William Shakespeare: London Underground map given makeover for Bard's 400th anniversary

Shakespeare is believed to have died on his birthday, 23 April 1616, in Stratford-upon-Avon

(Transport for London/Shakespeare's Globe)

Bored of the Northern and Bakerloo lines on your daily commute? Why not try the Villains and Heroines lines instead? London Underground has released a special edition tube map to celebrate the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare’s death and the new station names are much more dramatic than the likes of Blackfriars and Bank.

Characters from the Bard’s iconic plays sit alongside each other, from Lady Macbeth to Cressida, with the three theatres where Shakespeare’s works were performed - the Globe, the Blackfriars and the Curtain - also bagging spots on the map, created by Transport for London and Shakespeare’s Globe.

“What this wonderful keepsake reveals is that Shakespeare’s work, his characters and themes intersect with each other in fascinating ways,” said Farah Karim-Cooper, head of research at Shakespeare’s Globe.

“To think about navigating the plays in the same way we think about getting around the Underground reminds us that as complex as they are, the works of Shakespeare are entirely accessible to everyone.”

Shakespeare collectors can buy the map from the London Transport Museum and the Globe with posters costing £3.99 and art prints £15.

Celebrations are planned nationwide for 23 April, when Shakespeare is believed to have died in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1616.