If you're planning a trip to London, you won't want to miss out on the famous red city bus.
Today, I'd like to take a closer look at these buses.
Red bus in London: article summary
London's red buses: where do they run?
There's no single London bus map. In all, there are 675 routes. It would be impossible to represent them all on a single map.
London buses run all over the city, connecting all bus stations. metro and train. They're inexpensive and once you've learned the basics, they're very easy to use.
Paying for buses in London
Bus journeys in London cost ยฃ1.75 for adults. This includes unlimited connections within one hour of connection. Children under 11 travel free with a paying adult.
The daily ceiling for adults is ยฃ5.25.This means that no matter how many London buses you take in a day, you won't pay more than ยฃ5.25 for a full day's bus travel.
Make sure you always use the same contactless payment method for each journey to avoid overpaying.
London's red bus: the perfect way to travel on a budget
Although cheaper than the tube, the most you could spend all day using buses is around ยฃ5, while the most you could spend on the tube is closer to ยฃ10.
Plan your route
The first step to taking a bus in London is to plan your route. You can find several different route options depending on your destination.
Google Maps is a great application for getting around. But you can also use Citymapper or Waze.
London red bus: find your bus stop
Once you've identified the appropriate bus route, it's time to locate the bus stop. London bus stops are easily identified by their red circular signs with a white bus symbol.
Bus stops are designated by letters. Make sure you stand at the right stop letter, because the bus will not stop at an unassigned stop.
Some bus stops may also display digital signs showing real-time bus updates.
Hey bus
London buses don't usually stop unless someone calls them to do so. Simply hold out your hand the driver will stop for you.
If this worries you, chances are someone else is calling the bus anyway. The bus may also stop if someone on board gets off.
Watch out for the queue if there are lots of people at the bus stop. Londoners intuitively know who was there first and they usually board. in the order in which they arrived.
It's rare, but sometimes the bus is so full that it won't stop even if you call it. If this happens, don't worry, another one will arrive shortly.
London's red bus: pay your way
In London, you must use a contactless card, a Oyster Card or a digital wallet like Apple Pay to access your bus.
Simply place your card or phone on the large yellow circle card reader when you board the bus and the appropriate fare will be charged.
Bus fares in London in 2024 are ยฃ1.75 per journey, which includes a transfer within the hour. So if you catch your first bus at 10am, you'll have until 11am to make a connection. to avoid paying an extra ยฃ1.75.
How to behave on the bus
On the main level, towards the front, priority seats are clearly marked. You can sit in them if they're not occupied, but be sure to offer the seat if someone who needs it comes on board.
In general, Londoners don't talk to strangers and you can generally expect the bus to be quiet.
Don't talk loudly on your phone, listen to music without headphones or put your phone on speaker.
Red buses in London are a popular means of transport for locals and tourists alike. During your trip, there's a good chance you'll be using these means of transport.
What to do in London in 1 day, 2 days, 3 days, 5 days, a week?
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