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About Next Station: London
Next Station: London is a flip-and-write game by Matthew Dunstan in which everyone draws Tube lines on their own map of London. A card is flipped, showing a station shape, and every player extends their line to a matching station. Over four rounds you draw four lines in four colours, scoring for districts covered, crossings of the Thames, tourist sites and interchanges. It teaches in five minutes and plays the same at any count.
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Is Next Station: London Right for You?
Best for
Next Station: London is for anyone who likes Railroad Ink or Welcome To and wants a flip-and-write with a clear, recognisable theme. It teaches in five minutes, plays with one to four players, and the same card flip gives everyone a shared puzzle to solve differently. It makes a good family game and a good opener. Because everyone plays at once from the same card, it takes the same half hour whether two or four are playing.
Maybe skip it if…
It has almost no interaction, so it is closer to a shared solitaire puzzle than a competition. Players who want to affect each other's plans should choose something else. There is only one map, so heavy repeat play can make it feel familiar.
How to Play Next Station: London
Setup
Each player takes a map sheet and one coloured pencil, which sets their starting station. Shuffle the station cards.
On Your Turn
- Flip the top station card.
- Every player extends their line from either end, in a straight line, to the next station with the matching symbol.
- Lines cannot cross each other or revisit a station on the same line. The round ends when enough Underground cards have been flipped.
How to Win
After each round, score districts entered multiplied by the most stations in one district, plus 2 per Thames crossing. After four rounds, add tourist sites and interchanges. Highest total wins.
💡 Strategy Tips
Leave both ends of your line open for as long as possible. A line with only one live end is at the mercy of the deck.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Drawing towards points too early. A line with one dead end loses flexibility for the rest of the round.
- Ignoring the Thames. Each crossing is worth two points and adds up quickly.
- Forgetting that lines cannot cross. A careless early segment in round one can block the lines you still have to draw in rounds three and four.
- Missing interchanges. Stations where several of your lines meet score well at the end.
Advanced Strategy
- Plan for the district scoring formula. Entering many districts is worth more if one district also holds several stations.
- Keep a route to tourist sites in mind. The tourist track scores at the end and rewards collecting them across rounds.
- Check the shared objectives at the start. They decide which parts of the map are worth reaching.
- Think about where your next colour will start. Crowding the centre in round one can starve your later lines.
Variants & House Rules
Pencil Power cards
Optional cards that give each pencil colour a power usable once per round. They add choice without much extra rules.
Next Station: Tokyo and Paris
Standalone sequels set in other cities, with their own scoring twists. London is still the simplest place to start.
Video Guides
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Our Verdict
Next Station: London is a clean, quick flip-and-write with a theme that fits the mechanism. Drawing Tube lines is instantly understood, and the scoring gives each round a clear goal. Every player faces the same flip, so a loss always feels like your own decision rather than bad luck. We think it is one of the best introductions to the genre.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you play solo?
Yes. The rules work the same with one player, and you play for your best score.
Does it scale well?
Yes. Everyone plays at the same time, so it takes about the same time at any count.
Who designed it?
Matthew Dunstan. It is published by Blue Orange Games.