According to the TfL data, the highest recorded average noise levels in the dataset were found on the following station-to-station sections:

Green Park to Victoria (Victoria line) – 92.9 decibels
Liverpool Street to Bethnal Green (Central line) – 92.8 decibels
Highbury & Islington to Finsbury Park (Victoria line) – 92.1 decibels
Highbury & Islington to King’s Cross St Pancras (Victoria line) – 91.5 decibels
Gants Hill to Newbury Park (Central line) – 91.1 decibels

For context, normal conversation typically occurs at around 60 decibels, meaning passengers travelling through these sections may find it difficult to speak without raising their voices.

Sound levels above 90 decibels are commonly compared to everyday noises such as a motorcycle engine, a lawnmower, heavy traffic, or a loud live music venue, helping explain why conversations captured in many viral videos quickly become impossible.

Public health guidance commonly notes that prolonged or repeated exposure to sounds above 85 decibels can increase the risk of hearing damage over time. While individual Tube journeys are typically short, commuters who regularly travel on the loudest sections of the Underground may experience repeated exposure to higher noise levels, particularly during peak travel hours.

Deep-level lines dominate the loudest rankings
The data shows that the Victoria and Central lines appear most frequently among the loudest sections recorded. These are both deep-level lines, which operate through narrower tunnels and often feature tighter curves.

Other high-noise sections in the data also include:

Wanstead to Redbridge (Central line) – 90.7 decibels
Brixton to Stockwell (Victoria line) – 90.1 decibels
Camden Town to Euston (Northern line) – 89.8 decibels
Pimlico to Victoria (Victoria line) – 89.6 decibels

This concentration helps explain why many viral videos appear to be filmed along these routes, where background noise can fluctuate sharply from station to station.

Why noise varies so much on the Tube
Noise levels on the Underground vary by section rather than by line alone. The TfL recordings show that even short journeys between stations can produce significantly different results, influenced by factors such as tunnel depth, curvature, speed, and track condition.

As a result, two journeys on the same line can feel very different in terms of how easy it is to hold a conversation.

Daniel de Nieuwe, Head of Product from JRPass said:

“The London Underground is one of the world’s oldest metro systems, and this data shows just how much noise levels can vary depending on where you’re travelling. People aren’t imagining it – some Tube stretches are averaging above 90 decibels. On those sections, even a quick conversation can turn into shouting. Those TikTok clips are relatable for a reason. ”