Last Sunday, anyone taking the London Underground might have witnessed a strange sight. A group of passengers boarded trains wearing nothing but their underwear. They looked cheerful and relaxed. Online reactions, however, were far less forgiving.
To be clear, this was not the work of exhibitionists acting alone. It was a coordinated flash mob with a long and unusual history. The event is widely known as the No Pants Subway Ride.
A Flash Mob That Once Spanned the World
The No Pants Subway Ride began in 2002. It was created by the comedy performance group Improv Everywhere. The group describes its mission as staging spontaneous performances in public spaces. Their goal is simple. Confuse people briefly, then make them laugh. 
One of their most famous stunts took place in 2008 at Grand Central Terminal in New York. More than 200 participants froze in place at the same moment. The resulting confusion became one of the most viewed early internet videos, surpassing 37 million views.
The No Pants Subway Ride followed the same spirit. It was deliberately meaningless. Participants were told to act completely normal. They were supposed to read newspapers or stare at their phones. The only difference was that they were not wearing trousers.
From Seven Participants to Sixty Countries
In its first year, only seven people took part. Almost no media noticed. As Improv Everywhere gained fame, the event grew rapidly. By 2006, around 150 people joined in New York alone. That year, eight participants were briefly detained by police before being released.
The event arrived in London in 2009. The rules were simple. Participants had to wear ordinary underwear. They also had to keep a straight face. If they laughed, nothing happened. Many people did laugh anyway.
By 2018, the No Pants Subway Ride had spread to more than 60 cities worldwide. Participants appeared in Munich, Berlin, Prague, Washington, D.C., Warsaw, and even Jerusalem. Everywhere, the same ritual played out. People rode public transport in winter. They wore coats on top and underwear below.
Why London Is the Last City Standing
After 2018, the COVID-19 pandemic brought the event to a global halt. Unlike many other traditions, it never fully recovered. Today, London appears to be the only city still holding the ride.
This year’s participants gathered near Chinatown in Soho. They walked together to the Underground. Once inside, they removed their trousers and continued their journey.
Photos show smiling faces. Online comments tell a different story.
Backlash in a More Serious Cultural Climate
British tabloid coverage, particularly in the Daily Mail, was dominated by criticism. Many commenters dismissed the participants as attention seekers. Others described the stunt as childish or offensive. Some went further. They claimed it symbolized cultural decline.
Beyond online anger, broader social changes also play a role. Public tolerance for prank-based performances has decreased. Cultural debates have become more serious. Activities that exist purely for fun now face greater scrutiny.
Feminist Criticism and Safety Concerns
Before this year’s event, Glamour UK published an article opposing the ride. The author explained that she had experienced sexual harassment on public transport. For her, the event was not harmless fun. She described it as unsettling and provocative.
She cited official statistics from Transport for London. According to the data, 595 sexual offences were reported on the Underground during the 2024 to 2025 period. This was the highest figure since 2019 to 2020.
The article also referenced rising violence against women across the UK. From that perspective, the author argued that events like the No Pants Subway Ride could create opportunities for harassment. She concluded that the tradition no longer had a place in the city’s culture.
An Event Approaching Its End
The decline is not only ideological. It is logistical. The group that once organized the London ride stopped doing so after 2023. In recent years, only two individuals have continued coordinating it. Even they appear close to giving up.
If that happens, the No Pants Subway Ride will quietly disappear. It will survive only in photos and viral videos. For some, it will be remembered as playful absurdity. For others, it will feel like a relic that deserved to fade away.
Whether its disappearance is a loss or a relief remains open to debate.
