Bizarre items left on London trains revealed as £54k ring and dead frogs found on network

With nearly 25million journeys completed across Transport for London's vast network each day, it is perhaps unsurprising that forgetful passengers might leave one or two things behind.

But while bags, phones, books and keys are understandably easily misplaced, some of the thousands of lost items are a little more bizarre.

Latest figures from TfL's lost property office show that in the 2022-23 financial year, 42 forgotten fancy dress costumes were handed in but never reclaimed.

In the same period, 15 lost sex toys were found across the network, with four later returned to their owners.

Performance manager Diana Quaye recalled some of the most memorable property to have passed through the office in recent years, such as a didgeridoo, a tent and a box of dead frogs.

One lucky couple was even reunited with a lost engagement ring worth £54,000 after an honest taxi driver handed the jewellery into the office. Taxis in London are licensed by TfL.

Ms Quaye also explained one curious incident involving an elderly lady looking for her lost dentures at the office’s former site in Baker Street.

“They brought out this tray of false teeth and she started trying them all on, but they didn't fit," she said.

“Then she said she knew where she had lost them - her teeth had fallen down the toilet at home, so she thought she would come in and see if she could try and get one that would fit her.”

Thankfully, the lost property office now operates stricter guidance for those trying to claim items.

Passengers must now submit reports of lost items to check if the description can be matched to property logged in the TfL system.

If the owner does not try to reclaim an item, it becomes TfL property after 90 days and can be sold, donated, recycled, reused or destroyed.

In 2021-22, the lost property office made more than £180,000 from the sale of unclaimed items. 

In the same year, more than £200,000 in revenue was generated from unclaimed cash and nearly £100,000 from collection fees for reclaimed items.

Altogether, just over £482,000 in revenue was made by the TfL’s lost property office.

However, in the same period, the lost property office cost an estimated £700,000 to operate.

More than 210,000 lost items were logged, with nearly 48,000 items later reclaimed by their original owners.

Ms Quaye confirmed: “When it comes to auctions, we do not make any profit."