The board is simply the famous map of the London Underground (the Tube), with all the stations in and around the Circle line. On the actual Underground, the lines extend miles beyond central London and run on the surface, only going underground as they come into town. But these aren't needed for the game and would make the map too small. The board shows a copyright to Seven Towns Ltd. 1972 although the box cover shows a maker's name Condor. There is a little pamphlet of rules which also includes a map of the whole system as was, a history of the Underground (it started in 1863 with steam trains), a piece about the modern system with a page of facts and figures and a page extolling the virtues of London and the London Tourist Board!

You are dealt six out of a set of thirty Souvenir cards for famous locations in London, each with its appropriate Tube station. There is a deck of Hazard cards, which are shuffled and placed down on the Underground logo on the board. You have a little plastic man to move around the board. You look at your six cards and plan your route, starting at a British Rail terminus station (such as Victoria or Euston). You roll a d6 to move station by station along the lines. When you get to one of your targets, you stop and put the card down. Next turn, you continue to another of your targets, until you have visited all six, whence you return to your starting point and win!

You can only change lines at certain stations (eg South Kensington, Charing Cross) just as on the actual Tube. When you change lines, you take a HAZARD card, which can put you or another player somewhere else on the map, or miss a turn. For example, it might say "There is a demo at Trafalgar Square. Collect all the players and go there at once". Or "Lost your way. Ask whichever player you like to come to you where you are and direct you to wherever he likes". The cards are a bit quaint by today's standards. You also have some little tokens to close stations as you leave, to block the other players. (Roll a six or use a Re-open Station hazard card to clear it).

I love this game, even though it is a simple race. The choice of sights always delighted me, The Tate Gallery (Pimlico), Sherlock Holmes (Baker Street), Speaker's Corner (Marble Arch). Unfortunately, I've lost one card, for Arsenal FC. Each card has a simple drawing and a descriptive paragraph. Some places have now gone of course; Billingsgate Market (Monument), the old fish market on the river was closed years ago and The Times (Blackfriars) has gone with all the other papers to Whapping or Docklands.

There is a little strategy in the London Game. You must turn each switch of location to your advantage and try to trick the other players into placing you where you want to be. When you get your last card down, the others try to block your path back to your terminus, and change lines just to get a Hazard card to throw you back to a corner or stick you behind a closed station.

The London Game has finally been re-issued! There was a poor quality edition on its 25th anniversary (I gave my copy away), but now there is a good full-colour edition. The box & board are smaller than originally, but the publisher has not used a quarterboard. The map has been updated and zoomed out a touch to include a few more stations. The Souvenir & Hazard cards are now full colour. Amusingly, the rules text has hardly been updated, being nearly the old rules verbatim. They do credit the designer now, Brian Edward Reeves. If you are looking for a copy, try www.leisuregames.com or Playin'Games on Museum Street or Hamleys.

I have similar travel themed games by Ravensburger; Exploring Europe and Race Around Britain! I have seen another tourist trip game for London, but that used a cartoon track around the heart of London. I also have a Taxi game, but it is poor. But The London Game is still the best for me. Simple, quick, even educational. If you are lucky to visit London, you can get Tube maps from any Underground station or tourist office. With a couple of guide books, you could easily knock up a version for yourselves.

Sadly, the actual Underground system is a total wreck, never repaired since 1972 and to be avoided whenever possible. Her Majesty's Government is looking to privatise it, despite the horrendous disaster of privatising British Rail. If only Britain was a democracy. Take my advice and go by bus instead.

MIND THE GAP!