Introduction
The Bakerloo isn’t just another Tube line — it’s a living piece of London’s story. Clunky, brown, and full of character, it’s been carrying millions since 1906, rumbling through tunnels lined with those unmistakable red Edwardian tiles. Some call it outdated — others call it iconic. With a planned extension to Lewisham on the horizon, the Bakerloo’s story is far from over. Let’s take a look at how this humble line became one of London’s most enduring classics.
Construction and Early Days
Construction began in 1898, and by 1906, London had a new marvel beneath its streets — the Baker Street & Waterloo Railway (BS&WR). The line originally ran from Baker Street to Lambeth North and was extended later that same year to Elephant & Castle, its southern terminus to this day.
The name “Bakerloo” was actually coined by a newspaper as a joke — a mash-up of “Baker” and “Waterloo.” But Londoners loved it, and the nickname quickly stuck.
The Bakerloo was also one of London’s first deep-level, fully electric railways. And at a time when gas lamps still lit the streets and horse carriages clattered above ground, an electric train running under the city must have felt like something from the future.
Expansion and Evolution
In 1915, the Bakerloo line was extended northwards to Queen’s Park and later to Harrow & Wealdstone. For a while, it even ran all the way to Watford Junction. The line expanded again when it absorbed a branch running from Baker Street to Stanmore (part of the Metropolitan line) — meaning, yes, the Bakerloo once split into two separate branches, much like the Northern line today.
Below: the Bakerloo line (top of image) dividing into two branches after Baker Street.
The Stanmore branch remained part of the Bakerloo until 1979, when it was handed over to the brand-new Jubilee Line. This can be seen at the top of the image below:
1980 to Present
When the Jubilee absorbed the Stanmore branch and services to Watford Junction ended in 1982, it marked the last major structural change to the Bakerloo Line. Since then, it’s remained largely the same — a reliable, if slightly rattly, link between the northwest suburbs and central London.
Despite its age, the line continues to serve over 100 million passengers a year. And with TfL’s planned extension to Lewisham, the Bakerloo could soon be entering a new chapter in its long and storied life. Take a look at the old map and then the 2025 map below, spot anything different?:
Bakerloo Line 2025
If you compare a 1970s Tube map with today’s, you might spot a curious change around Charing Cross. On older maps, the stations following Piccadilly Circus were Trafalgar Square and Charing Cross, but in the 2025 map, it’s Charing Cross followed by Embankment.
Here’s why: originally, Charing Cross was actually two separate stations — Trafalgar Square on the Bakerloo and Strand on the Northern line. These were later merged to form the current Charing Cross station. The old Bakerloo platforms were renamed Embankment.
It’s one of those small quirks that remind you how often the Underground has reshaped itself — layer upon layer, like the city it serves. And with the long-delayed Lewisham extension still on the table, the Bakerloo might soon evolve once again. Planned extensions:
Fun Facts
Its trains are ancient — literally.
The Bakerloo still runs 1972-stock trains, making them over 50 years old — the oldest in passenger service anywhere in the UK.
David Bowie wrote a song about it.
His 1969 track “The London Boys” references riding the Bakerloo on a night out in Soho.
Sherlock Holmes would’ve used it.
The line’s northern terminus, Baker Street, was right next to 221B — making it Holmes’ likely Tube of choice.
The original trains had first- and second-class carriages.
Just like mainline railways, early Bakerloo trains were divided by class — until the Underground became fully democratic.
“Bakerloo” was born as a joke.
Before that nickname caught on, all the lines had dull, technical names. “Bakerloo” paved the way for more creative names like the Piccadilly and Northern lines.
It was once London’s most fashionable line.
In its early days, the Bakerloo carried theatre-goers, shoppers, and socialites between the West End’s bright lights and the heart of the city.
Phantom station!
The closed Down Street station (between Green Park and Hyde Park Corner) was later used as Winston Churchill’s wartime bunker.
Conclusion
There’s something beautifully human about the Bakerloo Line. It’s not the fastest, nor the newest, but it carries the kind of character only time can build. From the deep red tiles of its Edwardian stations to the art deco details of its later ones, every stop feels like a piece of London’s living history.
And maybe that’s what makes it special — a reminder that progress doesn’t always mean replacing the old, but carrying it forward into something new.
