 | London Buses Reviews | Tips 1 - 10 of 204 |  |
London double decker buses are fabulous - but most fabulous of all are the old Routemaster buses - the open platformed, rear entry buses, which still have a conductor.
Unfortunately they are fazing them out and they won't be around for much longer......so ride one while you still can!! Leave a Comment
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Since the demise of the much loved London Routemaster buses in November 2004, the Nos 9 and 15 have been declared Heritage Routes, and restored to their 1960's style.
Heritage route 9 Stops are:
Royal Albert Hall
Knightsbridge
Piccadilly Circus
Trafalgar Square
Charing Cross
Strand
Aldwych
and
Heritage route 15 stops are:
Trafalgar Square
Charing Cross
Strand
Fleet Street
St Paul’s Cathedral
Monument
Tower Hill
Tickets
The TfL website states:
Standard fares will apply on both services, and all valid Bus Passes, Travelcards, Freedom Passes, Oyster cards and Saver Tickets will be accepted. Both routes will operate every fifteen minutes, between 0930 and 1830, seven days a week."
Sounds great! I shall definitely be taking a ride next time I am in the city! Leave a Comment
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The Big Bus – a hop on & off bus with live commentary - is perfect for your first time in London. The price also includes a great walking tour (there are a few to choose from – we took the “Royal London Walk,” ending up at Buckingham Palace) and a cruise on the Thames. Sit on the upper open deck for a perspective you won't get any other way. If you are visiting London in the winter, you can still do this. Just make sure you bring along a hat, scarf and gloves, because it can get pretty cold up there. The guides know a lot and some are very funny. We had one with a very strong Northern accent which was hard to understand at first, but eventually the penny dropped…Check the map before you set out and decide which attractions you want to see first. If there are any places you haven't covered by the time the day's over, you will now have your bearings and be able to get to them on your own, using the Underground.
There are two routes to choose from: the Red Tour or the Blue Tour (the buses are marked), which cover different parts of the city. The Big Bus operates every day of the year except Christmas Day. Leave a Comment Theme: Bus
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For a great orientation to the highlights of London try touring the city with THE BIG BUS COMPANY. The double-decker buses offer hop-on, hop-off convenience throughout downtown London with running live commentary. And because the tourguides come from all over, after a few bus changes you may get to hear several interesting variations on the Queen's English.
Pre-recorded narration in 8 foreign languages also is available.
You may purchase tickets at the designated Big Bus Stops all around London, in the office on Buckingham Palace Road, or online.
The cost is 17 pounds for adults - 8 pounds for children. (Slightly cheaper online.) Your all-day ticket is a free pass to cruises on the Thames as well: look for the Big Red Cruiseboat at either Westminster Pier or Tower Pier. Boats run daily every 30 minutes. Leave a Comment Theme: BusPhone: 44(020) 7233-9533Website: www.bigbus.co.uk Other Contact: 48 Buckingham Palace Rd. SW1
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The Riverside bus service has been operating since Summer 2003, and is especially useful for tourists.
It specifically links many of the key tourist destinations. The Route begins near Covent Garden, heads south of the river, past the Eye and the Tate. It then re-emerges from the south side crossing over Tower bridge to end its route near the Tower of London.
The buses are new, frequent (every 10 mins),feature LCD 'Next Stop' screens, and are fully integrated into the bus network, which means the fares are low (one pound for a single) and travelcards can be used.
Full route retails from the website or pick up a leaflet from one of the attractions near the route. Leave a Comment
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Although you no longer see the iconic Routemaster buses on London’s streets, you see plenty of others, mostly in the traditional bright red. In recent years there has been a policy of introducing more buses, and encouraging a reduction in the number of cars through the congestion charge. This makes travelling by bus in the city an attractive option – it’s reasonable value and unlike the tube you can see where you’re going and enjoy the sights along the way. But you’re still likely to encounter traffic jams, so I wouldn’t choose the bus if in a hurry.
If you do want to catch a bus in central London, look out for the bus stops where you should find plenty of information about the routes that pass that spot, and often about others in the area too. For complete route information though, download a map from the website below.
Once you know what route you want to take, you’ll need to buy a ticket, and in central London that means buying one in advance (in the suburbs you can pay the driver). There are machines at each stop but they don't all give change so make sure you carry some coins. It’s cheaper to buy an all-day pass if you’re going to be making lots of journeys, or even better, if you’re in town for more thana couple of days and plan to use the tube as well, get an Oyster (see my tube tip).
By the way, some of the routes pass so many famous sights they make a good value alternative to the sightseeing buses. Try the number 11 – you can start in the west in Chelsea, travel the famous Kings Road, hop off in Victoria for a short detour on foot to see Buckingham Palace, then return to the bus and head east past Westminster Cathedral, Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament, to Trafalgar Square. From there the route follows the Strand and another famous street, Fleet Street, to St Paul’s Cathedral and the City of London, where it finishes.
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I have to admit that I normally travel around London by Underground. It avoids the congestion and it is simple to know when to get off, as well as working out which bus number you need and where the stop is to get on.
However buses have the advantage that you can see what is around as you travel, so you can just hop off at the next stop if you see something you like.
A bit of "horses for courses" really. If you haven't visited London before, you probably want to go on one of the big red double-decker buses just to say you have been on one! Leave a Comment Theme: Bus
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London buses are quite flexible and fast generally, but when there is a congestion, especially near Oxford street, it might be better (and faster) to walk...
Anyhow, from a double decker the city is sooo diferent, so you got to use it sometimes! And actually at night they will take you everywhere without any problem! Leave a Comment
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London by bus
Buses in London now operate on a flat cash fare of £2.00 (£0.90 with Oyster prepay) for any journey anywhere in London.
There is no transit/transfer facility on London buses. If you change bus you have to buy another ticket.
Most visitors to London will find that a TravelCard is the most convenient and best value transport ticket, but if you know that you are not going to use the tube, you might be better off using Bus Saver tickets. You can buy these at newsagents and Tube ticket offices. They cost £6.00 for six tickets, saving you £1.00p on the cash fare each trip. When you board the bus, you should tear off the hexagonal portion of the ticket and hand it to the driver or conductor.
You can also get Bus Passes, which are valid on all bus routes (and the Croydon Tramlink). A one-day Bus Pass costs £3.50. If you have an Oyster prepay card, bus fares are 90p (up to a daily maximum £3).
On most routes within the central London Pay Before You Board area you are now supposed to have a ticket before you board the bus - you cannot pay the driver. This only applies in a fairly small area. You can tell by looking at the bus stop sign - if the route numbers are on a yellow background then you have to pay before you board. There will be ticket machines next to the bus stop. Of course, if you have a TravelCard, Bus Pass, or Bus Saver ticket you can use those on any bus anywhere in London.
It is worth remembering that, since there are no bus fare zones any more, all TravelCards are valid for any bus trip anywhere in London, no matter which zones the card is valid for. Leave a Comment
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The traditional London Bus - the red double-decker Routemaster - is a famous symbol of London!
The Routemaster is distinct for having a platform on the back and no door. You jump on and hold tight. A conductor comes around and collects your fare. The Routemaster has been going strong in London for over 50 years. The sound of its diesel roar is part of London, like the rattle of the London taxi, or the whine of the Tube.
These buses are rapidly being replaced because they are 'dangerous'. Instead you will have a modern single-decker, or a European style 'bendy' bus. OK, it is true that it is difficult for pushchairs and impossible for wheelchairs to get on the old double-deckers. The new buses solve that problem.
Forget the Underground and catch a bus while you are in London. You will see where you are going and where you have gone. Slowly, I admit! The day bus-pass for the whole of London is only about 3 GBP and can be bought at newsagents.
STOP PRESS: Its all over! The last Routemaster ran its final route in November 2005. Luckily there are a few 'Heritage Routes' which run the Routemaster through the centre of the city. And hey, with no conductors it is now easier to fare-dodge ;-) Leave a Comment
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