{"id":1956381,"date":"2026-05-26T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-25T21:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1956381"},"modified":"2026-05-26T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-05-25T21:00:00","slug":"eight-london-underground-restrooms-get-vibrant-refurbs-with-illustrated-tiles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1956381","title":{"rendered":"Eight London Underground Restrooms Get Vibrant Refurbs with Illustrated Tiles"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"entry-content prose-colossal max-w-none\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull is-style-default entry-header is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"colo-post-featured-image wp-block-post-featured-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/broughton-8.jpg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"the interior of a tube station bathroom design featuring colorful tiles in London\" style=\"object-fit:cover\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Photos by Dirk Lindner. All images courtesy of Hugh Broughton Architects<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group post-title is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-0bc941e6 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<h1 class=\"alignfull wp-block-post-title\">Eight London Underground Restrooms Get Vibrant Refurbs with Illustrated Tiles<\/h1>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull post-meta is-layout-flex wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-05-26T12:00:00-05:00\">May 26, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<div class=\"taxonomy-category wp-block-post-terms\"><a class=\"category-design\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/category\/design\/\" rel=\"tag\">Design<\/a><a class=\"category-illustration\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/category\/illustration\/\" rel=\"tag\">Illustration<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-author-name\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/author\/kmothes\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"wp-block-post-author-name__link\">Kate Mothes<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull post-share-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-6c531013 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing has-visible-labels has-icon-color is-style-logos-only is-layout-flex wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-is-layout-flex\">\n<li style=\"color: #1c1e0d\" class=\"outermost-social-sharing-link outermost-social-sharing-link-facebook has-crow-color wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thisiscolossal.com%2F2026%2F05%2Fhugh-broughton-architects-james-lambert-tile-london-underground%2F&amp;title=Eight%20London%20Underground%20Restrooms%20Get%20Vibrant%20Refurbs%20with%20Illustrated%20Tiles\" aria-label=\"Share\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-anchor\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-label \"><br \/>\n\t\t\tShare\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"color: #1c1e0d\" class=\"outermost-social-sharing-link outermost-social-sharing-link-mail has-crow-color wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/cdn-cgi\/l\/email-protection#a29dd1d7c0c8c7c1d69fe7cbc5cad6879092eecdccc6cdcc879092f7ccc6c7d0c5d0cdd7ccc6879092f0c7d1d6d0cdcdcfd1879092e5c7d6879092f4cbc0d0c3ccd6879092f0c7c4d7d0c0d1879092d5cbd6ca879092ebceced7d1d6d0c3d6c7c6879092f6cbcec7d184c3cfd299c0cdc6db9fe7cbc5cad6879092eecdccc6cdcc879092f7ccc6c7d0c5d0cdd7ccc6879092f0c7d1d6d0cdcdcfd1879092e5c7d6879092f4cbc0d0c3ccd6879092f0c7c4d7d0c0d1879092d5cbd6ca879092ebceced7d1d6d0c3d6c7c6879092f6cbcec7d187909287e790879a92879b96879092cad6d6d2d18791e38790e48790e4d5d5d58cd6cacbd1cbd1c1cdcecdd1d1c3ce8cc1cdcf8790e4909290948790e492978790e4cad7c5ca8fc0d0cdd7c5cad6cdcc8fc3d0c1cacbd6c7c1d6d18fc8c3cfc7d18fcec3cfc0c7d0d68fd6cbcec78fcecdccc6cdcc8fd7ccc6c7d0c5d0cdd7ccc68790e4\" aria-label=\"Email\" class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-anchor\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-label \"><br \/>\n\t\t\tEmail\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><button class=\"simplefavorite-button preset\" data-postid=\"474352\" data-siteid=\"1\" data-groupid=\"1\" data-favoritecount=\"0\"><i class=\"sf-icon-bookmark\"><\/i>Bookmark<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Home to some of London\u2019s most iconic landmarks, the City of Westminster sees around 25 million of tourists every year. Add that number to residents and professionals who transit through central London daily, and we\u2019re talking <em>lots <\/em>of people using the Underground, a.k.a. the Tube. Fortunately for travelers, eight stations are getting restroom upgrades with a big assist from <a href=\"https:\/\/hbarchitects.co.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Hugh Broughton Architects<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>When the Victorians established the first <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ltmuseum.co.uk\/collections\/stories\/transport\/public-transport-victorian-london-underground\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">underground train network<\/a> in the mid-to-late 1800s, they incorporated arched details and tile work that is preserved today, often augmented with contemporary nods to the city\u2019s history and culture. Opened in 1863 along the Metropolitan Line, <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Baker_Street_tube_station\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Baker Street<\/a> is one of the oldest stations. In a design convention seen throughout the Underground, decorated tiles added later feature a silhouette of Sherlock Holmes\u2014a tribute to the character\u2019s fictional address on the station\u2019s titular street.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/broughton-4.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-474352\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"787\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/broughton-4.jpg\" alt=\"the interior of a tube station bathroom design featuring colorful tiles in London\" class=\"wp-image-474356\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<p>Tile designs are richly embedded throughout the system. An architect named <a href=\"https:\/\/londonist.com\/london\/transport\/leslie-green-tube-stations-map\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Leslie Green<\/a> is known for a slew of deep red tile facades on more than a dozen central stations. Some interiors are covered practically <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hesmith.co.uk\/tiling-projects\/transport\/london-underground\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">top to bottom<\/a> with the material, with the location names and \u201cWay Out\u201d signs made entirely from ceramic. Bethnal Green station features fantastic <a href=\"https:\/\/alondoninheritance.com\/under-london\/the-tiles-at-bethnal-green-underground-station\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">relief tiles<\/a> of London icons, and a few years ago, a design student named <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dezeen.com\/2023\/07\/27\/london-underground-waste-repurposed-into-tiles-tube-stations-design\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Jeffrey Miller<\/a> even repurposed the Tube\u2019s own waste into Art Nouveau-style tiles modeled on historic versions.<\/p>\n<p>Hugh Broughton Architects\u2019 redesign continues this tradition, but it also serves the practical purpose of making these spaces safer, more inclusive, and more accessible. \u201cThere is a clear demand for public toilets across London, and many councils struggle with the costs surrounding maintenance and issues around antisocial behaviour,\u201d says a statement. \u201cTo address this issue, the council is creating a series of inclusive facilities that demonstrate high-quality design and enshrine as much civic pride as the Victorians displayed when they first started looking at a proper sanitation system for the general public in the 19th century.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The facilities at Victoria Embankment, Parliament Street, Piccadilly Circus, Green Park, Carnaby Street, Westminster Pier, Covent Garden, and Leicester Square are all getting vibrant makeovers. The tiles incorporate designs by artist and illustrator <a href=\"https:\/\/jameslambert.co.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">James Lambert<\/a>, who interprets the distinctive character of each location through historical motifs and iconography. Among numerous playful references, you\u2019ll find patterns consisting of the King\u2019s Guards in their iconically tall, black, furry helmets and a tribute to George John Vulliamy\u2019s giant <a href=\"https:\/\/stuffaboutlondon.co.uk\/stuff-about-london-blog\/the-riddle-of-the-embankment-sphinx\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">sphinxes<\/a> that guard Cleopatra\u2019s Needle on the Embankment.<\/p>\n<p>The restrooms are being refurbished in succession. Victoria Street opened in February 2025, followed by Parliament Street, and now Piccadilly Circus and Green Park. The next will be Carnaby Street and Westminster Bridge. Follow updates on the firm\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/hba_london\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/broughton-9.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-474352\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/broughton-9.jpg\" alt=\"the interior of a tube station bathroom design featuring colorful tiles in London\" class=\"wp-image-474361\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/broughton-2.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-474352\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1063\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/broughton-2.jpg\" alt=\"the interior of a tube station bathroom design featuring colorful tiles in London\" class=\"wp-image-474354\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/broughton-1.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-474352\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/broughton-1.jpg\" alt=\"the interior of a tube station bathroom design featuring colorful tiles in London\" class=\"wp-image-474353\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/broughton-6.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-474352\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/broughton-6.jpg\" alt=\"the interior of a tube station bathroom design featuring colorful tiles in London\" class=\"wp-image-474358\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/broughton-7.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-474352\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/broughton-7.jpg\" alt=\"the interior of a tube station bathroom design featuring colorful tiles in London\" class=\"wp-image-474359\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<aside class=\"after-entry\" role=\"complementary\" aria-label=\"After Entry\">\n<section id=\"block-16\" class=\"widget widget_block widget_text\">\n<p><mark style=\"background-color:#88caf0\" class=\"has-inline-color\"><strong>Do stories and artists like this matter to you?<\/strong><\/mark> Become a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/members\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"118516\">Colossal 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All images courtesy of Hugh Broughton Architects Eight London Underground Restrooms Get Vibrant Refurbs with Illustrated Tiles May 26, 2026 DesignIllustration Kate Mothes Share Email Bookmark Home to some of London\u2019s most iconic landmarks, the City of Westminster sees around 25 million of tourists every year. Add that number to residents [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,270],"class_list":["post-1956381","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-thisiscolossal-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1956381","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1956381"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1956381\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1956381"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1956381"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1956381"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}