routemaster london tour

Discover The Top London Attractions in 75 minutes

The Classic Tour is a wonderful vintage double decker bus tour and sightseeing experience like no other. Hop on board our carefully restored classic 1960s double-decker Routemaster bus, for your open-top ride through the best attractions in London.  Our hand-picked, highly trained, entertaining and comedic tour guides are the best in the business and will help you experience an authentic London you may not have known. They are also very funny! You will see more, learn more and laugh more while understanding the astonishing history of the Capital, taking the photos and selfies of a lifetime, and enjoying the glorious sights of London.

Please note – choice of seats and deck are given on a first-come first-serve basis.

A Classic London Bus Experience

Experience historical London from our beautiful and iconic open-top London bus which was originally used by London Transport from the 1960s.

Finest Tour Guides in London

Our brilliant tour guides come from a variety of entertainment backgrounds and will bring you a tour like no other. Our guides really do know their history and facts about London. They will share their wealth of knowledge with you, as you pass the key landmarks. Watch and listen out for some incredible insights into the making of our Capital city.

State of The Art Audio Equipment

The buses have been fitted with state of the art enhanced technology to bring your experience into the 21 st century.

The Classic Tour Story

The Classic Tour provides a unique and entertaining tour on one of the most iconic and historic vehicles of our time - the Routemaster bus. It is seen in all the classic films with London as a back-drop, it is on all the postcards, and though they are no longer in widespread public service, with us you can still experience this thrilling, prestigious and stately ride that allows the most intimate and authentic opportunity to be experience and be part of our great city.

YOUR JOURNEY

Your journey starts at Trafalgar Square.

Departing from the absolute heart and centre of London, you will follow a carefully selected route to allow you to discovery the very best of our Capital and see the best attractions, buildings and landmarks in London. You will have constant opportunities to take some fantastic photographs and better understand the history of how and why the buildings came to symbolise our great city. Please also note, although we will always try our best, on rare occasions we may be unable to visit every landmark listed on the tour.

Find out more here

Our tours depart from Northumberland Avenue at:

Please Note: Our tours only run on certain days, please check our booking form for the latest date & time information

Please note that tour times are subject to change.

The following tickets are available when you book:

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• TERMS & CONDITIONS

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St Paul’s Cathedral, London, is an Anglican cathedral, the seat of the Bishop of London and the mother church of the Diocese of London. It sits on Ludgate Hill at the highest point of the City of London and is a Grade 1 listed building.

Trafalgar Square is a public square in the City of Westminster, Central London, built around the area formerly known as Charing Cross. Its name commemorates the Battle of Trafalgar, a British naval victory in the Napoleonic Wars with France and Spain that took place on 21 October 1805 off the coast of Cape Trafalgar, Spain.

Buckingham Palace is the London residence and administrative headquarters of the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is often at the centre of state occasions and royal hospitality. It has been a focal point for the British people at times of national rejoicing and mourning.

Westminster Abbey, formally titled the Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, is a large, mainly Gothic abbey church in the City of Westminster, London, just to the west of the Palace of Westminster.

The Shard, also referred to as the Shard of Glass, Shard London Bridge and formerly London Bridge Tower, is a 95-storey skyscraper in Southwark, London, that forms part of the London Bridge Quarter development. Standing 309.7 metres (1,016 ft) high, the Shard is the tallest building in the United Kingdom, the fourth-tallest building in Europe and the 111th-tallest building in the world.

The Tower of London, officially Her Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London, is a historic castle located on the north bank of the River Thames in central London. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the square mile of the City of London by the open space known as Tower Hill.

The London Eye is a giant Ferris wheel on the South Bank of the River Thames in London. The structure is 443 feet (135 m) tall and the wheel has a diameter of 394 feet (120 m). When it opened to the public in 2000 it was the world’s tallest Ferris wheel.

Tower Bridge is a combined bascule and suspension bridge in London built between 1886 and 1894. The bridge crosses the River Thames close to the Tower of London and has become an iconic symbol of London, resulting in it sometimes being confused with London Bridge, situated some 0.5 mi (0.80 km) upstream

Downing Street is a street in London, United Kingdom, known for housing the official residences and offices of the Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer. “Downing Street” is used as a metonym for the Government of the United Kingdom.

London: Ride a Routemaster Bus Sightseeing Tour

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Ride of Routemaster and See London

Christmas Lights tour by Heritage bus

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London: Ride a Routemaster Bus Sightseeing Tour - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Hop-on Hop-off London Routemaster Bus Tour

• 48 Hour Ticket (2 Day Ticket)
• Not wheelchair accessible
• Near public transportation
• Confirmation will be received at time of booking
• Most travellers can participate
• This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
• For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

• K397FThelenac 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles Never showed up Booked it day before never showed up waited 2 hours was never informed wasn't running rang the office no answer, took our money and had no service running the entire day! Paid for it and never used it I would give Zero out of 5 Read more Written 26 February 2024
• 670fionab 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles Utter waste of time and money. Disgraceful customer service. 1 star is too many. Booked this in October. My bank card was cloned in Nov and the payment for the remaining balance due the day before obviously was declined due to the bank having now issued a replacement with different details. Attempted to contact the tour operator via TripAdvisor message, rang the number left a voice message and sent a text. I re-booked in a panic as this was meant to be a Christmas treat for my family. Didn't realise it had defaulted the time to 8pm. I tried to change the time online and it cancelled and said the £112.50 was non refundable. I tried ringing multiple times and left another voice message and sent another text. No one answered or responded. Eventually about an hour and half before the start time a person who was just passing by answered the phone. Said he would ask a manager if we could still go on the tour and ring me back. He did. He said no guarantees but we could try. We were only allowed on the bottom of the bus. We could see no Christmas lights at all. Hear none of the audio commentary that the top level was getting and it was absurd. A complete waste of time and money. Utter lack of customer service and communication. Read more Written 29 December 2023
• missm812 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles Don't waste your money So disappointing. Waited for a long time, bus finally arrived...no commentary, no explanation when it stopped and the engine was turned off. It appeared the remaining stops has been cancelled due to roadworks in the area of Picadilly circus, so the plan was for the bus to turn around and do the same route we had just done. This was only communicated when we went to locate the driver to enquire why we were no longer moving. Don't waste your money. You can catch a local bus for 1/10th of the price and do this exact trip without having to wait 30 minutes for the bus to show up. Read more Written 17 December 2023
• Jeffus89 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Fun on a Route Master 1964 Very enjoyable the Conductor was very knowledgeable and great fun. The price was right and for just under the hour where you could drop off and jump back on its ideal as part of you London experience. Read more Written 27 August 2023
• 378tjb 0 contributions 4.0 of 5 bubbles Good experience. Fun way to travel around London. There is a conductor on board who is very knowledgeable but only narrates if few people are onboard. Given the price, it is well worth it. Read more Written 25 August 2023
• stevesC6124LD 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles Awful don’t recommend Bus was late even with minimal traffic. The person at the back was dressed like a child with all them badges looks very unprofessional. Didn’t tell us where we are just kept singing. Read more Written 12 May 2023

More to explore in London

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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Hop-on Hop-off London Routemaster Bus Tour provided by London: Ride a Routemaster Bus Sightseeing Tour

Classic Afternoon Tea London Sightseeing Bus Tour

Indulge in a one-of-a-kind afternoon tea experience with the classic afternoon tea bus london sightseeing tour by brigit's bakery..

Our exclusive vintage Routemaster buses wind their way through the heart of Central London, offering a unique blend of delightful sightseeing and delectable Brigit's themed afternoon teas on a classic double-decker bus!

As you sip your tea, you'll soak in the vibrant culture, iconic landmarks, and rich history of London. Our London Routemaster bus will treat you to breathtaking views of renowned attractions like Big Ben, The Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, St James's Park, Hyde Park, The Royal Albert Hall, Marble Arch, Nelson's Column, Downing Street, and many more. It's not just a tea; it's a journey through London's heritage.

Savour the sweet and savoury flavours of France with a selection of scrumptious finger sandwiches, including classics like smoked salmon and cream cheese, and mouthwatering cakes and pastries, all expertly crafted by our executive pastry chef to enhance your tea experience. And of course, no afternoon tea would be complete without scones with jam and clotted cream.

Why choose us? We take pride in being the original classic tour, conducted on an iconic 1960s Routemaster bus. Our commitment to preserving tradition and creating lasting memories sets us apart from the rest.

Don't miss out on this extraordinary adventure! Book your spot now for the Classic Afternoon Tea Bus London Sightseeing Tour and and embark on a tea-infused journey through the heart of London. Reserve your seat today and make this unique experience a cherished memory.

Take a look at our Traditional Afternoon Tea Menu and dietary options below.

Traditional afternoon tea london menu, freshly prepared savouries.

Mini spinach & cheddar quiche Cucumber, cream cheese & mint finger on basil bread Turkey ham & cheese, mayo mustard finger on tomato bread Feta, tomato & red pepper savoury muffin Salmon & cucumber pretzel with cream cheese

Assortment of mini Homemade Cakes & Tarts

Chocolate & pistachio tart Biscoff choux Carrot cupcake with cream cheese frosting Lemon & lime sable with whipped ganache

Freshly baked, plain scone with clotted cream & jam

Drink options included in our Traditional Afternoon Tea

Coffee & Hot Chocolate Americano | Cappuccino | Latte Macchiato | Hot Chocolate

Tea Selection English Breakfast | Earl Grey | Decaf Black Tea | Redbush | Peppermint | Lemon & Ginger | Berry & Elderflower | Jasmine Tea | Green Tea | Chai Tea

Our Traditional Menu is seasonal and may vary. Please check with us, at time of booking, for any changes.

Sparkling wine.

PROSECCO BRUT SUGAR-FREE VILLA MARCELLO Bottle £39 PROSECCO ROSE VILLA MARCELLO Glass £11 | Bottle £36 PROSECCO ZIA Glass £9 | Bottle £32 NYETIMBER CLASSIC CUVEE Half Bottle £35 | Bottle £65

CASTELNAU BRUT Half Bottle £28 | Bottle £48 LOUIS ROEDERER ROSE Half Bottle £65 CASTELNAU ROSE Bottle £55 CASTELNAU BLANC DE BLANC Bottle £85 LIMITED COLLECTION LOUIS ROEDERER Bottle £95 VINTAGE ROSE LOUIS ROEDERER Bottle £95 CRISTAL LOUIS ROEDERER Bottle £315

Seasonal Offerings

MULLED WINE GIN COCKTAIL

Seating Plan

Bus routes & departure points, purchase gift vouchers, we're wheelchair-friendly, did you know that we have a wheelchair-friendly bus for our afternoon tea london sightseeing tours, dietary options & allergens.

Unfortunately, we are unable to cater for: nut-free, peanut-free, combination of dairy & gluten-free, combination of vegan & gluten-free and Coeliacs. Gluten-free menu may contain traces. Vegan and gluten free teas are £3 extra. Please specify requirements upon reservation. All allergies must be emailed and confirmed by management at [email protected] . Thank you for your understanding.

We offer the following alternative Afternoon Tea menus:

Celebrating an occasion

We took our friends on an afternoon tea on Brigit's Bus, the food and service was excellent, the staff we very friendly and we had a lovely time celebrating the friends Golden Wedding Anniversary. The weather was cloudy but it did not spoil the trip. It was a lovely afternoon. We look forward to doing it again.

Superb experience

Booked this as a surprise for my daughter before seeing a London show. What an overall amazing experience. From getting on the bus to leaving the bus it was worth every penny, driving around London seeing the key sights and the food was gorgeous. We had the vegetarian and they were varied and fresh. Giving a little box to take home uneaten sandwiches/cakes was genius as it was more than it looked. The staff were so friendly and helpful and I highly recommend this and we will do it again.

A deliciously British experience!

The whole experience was incredible. Went there as a surprise to my friends and we absolutely loved it! We enjoyed every bite of this delicious afternoon tea. Needless to say we ate everything…! The tour was also a delight. Weather was nice and allowed us to see all the beautiful landmarks perfectly.

Afternoon Tea in LaLa Land

Our friends booked me and my wife this treat for my birthday and it was excellent, nice food great service one and half hour of travelling around London with good commentary of the sites in between listening to nice xmas carols, really do go into la la land. would recommend this trip to any age group.

The food was first class as was the service

Surprised my wife on her 50th birthday with a group of 14 friends/family on the tour bus. It was absolutely fabulous and everyone had a great time, the food was first class as was the service. I asked them to make a birthday cake and wow it was amazing! The tour itself was also fab and credit to the driver as he must have nerves of steel. I can’t remember the waitresses names but both were so professional and nothing was too much trouble. Top marks and well done Brigit’s Bakery.

Fantastic birthday gift

I booked this for 5 Adults for my sisters 40th Birthday - and have to say it was amazing!! The food was delicious, the selection of drinks too, and the attention to detail was so cute! You got to keep the hot tea flasks that drinks were served in - and they gave out little pink takeaway boxes for any spare cakes! As it was my sisters birthday they brought out a cake with a candle and we all sung happy birthday! I will be highly recommending this to my friends!

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LONDON SIGHTSEEING BUS PRIVATE HIRE

You can hire our buses or our bakery for your own unique party. we create bespoke events to your requirements..

There is a recorded guide commentary on our buses and friendly servers to answer any questions! Children under the age of 5 are not permitted due to health and safety regulations. Images may not depict the current menu.

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T: 020 3026 1188 E: [email protected]

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• Wedding Hire
• Corporate Hire
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Sightseeing

• Included with your Hire
• Personalised Destination Blind
• Personalised Bus Tickets
• Host Service

Sightseeing tours for you and your group.  Design your own! The safest and simple way to cover the sights that YOU would need to see without the inconvenience of a generic tour.​

Our tours can be provided on board our classic buses and our coaches.​

With experienced, multi lingual and professional blue badge guides, we can design a tour that provides you with the ultimate London sightseeing experience and not to mention the once in a lifetime photo opportunities aboard our vintage buses.​

• London City Tours >

Highlights of London with River Cruise - 3.5 Hours

Our highlights of London tour is the perfect way to introduce yourself to the city. Enjoy a panoramic bus tour with a live guide and watch the Changing of the Guard Ceremony outside Buckingham Palace. You’ll enjoy amazing views of the city’s most famous attractions, including Westminster Abbey, The Tower of London, and the London Eye, as well as enjoy a private cruise along the River Thames. End the trip with an optional flight on the London Eye or a traditional fish & chip meal.

Our highlights tour of London is available every day in the morning and afternoon.

• Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure

Highlights of London

• Discover the city onboard a restored open-top 1950’s Routemaster Bus. This is the iconic red bus that is a symbol of London. See London’s most famous sites and disembark for a photo stop outside of Westminster Abbey, where King Charles was crowned. Watch the Changing of the Guard ceremony outside Buckingham Palace
• Learn more about the city with an onboard commentary from a professional guide
• Take a cruise along the River Thames that passes Shakespeare’s Globe, Cleopatra’s Needle, Tower Bridge, The Shard and the Tower of London.  During the summer months, we use a private boat that is on exclusive hire to our customers

River Thames Cruise

Choose to add-on to your tour the following upgrades at checkout:

Tour with Cruise plus London Eye

Following your bus tour and river cruise, we will transfer you to the London Eye with tickets to enjoy a flight on the famous Ferris wheel. Enjoy amazing views from high above and spot landmarks like the Houses of Parliament and River Thames.

Tour with Cruise plus Fish & Chip Meal

At the end of your tour and cruise, enjoy a delicious fish & chip meal. This is the national dish of Britain!

Tour with Cruise plus London Dungeon

Includes tickets and transfer to the London Dungeon, which recreates scenes from London’s scary history. Discover 360 sets with gripping storytelling

Tour with Cruise plus London Aquarium

Includes tickets and transfer to the London Aquarium. You’ll get to see amazing creatures, including seadragons, sharks, turtles and more!

what to know:

• The tour departs at 07:45 and 13:00 from London Victoria Coach Station
• This Highlights of London tour lasts approximately 3.5   hours (without upgrades)
• It includes a London vintage bus tour with photo stops outside of Westminster Abbey, viewing of the Changing of the Guard ceremony outside Buckingham Palace and a River Thames Cruise.
• When the Changing of the Guard does not take place, we stop instead for photos of Buckingham Palace.
• You can choose to add-on upgrades at checkout. We provide transfer to all venues
• This is a fully guided tour and includes an individual headset to hear the guide’s commentary
• Since this is an open-top tour, it’s recommended to bring a raincoat! On rare occasions, the open-top bus may be changed to a closed-top bus

Tour Booking

Terms and conditions, you might also be interested.

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Fully Guided Day Tour of London

Afternoon Tea Bus with London Sightseeing - 1.5 Hours

Highlights of london - 2 hours.

London Hop on Hop off Bus with Optional River Cruise

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There’s a new regular London bus route using vintage Routemasters

Route A will run between Piccadilly Circus and Waterloo via Trafalgar Square, Big Ben and the London Eye

Along with red phone boxes, red post boxes and M&Ms World, nothing says ‘London’ like a red double-decker bus. Specifically, the classic Routemaster, which was the staple of London’s bus routes for 50 years. Introduced in 1956, the Routemaster was still in everyday service until 2005, and continued running on ‘heritage’ routes until 2021. A real trouper. So beloved was the classic design that it inspired the creation of Thomas Heatherwick’s ‘New Bus for London’, one of then-mayor Boris Johnson’s grand projects. A design, that while uniquely striking, is in all fairness is probably not going to be running on our streets in 2070.

Now, though, there is a new chance to experience the heyday of the Routemaster. A company called ‘Londoner Buses’ is starting a new regular bus route in central London entirely equipped with vintage Routemasters. The line, which will be known as Route A, will run from Piccadilly Circus to Waterloo Station and back, taking in Trafalgar Square, Horse Guards, Parliament Square and Big Ben, and the London Eye en route. So it’s aimed fairly and squarely at the tourist Instagram market. And why not?

After all, if you’re going to get a hop-on, hop-off bus experience in the West End, you might as well travel authentically rather than on something emblazoned with a massive Union Jack and with no roof.

Route A will run every 20 minutes, with 14 stops along the route. Tickets are £5 a day, with unlimited use, so it’s pretty good value (certainly beats a rickshaw). However, bear in mind that you CANNOT use Oyster cards on the new service, cos it’s not run by Tfl, innit.

So bounce around on an ancient London bus over the heritage potholes of Westminster, trying not to think about the post-apocalyptic landscape.

Londoners Buses ’ Route A runs between Piccadilly Circus and Waterloo via Trafalgar Square, Big Ben and the London Eye. £5.

The Paddington Bear statue at Paddington station has been moved after a protest . 

Take a look inside the spectacular renovation of Battersea Power Station .

• Chris Waywell Deputy Editor, Time Out London

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Classic television with ‘on the buses’, ai generated images of routemaster buses, harry potter and the ‘knight bus’.

Welcome to Routemaster Buses

The Classic British Red Letter Box

The Red Telephone Box… a British Icon

• History of the Routemaster Bus

The Routemasters

On February 8th 1956, passengers boarded what was to become not only a national icon but an internationally recognisable symbol of Englishness along with the ‘Red Telephone Box’, the ‘Red Post Office Box’, the ‘Mini Cooper’, and ‘Big Ben’. That cold and snowy February morning back in 1956, the Route 2 departed from Golders Green to Crystal Palace, transporting its first passengers not only to their destinations but also into the annals of British transport history.

Such was the popularity of the Routemaster bus, that when the film Summer Holiday starring Ciff Richard driving an AEC Regent III RT double-decker bus was released in 1963, the general public referred to the bus as a Routemaster and the belief still prevails to this day.

After the turn of the century, European Union transport regulations on disabled access meant that the old reliable Routemaster buses were no longer allowed to run along the streets of London town. The old red bus was not very accessible for pushchairs and prams and the London mayor at the time, Ken Livingstone, made the decision to bring the long illustrious history of the Routemaster bus to an end.

On Friday 9th December 2005 after a long and productive life lasting nearly fifty years the Routemaster bus number 159,running between Streatham and Marble Arch, made its solemn last journey through the streets of London. just two months shy of its fiftieth birthday, the Routemaster bus was no more. However, buses were allowed to continue running along new heritage routes which were exempt from the new legislation. The heritage routes were the number 9 service running between Kensington High Street and Trafalgar Square and also the number 15 service running between Trafalgar Square and Tower Hill. on 25 July 2014 the route 9 service ended and as of writing the 15 route continues to run and travels from the following locations: Tower Hill station (London Underground), Monument station (London Underground), Cannon Street station (London Underground) (National Rail), Mansion House station (London Underground), St Paul’s Churchyard, City Thameslink station (National Rail), Aldwych, Strand, Charing Cross station (London Underground) (National Rail) and Trafalgar Square

The Routemaster was no more…or was it? In 2007, Boris Johnson the tousled haired MP and candidate for London mayor announced that should the electorate decide that he become mayor of London, he would dispense of the Bendy Bus and return to the capitol’s streets, an old favourite…The Routemaster Bus. Despite being an old favourite, the Routemaster would need a an overhaul, a redesign to meet the challenges of a modern metropolitan city such as London and after Boris’s victory, a competition to design the next Routemaster bus was initiated.

Eventually a company called Wrightbus who are based in Northern Ireland were awarded the contract. It was some time before the design of the new Routemaster was unveiled but in May 2010 everyone got to to see what the long awaited new Routemaster bus would look like. It would be nearly another two years before the new Routemasters would make their first appearances on the streets of London in February 2012 with the first prototype of eight being put into service on the number 38 route. There are now 800 new style Routemaster buses on the streets thanks to Boris Johnson and his ‘Boris Bus’ or ‘Borismaster’.

You can still enjoy a ride on a Routemaster on

Heritage route t15, ride a routemaster on heritage route t15, click the links below for more info.

Tourist Bus Route   T15

View Timetable

Take a Ride on a London icon...

The Routemaster is as much an icon of London as the tourist attractions you'll see along the route. 

what you'll see along the way...

Get the best views...

& see sights in the city

Piccadilly Circus

Trafalgar Square

Royal Courts of Justice

St.Paul's Cathedral

Monument to Great Fire

Tower of London

Tower Bridge

Classic london buses for your special occasions..., our fleet of classic routemaster buses are available for weddings, private hires, corporate transport - in fact any of your special occasions - get in touch to see how we can help you with your special day. find out more @ londonbus4hire, subscribe to updates....

Londoner Buses

25 Jews Row, London SW18 1BT

Tel: 07835 031471

Terms & Conditions

Conditions of Carriage

get in touch...

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: Londoner Buses

Twitter: @LondonerBuses

History of London’s Double-Decker – The Routemaster

The Routemaster bus has a long and storied history in London. AEC designed it in the 1930s to replace older buses, quickly becoming part of the city’s visual identity. The design features at the front of each bus meant that they could be driven with just one hand while leaving the other free to open doors for passengers (hence “Routemaster”). However, due to safety concerns, double-deckers are no longer allowed on many of London’s major roads these days. They’re still used as tour buses or coaches rather than everyday public transport vehicles!

In the 1930s, London Transport began looking for a replacement for first-generation double-deckers

London Transport began looking at options, including the Leyland Titan PD3, which Leyland Motors Ltd had developed as a competitor against the AEC Regent III RT (RT standing for ‘rear engine’ or ‘rear traction’) – which Associated Equipment Company was producing (AEC) – as well as being built under license in Australia by Commonwealth Engineering Pty Ltd (later known simply as “Commonwealth”).

The Leyland Titan PD3 had been explicitly designed for London Transport’s needs. It was light enough for easy handling yet strong enough to cope with everyday use on urban routes. It was also capable of turning within its length. Something that most double-deckers struggled with, especially those that had rear engines, leaf springs, and spoked wheels like those found on buses used by other operators. Midland Red & Tilling Group still used pre-war types such as AEC Regal IVs & V’s (as depicted below).

In 1934, the company held a competition for designs for a new double-decker bus

In 1934, the company held a competition for designs for a new double-decker bus. The requirements were that it had to be able to make a 20 mph turn with a full passenger load, a top speed of 30 mph, have seating on both decks for 23 people, and have a driving position in the front of the bus.

As you may know, London’s first electric tram system opened in 1890 using conduit current collection from overhead lines. London Transport was created as an authority in 1933 by merging tram companies within London and then purchasing those outsides of London (the latter being done under the 1935 Act).

It was at this time that many different types of buses were introduced. Some examples include Freighter, Stanier FV1 (Duple 531), Guy Arab III/2 (Metro Cammell Weymann) and AEC Regent V (Weymann). However, none proved popular enough with boroughs or passengers, so they all faded except one type: Leyland Titan PD2T/TK. It became known as “General Service” types within LT until 1971 when Routemasters replaced them. A few remained after that date, but they did not fulfill their intended role, so they were eventually withdrawn or sold off.

Only two companies submitted designs: AEC and Leyland Motors

The first prototype was ready by May 1952 and had a maximum speed of 70 mph (112 km/h).

In 1953, AEC’s design was chosen, using their horizontally mounted AEC A70 engine. The prototype was refined in 1954 with input from Scottish Transport Minister Thomas Skelton-Clark and several senior London Transport managers, including Stanley Raymond.

The first production models entered service in August 1956, operating routes 114 and 189 without fareboxes or destination displays. They were extensively tested by staff at the London Transport Training Center in Neasden Lane. Both vehicles were allocated to Catford garage at this time before moving to other depots on 1 January 1957, when they started work on services 7 and 28.

The first pre-production ‘Routemaster’ came off the production line in 1954

The Routemaster was the first double-decker bus to have a front entrance. It was powered by a Gardner 6LW engine (later replaced by an AEC AFV unit). The Routemaster was designed by a team led by AEC chief engineer George England. This bus quickly became an important part of London’s history of passenger transportation .

The Routemaster established itself as a reliable vehicle

The Routemaster became popular with Londoners, who appreciated its open platform, which allowed them to hop on and off at any point in the journey. The vehicle was also built to be reliable and low-maintenance—a big improvement over past buses.

Routemasters were produced by AEC (Armstrong-Elswick) and Leyland Motors, who would later merge to become one of Europe’s largest bus manufacturers. Production began in 1954, with a total of 2,876 produced before production ended in 1968.

When they were first introduced, they had single doors on both sides like a tram. Still, double doors replaced these after some drivers complained that passengers could not get on or off quickly enough due to poor visibility when opening their single door while moving along busy streets.

In 2005, 500 of the last remaining Routemasters retired from service on route 159 

On 10 December 2005, 500 remaining Routemasters retired from service on route 159 between Marble Arch and Streatham Hill. This meant the end of regular everyday use of the Routemaster bus in London.

The iconic bus was designed by London Transport’s chief engineer John George Hinton. Hinton also designed its predecessor, the RT1 (Routemaster), which entered service in 1956. The RML was a hybrid double-decker that combined features found on both its predecessors: it was partly converted from an RT1 and partly built anew with a rear entrance floor to create greater standee space at peak times. However, these were not as accessible as those on an RT2 or later low-floor buses.

London Transport introduced the Routemaster to replace its aging fleet of trolleybuses. This bus is still a familiar sight in London , with many examples remaining in service today as heritage vehicles. The Routemaster remained in production from 1954 until 1968 and was one of AEC’s most successful products.

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