Leaflets are available at South Kensington, Battersea, Nine Elms, Westminster, St James’ Park, Edgware Road (circle line), Tottenham Court Road, Whitechapel, Manor House, Arsenal and Blackhorse Road Underground stations from 22 July.
Spaghetti Map is a free interactive leaflet that explores artworks permanently installed on London’s Underground. It invites primary-aged children to think like artists while Underground during the 2026 summer holidays. It is created by Spaghetti Club, an art and creative writing collaboration between artist Michael Crowe and more than 100 children from five London primary schools.
The new art map for kids features six artworks commissioned by Art on the Underground since 2012. It brings together Jacqueline Poncelet’s Wrapper – a 1,500m vitreous enamel artwork that covers Edgware Road’s Circle line substation – and Larry Achiampong’s 2022 pan-African roundel at Westminster Underground station PAN AFRICAN FLAG FOR THE RELIC TRAVELLERS’ ALLIANCE (UNION), as well as other permanent commissions by artists including Daniel Buren, Alexandre da Cunha, Hannah Quinlan & Rosie Hastings and Mark Wallinger.
Spaghetti Map draws on references from sunsets and angels to Greek mythology and Ghanaian Akan symbols to introduce the Art on the Underground commissions, showing how artworks in public space bring imagination into daily life. Short introductions to the artworks are followed by text and image-based prompts that invite creative responses, with space to write and draw. Integrated throughout Spaghetti Map, material by primary students Crowe collaborated with provides further inspiration and highlights humour as a way of connecting to art.
The leaflet is available online and at 11 London Underground stations including those where artworks are displayed and stations local to collaborating primary schools. Seven new posters with original drawings and writing by four primary students are also on show in the South Kensington Subway, which links South Kensington Underground station to the Natural History, Science and Victoria & Albert museums.
Artist and Spaghetti Club founder Michael Crowe, said: “Spaghetti Map isn’t an “A to B” style map, it’s a map for ideas, inviting children to think like artists and put pen to paper while Underground. It’s an invitation to children and adults to get to know a local artwork, and to look out for others while traveling through the city. Did you know there’s a unique Mark Wallinger artwork in every Underground station?”
Eleanor Pinfield, Head of Art on the Underground, said:“The wonderful thing about art is that we all have our own unique ways of responding to it. By drawing on iconic artworks on our Underground network, Spaghetti Map calls on kids to think outside the box and let their imaginations run free, with inspirational hints from the schoolchildren involved that will make you laugh, think and see the world in a new way.”
James Reed, CEO of Reed, said: “Reed’s sponsorship of Art on the Underground reflects our mutual belief in the power of creativity. In no place is this more visible than in Spaghetti Map’s humorous and moving responses from children to Art on the Underground’s works all over the city. Every child should have access to art, and this is a brilliant way to bring it to the young people of London, and beyond.”
Deputy Mayor for Culture and Creative Industries, Justine Simons, said: “Art on the Underground is a jewel in London’s cultural crown, bringing world class artwork to millions of Londoners and visitors every day on TfL’s Underground network.
“The Spaghetti Map is the latest brilliant example of how this project sparks creativity and imagination in children and young people during the summer holidays. The Mayor and I are committed to ensuring everyone in the capital has access to fantastic art and culture as we continue to build a better and more creative London for all.”
The Spaghetti Map leaflet is created by Spaghetti Club, an art and creative writing collaboration between the artist and more than 100 children across five London primary schools. Children under 5 continue to travel for free on the TfL network, while a fare-paying adult can travel with up to four children under 11 free of charge.
About Spaghetti Club
Spaghetti Club is a participatory art project for children, founded by Michael Crowe in 2018. With Claudia Sohrab, the project has developed a body of absurd games, prompts, and publications playing with language, close attention, dance and drawing. It has partnered with the Korea National Contemporary Dance Company, Somerset House, Palais de Tokyo and Intitut Funder Bakke.
About Michael Crowe
Michael Crowe is a writer and artist based in St Albans. His work deals with poetry, reframing and lateral thinking. Recent publications include “Donald Judd Insults” and the Oulipo inspired, “An Attempt at Exhausting a Place in GTA Online.” He’s exhibited at LACMA, St Gallen Switzerland and Le Plateau, Paris and given talks at the New Museum and the BFI.
With thanks to pupils and teachers at Bangabandhu Primary School, Grasmere Primary School, Millbank Gardens Primary Academy, Whittingham Primary Academy, Wyvil Primary School.
