Use the buses. Really.

In most American cities, the bus network is just grim. In London, it's something everyone uses the whole time, so it has a budget, it's (relatively) clean, and it gets maintained. Very different deal.

[1] actually not always, but with very rare exception.

{EDIT:

I'm getting downvoted so I think I misunderstood what you were saying.

On rereading again I now think you were saying "unusually due to overcrowding the trains were missing out every other station". Previously, I thought you meant "unusually due to overcrowding the trains stopped as frequently as every other station [whereas usually they visit fewer stations than that]".

I was trying to point out that stopping often is usual Underground behavior, thinking that you were assuming it wasn't.

}

There's a very strongly worded sign at Covent Garden station, telling people that it really is faster to wait for a lift. But I often see tourists making their way up the stairs.