LONDON — It was a lighthearted occasion as countless Londoners boarded the Underground on Sunday afternoon, sporting only their undergarments, and attempted to travel inconspicuously.
This event, known as the Official No Trousers Tube Ride, is an annual tradition that brings a bit of humor to the typically dreary winter season. There’s no deep-seated message or greater purpose—just the intention to have fun, if only for a single day.
“It’s refreshing to inject a sense of joy amidst so much negativity,” remarked Dave Selkirk, a 40-year-old personal trainer who helped organize the event. “It’s nice to do something for the sake of enjoyment.”
Participants gathered at Chinatown before making their way through the chilly London streets to the Piccadilly Circus Underground station. They boarded their initial train, although some were unable to fully remove their trousers due to the packed cars. As selfies were captured and smiles exchanged, onlooking tourists appeared bewildered by the scene unfolding around them.
The first iteration of this quirky idea took place in New York back in 2002, masterminded by local comedian Charlie Todd. The concept spurred from a simple yet amusing notion: what if someone entered a subway car during winter wearing everything except their pants? In London, as trousers refer to pants while “pants” denotes undergarments, the humorous twist was embraced.
“It would be a sight to see in New York, where unusual occurrences are common. The real punchline would be if, at the next stop, more individuals entered without trousers,” Todd stated in an interview. “They’d act like strangers who just happened to forget their pants, making it seem perfectly normal.”
This playful idea spread rapidly, leading to no-pants events in various cities around the world including Berlin, Prague, Jerusalem, and Washington, D.C. London’s inaugural event took place in 2009.
“It’s all about lighthearted fun,” Todd emphasized. “In a time where cultural debates are prevalent, this event’s purpose has always been to provide amusement. It’s intended to make others laugh, not to provoke or annoy.”
One participant, Basil Long, appeared at the meetup wearing a warm down coat and hat. However, after a warm trip through the Tube’s underground tunnels, he emerged wearing only a vibrant striped shirt, pink underwear, and socks adorned with the Underground logo. “I came across the event online and thought, why not? It’s a question we all face,” he reflected.
Miriam Correa, a 43-year-old chef, joined the festivities with a different outlook. She was inspired to participate after noticing that previous no-trouser rides featured many slender women in minimal clothing. “I represent what a real woman looks like,” she declared. “Every body is perfect, and there should be no shame in that.”
