Local Poets Take Over London Tube Stations
A campaign to feature poetry on underground signs brings surprise literary moments to thousands of commuters.
2025-07-07 22:53 | By Grace Hammond
Commuters on the London Underground are finding unexpected moments of reflection, thanks to a new initiative placing poetry on display across tube stations. The campaign, titled 'Poems from the Platform,' brings verses from local poets into the daily lives of thousands.
Replacing adverts and standard service notices, the poems appear on boards, posters, and even ticket barriers. Each station features a different poem, selected by a rotating panel of curators, with new works introduced every fortnight.
The idea originated with station manager Peter Singh at Wembley Central, who began writing short verses on the staff information board during lockdown. 'People started stopping, reading, taking photos. It reminded us that words matter, especially in crowded, rushed spaces,' he said.
Transport for London embraced the idea and expanded it into a formal programme. Over 60 poets—many of them unpublished—have since contributed work, ranging from haiku to free verse, on topics like grief, urban loneliness, resilience, and joy.
One standout piece at Brixton Station reflects on the legacy of Windrush, while a humorous ode to missed buses now greets riders at Baker Street. Some poems are interactive, featuring QR codes that lead to audio readings by the authors themselves.
Riders have responded warmly. 'It’s a lovely pause in the day,' said commuter Rita Mensah. 'Instead of just staring at my phone, I get a line that makes me think or feel something real.'
The campaign also includes live readings and pop-up performances. Last Friday, spoken word artists surprised passengers on the Piccadilly Line with poems performed between stations, to applause and the occasional tear.
Schools and youth centres are now getting involved, with student-written poems soon to appear at select stations. Organisers hope the initiative will foster creative expression and make poetry feel less intimidating and more accessible.
As the programme continues to grow, plans are underway to publish an anthology of all featured works and extend the idea to bus stops and Overground platforms. In the meantime, the Underground remains a stage for verses that rise above the noise.