Beck realised that when you're on a train travelling underground, your geographical location is not what matters to you. The important thing is knowing how to get to your final destination, and where to change from one line to another. On his own initiative, Beck used this idea to create a revolutionary new kind of map, inspired by electrical circuit diagrams and sewer plans.

Beck straightened all the tube lines, ignoring their true shapes, but making them much simpler to understand. He used only horizontals, verticals and diagonals, with different colours for each tube line. He also included a stylised River Thames, which provided a strong visual reference point for users.

One problem for map-makers was that central London stations are close together, while those in the suburbs are spaced out. Tube maps had to be very big to show all the stations, or had to leave off the outer ones. Beck's solution was to ignore real distances, stretching the busy central area while compressing distances in the suburbs. This allowed him to show the stations clearly, and include places as distant as Watford and Uxbridge.

Reactions to the map

The publicity department of London Transport initially rejected the map as too radical. It was not issued until January 1933, when it was distributed in a free trial edition of 700,000 copies, on the front of which was printed: "A new design for an old map. We should welcome your comments."

The public loved Beck's map and, in less than a month, every copy had gone and a new reprint was necessary. For the first time, travellers had a map which showed the underground system in a way which was easy to grasp, and yet was small enough to be carried in their pockets.

Because it distorts geographical distances, the map can be misleading. In his 1995 travel book, Notes From A Small Island, Bill Bryson describes how a stranger to London would get from Bank to Mansion House using Beck's map. He would take the Central Line to Liverpool Street, and then change to the Circle Line for another five stops to Mansion House. He would then emerge to find himself just 200 yards down the street where he had started from!

London Transport Museum's Real Underground Map shows how Beck's design relates to London geography, and how the map has changed since 1933.

Later versions

In 1933, Beck was paid just five guineas for his map, the equivalent of two weeks' wages. For almost 30 years, he continued to work on it, on a freelance basis, suggesting many improvements and adding new stations as they were built. In 1960, Beck fell out with the publicity manager, Harold Hutchison, who decided he wanted to draw the map himself. Hutchison added the new Victoria line, replaced Beck's coloured station circles with black ones, and introduced squares to show British rail connections. Beck did not approve of the new design and he fought, unsuccessfully, to regain control of his map. In 1964, it was given to a new designer, Paul Garbutt, who introduced the "vacuum flask" shape of the Circle Line.

Follow the various design changes here

Beck continued to submit sketches for the map, which were mostly ignored, until his death in 1974. After his death, Beck's work was finally recognised by London Underground, which placed a commemorative plaque on the southbound platform of his home station, Finchley Central:

"In memory of Harry Beck, the originator of the distinctive London Underground map, who lived near here and used the station regularly. The map is used by millions daily, and has become recognised as a classic world-wide."