TRANSPORT for London has launched a series of audio guides with a number of notable Londoners lending their voices.
The collection will see 10 three-minute guides exploring stations in the central section of the line, including looking at their art, history, and architecture.
Posters with a headphone symbol will display a QR code in the stations which can be scanned to access the audio.
Each guide will be voiced by a person with links to the respective area, such as MOBO-Award-winning rapper Guvna B, who was born and grew up in Custom House, who voices its station guide.
Paddington Station’s guide will be voiced by author Karen Jankel, daughter of Paddington Bear creator Michael Bond.
Actor Scott Maslen, best known for roles in The Bill and Eastenders, is voicing the guide exploring Woolwich Station.
The guide for Whitechapel will feature both Bengali and English versions in reference to its bilingual signage recognising the Bangladeshi community local to the station, and will be voiced by the station’s customer service supervisor, Neil Dalton.
Guvna B said: “I was born and bred in Custom House, it’s the place I call home.
“I grew up around working-class English people as well as first-generation Brits from Africa, the Caribbean, Europe, and Asia.
“We were all so different but our differences united us and that’s the beauty of this place.”
Karen Jankel, who narrates the Paddington audio guide, said: “Since I was born two months before my father’s first book was published, Paddington has always been a very important part of my life.
“Not just the bear, but also the station which has great significance for our family.
“So I considered it a great honour to be asked to narrate the audio guide for the Paddington Elizabeth Line station.”
Emma Strain, customer director at Transport for London, said: “We are delighted that some incredible Londoners have lent their voices to this series of free audio guides.
“The Elizabeth Line has transformed travel in London and beyond, and these guides offer a great way to find out more about the central section stations’ art, design, and much more.
“We hope that Londoners and tourists will visit all 10 stations and listen to the full set on their travels.”
