London Underground passengers partially disrobe for No Trousers Day

Passengers travelling on the London Underground partially disrobed today in celebration of The No Trousers Tube Ride, which today returned to the capital for the first time since the pandemic hit in March 2020.

Hundreds of Sunday travellers joined in the no trousers fun, which first began on the other side of the Atlantic in New York 20 years ago. 

The Elizabeth Line, which opened last year, welcomed its first trouser-free passengers, with hundreds of people travelling in their underwear for the annual event, which began in New York two decades ago. 

Organised by The Stiff Upper Lip Society, the event saw people donning smart office wear on their top halves, with just underwear, shoes and socks on the lower half of their bodies. 

The event is part of the worldwide No Pants Subway Ride, which began in New York in 2002 and has since spread to more than 60 cities across the globe.

The quirky tradition was created by Improv Everywhere, a comedy performance art group, in New York City in 2002. 

‘The mission started as a small prank with seven guys and has grown into an international celebration of silliness, with dozens of cities around the world participating each year,’ Improv Everywhere’s website says.

Photos taken during the eye-catching event show people casually riding subway trains and nonchalantly pulling their pants off with indifference.

Hundreds stripped down to their pants and took to the city’s transport system for the unique event

The Elizabeth Line, which opened last year, welcomed its first trouser-free passengers, with hundreds of people travelling in their underwear

At Paddington, bare-legged passengers take to the escalator ahead of joining regular communters on the Tube

The event is part of the worldwide No Pants Subway Ride, which began in New York in 2002 and has since spread to more than 60 cities across the globe

Organised by The Stiff Upper Lip Society, the event saw people donning smart office wear on their top halves, with just underwear, shoes and socks on the lower half of their bodies

‘As soon as the doors shut at the stop before yours, stand up and take your pants off and put them in your backpack,’ the group says.

‘If anyone asks you why you’ve removed your pants, tell them that they were ‘getting uncomfortable’ (or something along those lines.’

The quirky tradition was created by Improv Everywhere, a comedy performance art group, in New York City in 2002

Three travellers don bright underwear to join others – including those fully dressed – for the 12th annual No Trousers Tube Ride

One passenger perhaps gave a subliminal message to their fellow trouser-free passengers, with these shark mouth pants

Still gotta queue though: commuters wait for a train to pull up on the platform at Paddington

Office wear and just underwear: three smartly-attired chaps join in the fun

Legs eleven: There were some interesting sock and shoe combos on display too

Tickets please: Travellers in their underwear buy tickets for their journeys

A squash and a squeeze: Some struggled to take their trousers off while riding the Tube