Every January, while most Londoners are bundling up against the cold, a brave few souls (not exactly few) do the unthinkable—they voluntarily head underground wearing everything but their trousers. This year, the London No Trouser Tube Ride was on the 11th of January. Hundreds of participants turned the London Underground into a scene of surreal, bare-legged fun, all in the name of nothing more than a shared laugh and love for underwear.
A Brief History of the Bizarre Tradition
The story of the No Trousers Tube Ride begins not in London, but across the pond in New York City. In 2002, a group called Improv Everywhere launched the first "No Pants Subway Ride" (keeping in mind that "pants" means trousers in American English).
The concept was simple and absurd: act perfectly normal while riding the subway without your pants.
The tradition hopped over to London in 2009, where it was embraced and organised by a group called the Stiff Upper Lip Society. It was seen as a playful poke at British reserve and an exercise in shared, harmless fun. For years, it grew into an international phenomenon, with copycat events appearing in cities worldwide.
However, by 2023, the original organisers felt the event had run its course and stepped away. Dave Selkirk, took up the mantle to keep the quirky event alive. In 2026, London is one of the last major cities still enthusiastically celebrating this peculiar winter ritual thanks to Dave.
The 2026 London No Trousers Tube Ride
On Sunday afternoon, the scene was set. At 2:45 PM, a crowd began to gather around the Old Pagoda in Soho's Chinatown. Crucially, everyone arrived fully dressed, with coats, scarves, and most importantly, trousers firmly in place. Organisers then split the "fun lovers, exhibitionists, bucket list tickers, and inquisitive introverts" into two smaller groups.
After learning a dance routine, everyone headed to the underground. This was the moment for the grand reveal—trousers came off as soon as the training started moving, showing different styles of underwear. My personal favourite was a guy named Ray wearing a boxer shorts with the map of the underground.
The key instruction was to behave with complete nonchalance: read a paper, scroll through a phone, or chat with a friend as if forgetting one's trousers was the most ordinary thing in the world. The reactions from unsuspecting fellow passengers were a mix of shock, blushes, and laughter.
The event, which saw hundreds participate, wasn't without its critics. Some on social media have called the tradition "messed up" or "disgusting". Yet, for the participants, the goal was pure, apolitical fun—a brief, shared moment of silliness to break the winter monotony.
When in 2027 is the no trousers tube ride in London?
While official dates are never announced too far in advance, the No Trousers Tube Ride is a mid-January tradition. Based on the consistent scheduling on the second Sunday of January, it is highly likely that the next ride will take place on Sunday, January 10, 2027. If you're planning on joining next year, start thinking of what to wear. You can get some pairs from us at 30% off with code TUBE30.
To stay updated, your best bet is to watch for event pages on social media as next winter approaches, often posted by the dedicated keeper of the tradition, Dave Selkirk.
In a world that often takes itself too seriously, London's No Trousers Tube Ride stands as a testament to the simple, unifying power of shared, absurd fun. It’s a chilly but heart-warming reminder that sometimes, the best way to break the ice is to simply bare a little leg.
Have you ever been an unsuspecting passenger on the No Trousers Tube Ride, or are you brave enough to join in next year? Would you like to see a map of where past rides have taken place?
