Having been to N.Y.C. and experienced the subway system there, I honestly felt pretty comfortable traveling on the Tube for the first time. The tap in/out process was initially confusing, but it made sense once I learned that it is a distance-based charge. In a way, the Tube is actually easier than the N.Y.C. subway: lines are named with specific names versus an assortment of letters and numbers, and if I make a mistake and am on the wrong platform, I can easily access a different one without having to tap out or leave the station and come back in, as I do in N.Y.C. The app I use to navigate around London has also been a big factor. I would highly recommend Citymapper to anyone coming here over Apple or Google Maps. By this point, certain routes that I go on frequently, such as my route to school, have become almost second-nature. Rush hour can get quite crowded, however, and with many people comes a good amount of body heat, so I have since tried to plan my journeys to avoid those times.
I would definitely say that the Tube is connected to London's culture and environment. Beyond the fact that the Underground is one of the things many people outside London and tourists associate with the city, it is also a staple part of many people's commute to work.
