I’ve noticed a pattern: strikes love the middle of the week—Tuesday to Thursday is prime strike real estate. They also adore major events, like when Taylor Swift is in town or when Arsenal has a big match. It’s as if the unions have a calendar that says, “Oh, you wanted to have fun? Ha! Walk instead!”
But here’s the thing: strikes get called off all the time. Like, 40% of them vanish at the last minute because someone in a suit and someone in a union hat shake hands over a mug of tea. So don’t panic-buy a hoverboard just yet. Keep an eye on the news for that magical headline: “Tube Strike Suspended After Late-Night Talks.”
The Silver Lining of a Tube Strike
Honestly, there’s a weird upside to strikes. You’ll discover your own city. You’ll walk through a park you’ve never noticed, or find a hidden café that serves the best sausage roll in London. You’ll talk to strangers on the bus, which is rare in a city of silent phone-scrollers. One time, I met a guy who taught me how to fold a pizza slice into a pocket—true story.
FOURTH day of Tube strike chaos in London (but only TWO days of strikes
Strikes also make you feel like a survival expert. You’ll arrive at work, slightly sweaty but triumphant, and say, “I walked from Zone 4. In the rain. Without coffee.” Your colleagues will look at you with awe, and you’ll feel like a character from a wilderness show, except the wilderness is a suburban roundabout.
