Image credit: Mike Quinn / Geograph Britain and Ireland · CC BY-SA 2.0 · 2011-03-05 ↗
Warren Street Maze
Fitzrovia / Warren Street · Marylebone → Fitzrovia → Bloomsbury · Underground design / hidden graphic puzzle
Story
In 1967, graphic designer Alan Fletcher created a visual maze for Warren Street Underground station. The idea was to offer passengers a game to attempt to solve while waiting for the next train to arrive. This design is a clever play on the street's name, as the word 'warren' can mean a burrow or a maze of underground passages, much like the Tube tunnels themselves. It also alludes to the short intervals between trains, suggesting an uninterrupted sequence of arrivals and departures. This is a piece of Underground design, integrated into the infrastructure itself, not a standalone attraction meant to be visited independently. To see it, you must enter the paid area of the station.
What to look for
Look for Alan Fletcher's original graphic maze, either a mosaic or printed graphic, in the Victoria Line platform area. Do not confuse it with Mark Wallinger's much more recent 'Labyrinth' project, found across many Tube stations.
Secret detail
The English word 'warren' suggests a burrow or a maze, adding a layer of meaning to the station's name and the maze design, reflecting the complexity of the underground tunnels.
Where exactly
This design is located in the Victoria Line platform area of Warren Street Underground station, inside the paid zone. It is not at street level.
Orientation
Once on the Victoria Line platform, scan the wall or recess areas. The reference object photo faces roughly east-northeast.
Why it matters
This design piece demonstrates how London's public art is sometimes integrated into everyday infrastructure, turning a functional space into an opportunity for observation and play, and reflecting the identity of its location.
Access & opening
Accessible only while station/platform area is operational; disruption/closures possible.
No separate attraction fee, but Underground fare required
We never show live status. Check opening hours before you go.
Accessibility
Station accessibility depends on route/platform/lift status; check TfL live.