London transport superfans to be next generation of travel announcers

The competition will pick 25 lucky winners to get tours of their favourite transport service

If you live in, or have been to, London, you'll know the famous 'Mind the gap' announcement very well.

It's an iconic part of travelling on the London Underground, and now some young travel fans could be in with the chance of being the next generation of announcers.

Transport for London (TfL) has launched a competition asking children aged 5-16 what their favourite way of getting around the city is and why, to be in with a chance of recording a message to play at a London station.

For example, they could enjoy taking the train to see their family, or to their favourite shops.

It could be about any method of travel around the capital: bus, river services, cycle hire, Tram depot, IFS Cloud Cable Car, Tube, Overground, Elizabeth line or DLR station, or coach depot.

The staff of each service will choose 25 winners, who will then record their special messages.

The winners will also get a tour related to their entry, so could get given behind the scenes access to tram stops, tube lines and train stations.

The winners could hear their voices announcing at tube stations

It's to celebrate TfL's 25th anniversary, and the organisation has a whole load of other events planned, such as having lots of buskers perform at Liverpool Street Station.

London's transport commissioner, Andy Lord, called the competition "a fantastic opportunity for superfans to make their mark and share their stories with millions of people across the capital."

London buses are some of the most iconic public transport vehicles in the world

Did you know?

• The Tube turned 160 years old in 2023

• Roughly four million people use the Tube every day

• The bus is London's oldest form of public transport

• London bus wheels were the inspiration for the rounded TfL logo

• The Docklands Light Railway (DLR) is a network of trains without drivers