London Underground: A journey through city's past and present
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London Underground: A journey through city's past and present

Updated 1817 GMT (0217 HKT) January 15, 2013
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London Underground Baker Street RoundelLondon Underground Baker Street Roundel
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Baker Street was one of the original stops on London's Underground system. The station, near the home of fictional detective Sherlock Holmes, opened in 1863. Kevin Taverner/CNN
The Underground roundel first appeared in 1908, but the design was reworked in 1917 to incorporate Edward Johnston's distinctive typeface. Kevin Taverner/CNN
The design of "Johnston's roundels" was simplified in the 1940s to reflect graphic design trends and to cut manufacturing costs amid post-War austerity. Kevin Taverner/CNN
Earl's Court has been home to generations of travelling Australians. The Tube line runs underneath the exhibition center which played host to London 2012 Olympic events. Kevin Taverner/CNN
In English, Piccadilly Circus is synonymous with traffic chaos. Several routes meet at the busy road junction above the Tube station, in the heart of London's theaterland. Kevin Taverner/CNN
Just outside Tower Hill station, a short walk from the Tower of London, you can see one of the largest remaining segments of the city's original Roman wall. Kevin Taverner/CNN
Movie fans might recognize this station, which features in the 1981 horror classic "An American Werewolf in London." The station includes mosaics by Eduardo Paolozzi. Kevin Taverner/CNN
London Underground manages 10 per cent of the city's green spaces. Wildlife such as woodpeckers, deer, sparrowhawks and bats can be spotted along the network. Kevin Taverner/CNN
Oxford Circus station is one of the busiest on the network because of the numbers of passengers heading to London's West End shopping district. Kevin Taverner/CNN
Charing Cross station used to be known as Trafalgar Square, which many regard as the center of the capital. Kevin Taverner/CNN
During the First and Second World Wars, the tunnels near Holborn Station were used to store exhibits from the nearby British Museum, and as an air-raid shelter. Kevin Taverner/CNN
For decades, music lovers have disembarked at Hammersmith in west London on their way to local venues, including the Apollo and the now-defunct Palais. Kevin Taverner/CNN
Knightsbridge is known for its upmarket boutiques and department stores, including Harrods and Harvey Nichols. Kevin Taverner/CNN
Liverpool Street is one of the busiest stations on the network, due to its location in the City of London, the capital's financial district. Kevin Taverner/CNN
The London Underground network is made up of 249 miles (402 km) of track, 270 stations, 4134 Carriages, 426 escalators and 164 lifts. Kevin Taverner/CNN
South Kensington is home to some of the capital's most popular visitor attractions, including the Natural History Museum, Science Museum and Victoria and Albert Museum. Kevin Taverner/CNN
Brixton is well known for its vibrant, multicultural and diverse communities, the bustling markets and most notably the creative energies of its residents and businesses. Kevin Taverner/CNN
Although it is named the Underground, only 45 per cent of the network runs in tunnels beneath the city. Kevin Taverner/CNN
Alight here for Sir Christopher Wren's masterpiece cathedral. Kevin Taverner/CNN
The record for the fastest time to travel to all the stations on the Underground network is 16 hours, 29 minutes, 13 seconds, set by Andy James and Steve Wilson in 2011. Kevin Taverner/CNN
Each Tube train travels 114,500 miles (184,269 km) each year. Kevin Taverner/CNN
During the 2012 Olympic Games, the London Underground had its busiest ever day with 4.4 million passengers. Kevin Taverner/CNN