Alert – Bare cheek of it! London’s legendary No Trousers Day returns as tube riders strip to their pants on the underground in bizarre annual tradition

Londoners have once again stripped down to their underwear to grace the Tube as part of the legendary annual No Trouser Tube Ride. 

Hundreds of half-naked revellers took to the London Underground today to take part in the tradition.

Event organisers met hundreds of participants in Chinatown, in Soho, at 3pm, before leading everyone down to a nearby Tube station and asking everyone to strip down, despite the prospect of a major strike, which earlier tonight was called off. 

Londoners wore their best and brightest pairs of pants. One person was seen casually checking their phone white in a pair of hot pink pants. 

Another was seen carrying their dog in a small shopping caddy as she wore little more than a pair of black shoes and a white knit jumper. 

Hundreds of half-naked revellers took to the London Underground today to take part in the tradition

People take part in the annual ‘No Trousers On The Tube Day’ at Liverpool station, on the London Underground

Hundreds were seen strutting their stuff across the Tube network tonight

One man was seen casually checking his phone while wearing a pair of hot-pink underpants

One woman took her dog for a stroll in a shopping caddy while wearing little more than a white knit jumper and some black shoes

Not all Tube riders appeared to be aware of the event, with one poor woman looking shocked while carrying her suitcase as she was surrounded by partially-clothed fellow riders. 

Dozens of participants of the event, which has a two-decade history that began on the other side of the pond, are currently having an after-party at The Chandos pub on St Martin’s Lane, by Covent Garden. 

Dave Selkirk, who ran this year’s event on his own, told : ‘I’m extremely happy with the event, the vibe was incredible. Everyone had a great time, and we even managed got a shoutout from two Tube drivers when we got on.

‘It was the first year i was running it on my own, and i wasn’t sure how well it would go, but it was exceptionally smooth.’

Earlier today, the organisers of the event said they had changed their plans slightly in preparation for the RMT tube strike, which was cancelled at the eleventh hour after the union ‘made progress in discussions with TfL.’

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.

One poor traveller was apparently caught in the middle of the event at Euston Station unaware that the event was taking place

Many attend the event while wearing everyday office clothes

Since 2009, Londoners have stripped off for the event without fail, with the action only taking a break during the pandemic

Though Londoners have been stripping off on the Tube since 2009, 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.

‘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.’

Londoners unashamedly stripped off to participate in the annual tradition

The day is now marked in over 60 cities around the world

The idea behind ‘No Pants’ is that random passengers board a subway car at separate stops in the middle of winter, without wearing trousers

Though Londoners have been stripping off on the Tube since 2009, the quirky tradition was created by Improv Everywhere, a comedy performance art group, in New York City in 2002

Since 2009, Londoners have stripped off for the event without fail, with the action only taking a break during the pandemic.  

Though the London event was previously organised by the Stiff Upper Lip Society, the group has since relinquished control of the event, claiming that there was no need for it anymore. 

Dave Selkirk previously told Secret London: ‘It’s been a popular event for so many years because it’s an event just for the sake of fun. It’s a very welcoming crowd and pictures over the years show what a great time everyone has. 

‘With all the sadness or seriousness out there in the world today, it’s a privilege to live in London and have an event such as this where we can just let go and have fun.

‘I’ve been involved for 6 years as a group leader and organiser, and when Stuff Upper Lip said they weren’t doing it this year I decided I’d like it to still go ahead.

‘Stiff Upper Lip felt it had run it’s course, I feel there’s still a huge demand for it, and that there is still a huge benefit to holding it.’

He told that he wants next year’s event to be even bigger and better, with several groups that travel to different parts of the city.