Why is the LUL roundel not more prominently displayed?

[fandroid]

The extremely well-known LUL roundel is a very good indicator of the presence of a Tube station. Why is it's use so random, with almost total omission in places and elsewhere it's reduced to a tiny little symbol crammed alongside others? It's a symbol of London's no 1 transport system, especially for visitors. Let's see it better used, on every tube entrance and in every street near to a Tube station.

 

[Hadders]

Can you give some examples of where you don't tghink it's used properly.

My perception is the roundel is very well used to signpost station entrances.

 

[Lockwood]

I recently discovered a hidden entrance to Bank.

But I think this is the exception rather than the rule.


I thought that TfL were pretty good at getting their brand out and being seen.
I don't think they are very good at making brand documents - read three documents, get three different colours for each line. But other than that, they have a very strong brand.

 

[Sun Chariot]

The extremely well-known LUL roundel is a very good indicator of the presence of a Tube station. Why is it's use so random, with almost total omission in places and elsewhere it's reduced to a tiny little symbol crammed alongside others? It's a symbol of London's no 1 transport system, especially for visitors. Let's see it better used, on every tube entrance and in every street near to a Tube station.

To Hadders' point, please do give examples. I'd used LU and DLR for 18 years and, off the top of my head, I can't think of any "missing".
The Post 3 example, is Bank's lesser used lift directly to DLR platforms level; it isn't branded with LU totems as it does not serve LU platforms levels.
From a people-flow-management point, the roundels serve as a way of flowing people where the space and capacity exists.

 

[Lockwood]

Oh yeah, I found a very specific thing. There'd be nothing stopping you getting to the rest of the station though?
I was surprised to see it - never knew it existed, but Bank has something like 100 entrances...

I was thinking that advertising that as a main entrance would cause issues


I can't think of any other station entrance that I have seen that is that stealthy - but that may be because they are so stealthy!

 

[zwk500]

The extremely well-known LUL roundel is a very good indicator of the presence of a Tube station. Why is it's use so random, with almost total omission in places and elsewhere it's reduced to a tiny little symbol crammed alongside others? It's a symbol of London's no 1 transport system, especially for visitors. Let's see it better used, on every tube entrance and in every street near to a Tube station.

Yes, because it's not clear or obvious, e.g. here (2x roundels at Oxford Circus): https://maps.app.goo.gl/8XT8eLVMiY8TM4vR7, here (roundel at Stanmore): https://maps.app.goo.gl/iBbaMNif5vJPCtYm9, or here: (2x Roundel at Heathrow) https://maps.app.goo.gl/Xyz3FNrazSBZr9Vs5. Or maybe here (roundel at Victoria): https://maps.app.goo.gl/5YfTaZMpW9zaeLNx5, and the roundels are completely inconspicuous at Euston: https://maps.app.goo.gl/na2GkKvXJsYpGVeu7

Of course, they're all termini or major stations, but the roundel isn't exactly hidden at Canon's Park (Jubilee): https://maps.app.goo.gl/1QF5VcQWR9RukKSJ6, East Putney (District): https://maps.app.goo.gl/zzfZ8qb4cpam38yj9, or Park Royal (Piccaddilly): https://maps.app.goo.gl/CF1McaKgmWn9jQZm9

 

[london004]

The extremely well-known LUL roundel is a very good indicator of the presence of a Tube station. Why is it's use so random, with almost total omission in places and elsewhere it's reduced to a tiny little symbol crammed alongside others? It's a symbol of London's no 1 transport system, especially for visitors. Let's see it better used, on every tube entrance and in every street near to a Tube station.

Totally agree—the roundel is such an iconic symbol, it would make wayfinding so much easier if it were displayed more consistently.

 

[Mike99]

Oh yeah, I found a very specific thing. There'd be nothing stopping you getting to the rest of the station though?
I was surprised to see it - never knew it existed, but Bank has something like 100 entrances...

I was thinking that advertising that as a main entrance would cause issues


I can't think of any other station entrance that I have seen that is that stealthy - but that may be because they are so stealthy!

You cant actually mean 100 entrances!! If you do be interesting to know which streets etc they have an exit and entrance at?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 10 Sep 2025 ==

Totally agree—the roundel is such an iconic symbol, it would make wayfinding so much easier if it were displayed more consistently.

As with the request to the original OP, can you name the stations that don't have clear and noticeable signage

 

[Sun Chariot]

Oh yeah, I found a very specific thing. There'd be nothing stopping you getting to the rest of the station though?

Step free access. Wheelchair / pushchair / mobility scooter. You'd have to manage on escalators or stairs, to reach Bank Northern / Central Line platforms, if you took that DLR lift.

 

[Lockwood]

You cant actually mean 100 entrances!! If you do be interesting to know which streets etc they have an exit and entrance at?

I've told you a thousand times... People use hyperbole.

Maybe not 100, but it feels like it!

Step free access. Wheelchair / pushchair / mobility scooter. You'd have to manage on escalators or stairs, to reach Bank Northern / Central Line platforms, if you took that DLR lift.

I thought part of the northern line platform changes was adding another step free link from the DLR? Or was it another bank of escalators? Can't remember.
Does that lift have a tiny gateline at the bottom?

 

[sh24]

TfL have some faults at the moment but failing to make good use of the roundel isn't one of those problems.

 

[Hadders]

I recently discovered a hidden entrance to Bank.

But I think this is the exception rather than the rule.


I thought that TfL were pretty good at getting their brand out and being seen.
I don't think they are very good at making brand documents - read three documents, get three different colours for each line. But other than that, they have a very strong brand.

As mentioned upthread this paricular entrance is a small lift to the DLR platforms. I suspect the reason why this particular entrance is not widely publicised is to stop it becoming overwhelmed with people who don't really need to use it.

Another example is the link to the Elizabeth Line from Barbican station. It's there but not particularly well signed to deliberately discourage use.

 

[styles]

Not sure what you mean.

I found it very prominent at Darjeeling

 

[Sun Chariot]

In 2004, I photo'd a clothing shop sign in Nicosia, Cyprus, that exactly replicated the LU roundel and UNDERGROUND name!

 

[Mawkie]

There is an internal Yammer/Viva Engage/Engage webpage for TfL Copyright, where staff post photos of weird and wonderful locations that roundels have been seen around the country and world. The copyright team always acknowledge and say "Thanks, we'll get on to them."

I don't know their success rate.

 

[Sunil_P]

I think Barking, Richmond, Upminster, and Wimbledon are the only stations served by the Underground that don't have any full-size TfL roundels at platform level.

 

[OscarH]

There is an internal Yammer/Viva Engage/Engage webpage for TfL Copyright, where staff post photos of weird and wonderful locations that roundels have been seen around the country and world. The copyright team always acknowledge and say "Thanks, we'll get on to them."

I don't know their success rate.

They're certainly very on it sending the threatening emails! God forbid you even dare use a photo of a train or station with a roundel visible anywhere on it, or you'll face their wrath

Though I imagine their success rate is less good with overseas users.

 

[A60stock]

I think Barking, Richmond, Upminster, and Wimbledon are the only stations served by the Underground that don't have any full-size TfL roundels at platform level.

For some strange reason, Stratford Central line platforms do not feature the tfl station text roundels but the Jubilee line platforms do!

Harrow and Wealdstone I believe also does not have the roundels

 

[pdeaves]

Harrow and Wealdstone I believe also does not have the roundels

http://www.railwaycodes.org.uk/stations/signs/names/hrw2.jpg says they do (at least in places!)

 

[Wolfie]

I think Barking, Richmond, Upminster, and Wimbledon are the only stations served by the Underground that don't have any full-size TfL roundels at platform level.

Two of those four are operated by, l believe, C2C and are actually terminus stations for a tube line. Hammersmith and City at Barking and District at Upminster.

I'm assuming that Richmond and Wimbledon are both operated by SWR.

 

[generalnerd]

I recently discovered a hidden entrance to Bank.

But I think this is the exception rather than the rule.


I thought that TfL were pretty good at getting their brand out and being seen.
I don't think they are very good at making brand documents - read three documents, get three different colours for each line. But other than that, they have a very strong brand.

The branding documents are fairly consistent I find, especially all the current releases

 

[LLivery]

TfL have some faults at the moment but failing to make good use of the roundel isn't one of those problems.

I find it strange there's no DLR roundels at Bank, even the new Cannon Street entrance. They've also not put any Elizabeth Line roundels at the Oxford St entrances of Tottenham Court Road or Bond Street.

 

[london004]

Mainly because of mixed ownership and different eras of signage, the roundel came later in some places.

 

[generalnerd]

I find it strange there's no DLR roundels at Bank, even the new Cannon Street entrance. They've also not put any Elizabeth Line roundels at the Oxford St entrances of Tottenham Court Road or Bond Street.

The DLR stations don’t have roundels I don’t believe, and there might be reasons they couldn’t have put the roundels on the Oxford street entrances (planning perms, etc)

 

[steeevooo]

Most DLR stations definitely have roundels - searched on Google Maps for one DLR station and found it: https://maps.app.goo.gl/b2fRng127KZx2HkP7?g_st=ac

 

[LLivery]

The DLR stations don’t have roundels I don’t believe, and there might be reasons they couldn’t have put the roundels on the Oxford street entrances (planning perms, etc)

No, they have roundels or the older signs. Even Tram stops are starting to have them

 

[TUC]

As mentioned upthread this paricular entrance is a small lift to the DLR platforms. I suspect the reason why this particular entrance is not widely publicised is to stop it becoming overwhelmed with people who don't really need to use it.

Doesn't thst make it hard to find for those who do need to use it?

 

[generalnerd]

No, they have roundels or the older signs. Even Tram stops are starting to have them

Are they? I’ve never seen one before, at least not a full size roundel?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 23 Sep 2025 ==

Most DLR stations definitely have roundels - searched on Google Maps for one DLR station and found it: https://maps.app.goo.gl/b2fRng127KZx2HkP7?g_st=ac

Oh those roundels! I was thinking of the platform roundels

 

[rebmcr]

Oh those roundels! I was thinking of the platform roundels

This topic has been about roundels "indicating the presence of a station" since the first comment.