shop. Best to try there – good luck!