Google Street View is set to venture into the subterranean world of the London Underground, capturing 360-degree images of approximately 30 metro stations. Stations such as Waterloo, Kings Cross St Pancras and Green Park are slated to feature on the interactive panoramic maps, providing users with a comprehensive view of the bustling underground network.
Transport for London (TfL) sees this partnership as a valuable tool to aid commuters and tourists in planning their journeys effectively. The initiative aims to allow users to virtually navigate through key stations and identify essential facilities like toilets and help points, but particularly to help people with special accessibility needs, as well as those unfamiliar with London’s vast subway system.
“This innovative project with Google will allow our customers to use Street View to chart their way through our stations, helping them build confidence in using our network when visiting London as well as plan the best way to interchange between lines”, said Thomas Ableman, Director of Innovation and Strategy at TfL.
Introducing Street View will support people to better navigate some of the capital’s busiest stations and help us to build a better, more accessible London for all.
Seb Dance, London Deputy Mayor for Transport
“This exciting new project will give people the ability to plan their routes on the London Underground in the same way they would when walking and cycling across the city”, said Seb Dance, London’s Deputy Mayor for Transport. “Introducing Street View will support people to better navigate some of the capital’s busiest stations and help us to build a better, more accessible London for all.”
The image collection process is scheduled to take place between 10 am and 4 pm, to avoid rush hours, over the next few weeks. Posters are being placed at the concerned stations to alert travellers when imagery capture may occur. Recognizable faces will be automatically blurred by Google’s technology, ensuring privacy and compliance with data protection standards. The images are scheduled be rolled on Google Street View throughout 2024.
The full list of stations to be covered by Google Street View:
- Baker Street
- Bank/Monument
- Bond Street
- Camden Town
- Canada Water
- Canary Wharf
- Canning Town
- Cannon Street
- Custom House
- Embankment
- Euston
- Euston Square
- Farringdon
- Green Park
- Hammersmith
- Highbury and Islington
- King’s Cross St. Pancras
- Liverpool Street
- London Bridge
- Moorgate
- Old Street
- Oxford Circus
- Paddington
- South Kensington
- Stratford
- Tottenham Court Road
- Victoria
- Waterloo
- Westminster
- Whitechapel
