General Information » Getting Around » Bus

London’s network of buses can seem quite complex, but once you get used to hopping on and off it’s quite easy to negotiate and a great way to get around. The majority of the capital’s buses are distinctive red double-deckers – although they’re all now modern versions, as the famous Routemasters went out of service in 2005.

In some areas, such as parts of east London where the tube service isn’t available, certain bus routes are essential for commuters and can therefore get quite busy. This also means that a lot of effort has gone into running a reliable service – and on some streets buses are more frequent than taxis.

Tickets must be purchased before boarding in central London (Zone 1) and are available for £1.50 from machines at bus stops, although it can be easier and cheaper to buy a bus pass, carnet tickets (a pack of six costs £3.90) or credit on an Oyster card. These are available at Travel Information Centres, some bus stops, and newsagents (look for the bus symbol in the window).

Most services operate from 05:00 to 00:30, with certain routes now operating 24 hour services. A network of night buses is also available. These are generally reliable, but journeys from the West End can get pretty rowdy at weekends.