The No Trousers Tube Ride will return to London this weekend for the first time since the pandemic.
The annual event, which celebrated its 10-year anniversary in 2009, had been cancelled for two years due to Covid.
But hundreds of Londoners are expected to return to the underground in just their underwear to take part in the absurd stunt this year.
This year will also be the “inaugural trouserless Tube ride” on the Elizabeth Line, according to event organisers, The Stiff Upper Lip Society.
What is the No Trousers Tube Ride?
The No Trousers Tube Ride is an annual event that sees Londoners remove their trousers and ride the Tube in their pants.
The idea is to act completely normal – by reading a paper or listening to music– while being trouserless.
When is the No Trousers Tube Ride?
The No Trousers Tube Ride will take place at 3pm on Sunday, January 8.
No Trousers Tube Ride
Who can take part in the No Trousers Tube Ride?
Anyone can take part in the No Trousers Tube Ride. Just head to Newport Place in Chinatown (WC2H 7JR), to meet the event organisers, who will lead the participants to nearby Tube stations.
The organisers won’t reveal the route ahead of time, so meeting up in Chinatown is the only way to guarantee you’ll be able to take part.
Importantly, participants are asked to avoid wearing thongs or small pants, as well as anything see-through, in order to avoid offending commuters and members of the public.
No trousers on the Tube day 2020- In pictures
How did the No Trousers Tube Ride start?
The No Trousers Tube Ride began in 2009, and was inspired by the No Pants Subway Ride, which was created by Improv Everywhere in New York in 2002.
The first-ever event in New York City involved seven trouserless men boarding the subway train, one at each stop for seven consecutive stops, pretending not to notice each other.
In 2006, the train was stopped and eight people were handcuffed and taken into custody for not wearing trousers, but the charges were later dismissed.
By 2007, hundreds of people took part, before the event went international in 2008, with nine cities participating.
Since 2010, thousands of New Yorkers have taken part in the annual prank.
More than 60 cities around the world now take part, including Berlin, Lisbon, Tokyo, and Toronto.