Jubilee line Treasure Hunt organized by Transport for London
In my previous article I wrote about a game within an underground network. Since Transport for London (TfL) introduced the naming of each Overground lines, I asked myself why they didn’t introduce the similar game to enhance understanding of both local residents and tourists about the transport as well as the history and culture in London as it would be fun. Before I showed up my opinion on the web, TfL has already made one, although it was about commemorating 25 years of Jubilee line extension.
TfL released the related information a few days ago that they would organise the treasure hunt on the same Saturday (10:00—15:00, 1st February 2025) on Facebook with the link from their website (text only without images like what their tote bag and clue pack would be). They just provided a brief guidance that participants went to Stratford station to get the pack and finished at Bermondsey station.
The clue pack is a handout with 14 pages including detailed information about the stations and questions participants would need to solve. It’s also a free ticket so we can exit the stations and continue our journeys again without paying extra costs. Station staff usually saw the big “ticket” (as we were carrying on the go) and allowed you to pass the ticket barriers without asking.
What if we couldn’t get the answer? The staff were happy to provide hints.
Even though TfL didn’t do a lot of marketing except website shared on Facebook, I could see at least ten persons with some friends and family talking part at the same time. I believe TfL will know if they can organise similar games more in the future.
My clue pack
As not every station provided pens, one of the staff suggested me write the answers on my phone. As usual I did on Apple Notes.
After completing the answers in each station, the staff checked if they were correct and put the "completed" stamp on the clue pack.
Highlights of stations
From Stratford to Canary Wharf
The artwork of Declare of Independence, Stratford station
The benches mentioned in the clue pack outside the entrance of the station which was open last year (2024), Stratford station
Westbound platform, West Ham station
North Greenwich station
One of the questions in North Greenwich that you have to look for something even daily commuters could miss.
Some answers could be found on the wall.
Canary Wharf
Canada Water
Canada Water is an important interchange station connecting Windrush line Overground services to east and south London.
In Canada Water, clues were found outside the station.
Last stop: Bermondsey
Treasure Hunt and the tote bag
The treasure hunt included six stations excluding Canning Town and all other stations of extension (London Bridge, Southwark, Waterloo, Westminster) which are also worth visiting.
The game is totally free, and after finishing all the questions in six stations each participant could get a tote bag of commemorating 25 years of Jubilee line extension.
The staff in Bermondsey station told me I could go back to Stratford if I wanted to, but I decided to spend some time in Bermondsey in which I haven’t deep dived (in spite of running along the river) before, and had a coffee.
Tote bag as a prize for finishing the treasure hunt
The neighbourhood in Bermondsey
Coffee after treasuring hunting
Checkpoint sign
Jubilee line and its extension
Jubilee line used to be between Stanmore and Charing Cross from 1979. In 1999 the line was extended to the east to Stratford opening 11 new stations including Westminster, London Bridge, North Greenwich and Canary Wharf bringing better connections not only direct services to east but also interchange to South London through Overground, and other parts of London through DLR (West Ham and Canary Wharf) and bus (North Greenwich) too!
When you make a comparison to other Underground lines like Piccadilly lines and Central lines (put aside Overground and Elizabeth line first), you will find Jubilee line is the first to have upgraded facilities and architecture like more spacious platforms and the introduction of platform screen doors. Part of the reasons, as I think, the infrastructure was for the coming of new century (21st) so TfL asked great architecture firms like Norman Foster to design the new stations.
Another reason, that is a fact, is the Chief Architect Roland Paoletti who worked for MTR in Hong Kong bringing the experience to London Underground.
Even when you compare Jubilee line to Elizabeth line, which has connected east and west of cities surrounding London since 2022–2023, the architectures of 11 extension-related stations are still masterpieces! Unlike stations of Elizabeth line which look alike, every Jubilee line latest station is unique.
When we commemorate the extension, can we keep making the services (I mean all other TfL networks) outstanding and improving like 25 years ago? Lack of funding is not an excuse to not moving on. Creative solutions are the key!
