The winner of the Royal Institute of British Architects’ 2024 Stirling Prize for Best Building in the UK category was awarded to London’s Elizabeth Line, the city’s new Cross-London rail project that revolutionized riding the “tube” for commuters and out-of-town visitors on the relatively new Elizabeth Line.

This award was shared by four design and architecture firms — Grimshaw, Maynard, Equation and AtkinsRéalis. In its first two years of operation, the Elizabeth Line posted 300 million journeys, with 700,000 passengers now traveling on the line each weekday.

The Elizabeth Line provides a high-speed connection between Heathrow Airport and central London, complementing the existing Piccadilly Line service but with different routes and stations. The new Elizabeth Line enhances city transport options by offering faster and more direct travel across several city zones.

The modern and sometimes-futuristic-looking style of the Elizabeth Line is so well-done, and the service runs so smoothly, passengers are not quite taking the project for granted yet, although they will in time. The design makes for frictionless journeys, and even the enclosed underground spaces feel open and relaxed during rush hours.

“This is architecture of the digital age, a vast scheme that utilizes cutting-edge technology to create distinctive spatial characteristics and experiences,” said Muyiwa Oki, judge, RIBA. “It rewrites the rules of accessible public transport, and sets a bold new standard for civic infrastructure, opening up the network, and by extension, London, to everyone.”

The project is unsurpassed for consistent, tested and creative design encompassing platform architecture, passenger tunnels, escalators, station concourses, signage, furniture, fittings and supporting technology across 41 older stations, including large parts of the 10 new stations.

Named in honor of Queen Elizabeth II, the Elizabeth Line runs from Reading and Heathrow to Essex and South East London. Spanning 62 miles of track and 26 miles of tunnels, it is an extraordinarily complex architectural project, as well as a monumental achievement.

The Elizabeth Line navigates through centuries of untouched history buried deep beneath London, while carefully avoiding both new and ancient underground footings and sewage systems. The rail line excavation project became part of Britain’s largest-ever archaeological dig, uncovering a wealth of historical artifacts, from a Tudor bowling ball to the remains of a million-year-old woolly mammoth.

The Elizabeth Line can transport travelers from Heathrow to central London in less than 45 minutes, with trains running every 30 minutes. Prices from Heathrow to central London (Zone 1) cost £12.80 (about $16.50). The easiest way to pay is by using a contactless bank card or Oyster card. Heathrow passengers can also buy tickets and travelcards at Heathrow Airport Rail stations at the various airport terminals.