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Here is why London Subway riders are travelling with their ‘pants off’

No trousers tube ride returns to London, delights commuters with its barefaced wit
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The annual event brings unexpected joy to the Underground, featuring participants in colourful underwear—and no deeper motive than fun. AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali
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London’s famous Tube heard an unusual twist to its familiar “Mind the gap” announcement on Sunday, January 12, as hundreds of commuters embraced a cheekier message: “Mind the pants.”

The annual No Trousers Tube Ride saw men and women strip down to their underwear, boarding the Underground as though nothing unusual was happening. The event, originating in New York in 2002, has since spread worldwide, bringing moments of humour to cities like Berlin, Prague, Jerusalem, and Washington, DC.

In London, participants gathered at Newport Place in Chinatown before traveling across stations like Waterloo, Westminster, and South Kensington, posing on escalators, taking selfies on platforms, and showcasing an array of underwear styles and colours. Event organizers, quoted by The Independent, instructed participants to dress in “pants as normal or low-key as possible, so it looks like you’ve just forgotten your trousers.”

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The Origins and Spirit of the Event 

The concept began when New York comedian Charlie Todd envisioned a scenario in which passengers boarded a subway train one by one, all inexplicably trouser-less but acting as though it were completely normal. Speaking to the BBC, Todd recalled, “What would really be funny is if, at the next stop, additional people got on, not wearing trousers as well. They act like they don’t know each other … and just forgot their trousers.”

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Initially featuring only seven participants in New York, the event grew rapidly. By 2008, over 900 people took part in New York, with nine other cities joining the fun. Todd emphasized that the event aims to “create unexpected moments of joy, delight, and confusion,” adding, “It’s meant to be a bit of harmless fun. It’s not to provoke or irritate but to amuse others.”

Participants Speak Out

For some, the No Trousers Tube Ride is about breaking monotony. “There’s so much bad, so much not fun going on,” said event ringleader Dave Selkirk, a 40-year-old personal trainer, to the Associated Press (AP). “It’s nice to do something just for the sake of it.”

Others saw deeper personal significance. Miriam Correa, a 43-year-old chef, participated to challenge body image stereotypes often associated with past events. “I am a real woman,” she told AP reporters. “All bodies are perfect. There’s no reason to be ashamed of your shape.”

Another participant, lawyer Basil Long, shared his reasons for joining. “I just saw it online and thought, why not? It’s always a question, isn’t it?” he told the AP.

Continuing the Tradition

Despite its global success, the event was paused in 2023 by its original organizers, who felt it had “run its course.” However, London enthusiasts have kept the tradition alive, providing a light hearted break from the bleakness of midwinter.

With its playful, unifying spirit, the No Trousers Tube Ride remains a celebration of humour, spontaneity, and the joy of shared experiences—even when you’ve “forgotten” your trousers.

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