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A simple drawing that changed how Londoners travel takes pride of place in a new exhibition about maps.

The 19cm by 24cm original sketch of the first Tube map was made by London Underground employee Harry Beck in 1931.

His radical idea was to put aside strict geographical accuracy. Tom Harper, curator of the show at the British Library, said: “The Tube was expanding and you had new stations in the suburbs and new lines.

“The problem was you couldn’t show all that using traditional map methods and still accurately show the complexity of the stations in the centre.

Beck realised distance did not matter and as a passenger all you needed to know was that this line is going to take you to your destination.” His design, inspired by an electrical circuit, was initially rejected. But it was a hit with the public and has been taken up around the world.

Maps and the 20th Century: Drawing the Line is at the library at King’s Cross from November 4 to March 1. It also features charts used by the Luftwaffe to plan raids on Battersea. Tickets go on sale today. Visit bl.uk