Adored by both locals and visitors, London’s vibrant red double-decker buses have continued to become an iconic symbol known around the world.
Its distinctive red color started in 1907 and has been the color of the city ever since. If you’d like to visit the city London-style, you have to ride the London Buses, one of the most inexpensive and convenient ways to travel around London.
In fact, more than 2 billion passengers ride the bus every year. It is a top pick for tourists since it has an abundance of sightseeing opportunities en route to your destination.
Hop on to London’s wide network of buses of about 9,300 vehicles, covering 675 routes and 19,000 bus stops.
It serves the entire city with a 24-hour bus service, so you do not have to worry about the timings of your journey.
If you are unfamiliar with London buses, you are in luck as you have come across a detailed guide to help you ride a bus in the city.
Some other public transportation options you must know when travelling in London.
- London Underground
- London River Bus
- London Bike Rental
- London Trams
- London DLR
- London Overground
- London Cable Cars
- Driving in London
- Taxis in London
From how to use the bus to London bus routes and fares, read on to learn more about them.
Contents
How to Pay for Buses in London
If you are planning to commute by bus, remember that all buses in London only accept cashless payments.
With that said, you need a smartcard or ticket like a Bus & Tram Pass, Oyster card, Visitor Oyster Card, Travelcard, or Contactless Card to ride the London bus.
So before hopping on a bus, make sure to get one of the cards mentioned since you cannot purchase a ticket on the bus or pay by cash.
Bus & Tram Pass
A Bus & Tram Pass is just like a Travelcard that offers unlimited travel on buses and trams only. It comes in two types: Bus & Tram Pass season ticket and One Day Bus & Tram Pass.
Bus & Tram Pass season tickets can be used for a period of seven days, a month, or a year. If you are using the One Day Bus & Tram Pass, you can only use it from 00:01 to 04:30 the next morning.
Oyster Card
An Oyster Card is a type of contactless payment card that can be used on buses, Tube, trams, London Overground, Elizabeth line, DLR, River Bus, and most National Rail services.
It is a pay-as-you-go card that only charges you every time you ride and can be topped up to add more credit if needed.
Use the TfL Oyster and contactless app to manage your Oyster Card account, check your balance, and recharge.
Check out this Complete Guide To Oyster Card to learn more.
Visitor Oyster Card
A Visitor Oyster Card is particularly made for tourists since it can only be purchased online when you are still outside London.
Similar to an Oyster Card, it is also a pay-as-you-go type of card and can be used in almost all types on buses, trams, Tube, DLR, London Overground, Elizabeth line, and most National Rail services in London.
Moreover, users can get special discounts on restaurants, stores, and Emirates Air Line cable cars.
You can purchase a Visitor Oyster Card through the Visitor Shop website, UK locations outside London, and your country.
Travelcard
If you’d like unlimited access to public transportation, you can pay for the bus fare using a Travelcard.
Ride as much as you want without the need to recharge for credit using Travelcard season tickets, Day Travelcard, or Group Day Travelcard.
Travelcard season tickets come in three types: 7-Day Travelcards, Monthly Travelcards, and Annual Travelcards.
If you’d like to purchase a ticket for one day only, opt for the Day Travelcards, either Anytime Day or Off-peak Day Travelcards.
Check out this Complete Guide To Travelcard to learn more.
Contactless Card
Unlike Oyster Cards and Travelcards that you have to purchase, a Contactless Card does not need to be purchased since you are using your own bank card as payment already.
If your bank card has a Contactless payment symbol, it means you can automatically use it to pay for your fare.
However, keep in mind not all bank cards are accepted in London. So before coming to London, check with your bank if your card can be used as a bus fare payment.
Don’t know which one to choose? I suggest reading Visitor Oyster Card Vs Oyster Card Vs Travel Card Vs Contactless Card to help you decide which card is best for you.
Check out this Complete Guide To Contactless Card to learn more.
London Bus Fares
If you’d like to pay for buses and trams only, there are different bus and tram fares offered, which are either charged with pay as you go or Bus & Tram Pass rates.
No matter how far or how many stations you travel by bus, the pay as you go rate remains the same and does not increase. You can travel as much as you want and pay a standard fare.
Pay as you go Caps and Bus & Tram Passes
(Bus and Tram only)
| Pay as you go | Daily Cap | One Day Bus & Tram Pass | 7-Day Bus & Tram Pass (Weekly Bus Pass) | Monthly Bus & Tram Pass | Annual Bus & Tram Pass | |
| Hopper Fare | £1.65 London single bus fare (Unlimited travel within one hour of use) | |||||
| 5 to 10 years old | FREE travel on buses and trams. A 5-10 Zip Oyster photocard is not needed. | |||||
| 11 to 15 years old | FREE travel on buses and trams with an 11-15 Zip Oyster photocard. | |||||
| 11 to 15 years old (Without a Zip Oyster Photocard) | £0.80 | £2.40 | £11.60 | £44.60 | £464
|
|
| 16+ years old | FREE travel on buses and trams for London residents who have a 16+ Zip Oyster photocard. | |||||
| 16+ years old (living outside London) | £0.80 | £2.40 | £11.60 | £44.60 | £464
|
|
| 18+ Student (With 18+ Student Oyster photocard) | £1.65 | £4.95 | £16.30 | £62.60 | £652
|
|
| Apprentice (With Apprentice Oyster photocard) | £1.65 | £4.95 | £16.30 | £62.60 | £652
|
|
| Adult | £1.65 | £4.95/ Or Weekly Cap £23.30 (Monday to Sunday) | £5.50 | £23.30 | £89.50 | £932
|
| Jobcentre Plus (With a Jobcentre Plus Travel Discount) | £0.80 | £2.40 | £11.60 | £44.60 | Not Available
|
|
| Bus & Tram Discount (With a Bus & Tram Discount photocard) | £0.80 | £2.40 | £11.60 | £44.60 | Not Available
|
|
| Freedom Pass | FREE travel on all TfL services for those with Older Person’s Freedom Pass (from 9:00 am on weekdays or anytime on the weekends) and Disabled Person’s Freedom Pass (anytime on weekdays and weekends). | |||||
Oyster Card and Travelcard Adult Rates
(Including Bus, Tram, Tube, DLR, most Elizabeth line services, London Overground, Emirates Air Line, Thames Clippers River Bus services, and most National Rail services)
Should you decide to travel using all public transportation, you can opt for an all-in-one card such as an Oyster Card and Travelcard. Unlike the standard pay as you go rate when traveling by bus and tram only, the rates for Oyster Cards and Travelcards are different per Zone fare. Each Tube, train, or rail station has a specific Zone assigned to determine the correct fare.
The more Zones you wish to travel, the higher the rates. You can check which stations are covered per Zone using the Tube and Rail Maps of TfL. Rates are provided by Transport for London’s (TfL) Tube and Rail Fares.
To see the complete list of pay as you go caps and Travelcard prices for 5 to 10 years old, 11 to 15 years old, 16+ years old 18+ students, and Apprentice, check the Tube and rail fares.
| Zone | Pay-as-you-go caps | Travelcards | ||||||
| Daily Peak | Daily Off-peak | Monday to Sunday | Day Anytime | Day Off-peak | 7 Day | Monthly | Annual | |
| Zones 1 only | £7.70 | £7.70 | £38.40 | £14.40 | £14.40 | £38.40 | £147.50 | £1,536 |
| Zones 1-2 | £7.70 | £7.70 | £38.40 | £14.40 | £14.40 | £38.40 | £147.50 | £1,536 |
| Zones 1-3 | £9.00 | £9.00 | £45.20 | £14.40 | £14.40 | £45.20 | £173.60 | £1,808 |
| Zones 1-4 | £11.00 | £11.00 | £55.20 | £14.40 | £14.40 | £55.20 | £212.00 | £2,208 |
| Zones 1-5 | £13.10 | £13.10 | £65.70 | £20.30 | £14.40 | £65.70 | £252.30 | £2,628 |
| Zones 1-6 | £14.10 | £14.10 | £70.30 | £20.30 | £14.40 | £70.30 | £270.00 | £2,812 |
| Zones 1-7 | £15.30 | £14.10 | £76.50 | £25.70 | £15.30 | £76.50 | £293.80 | £3,060 |
| Zones 1-8 | £18.10 | £14.10 | £90.30 | £25.70 | £15.30 | £90.30 | £346.80 | £3,612 |
| Zones 1-9 | £20.00 | £14.10 | £100.20 | £25.70 | £15.30 | £100.20 | £384.80 | £4,008 |
| Zone 2 only | £7.70 | £7.70 | £28.80 | £14.40 | £14.40 | £28.80 | £110.60 | £1,152 |
| Zones 2-3 | £9.00 | £9.00 | £28.80 | £14.40 | £14.40 | £28.80 | £110.60 | £1,152 |
| Zones 2-4 | £11.00 | £11.00 | £31.90 | £14.40 | £14.40 | £31.90 | £122.50 | £1,276 |
| Zones 2-5 | £13.10 | £13.10 | £38.20 | £20.30 | £14.40 | £38.20 | £146.70 | £1,528 |
| Zones 2-6 | £14.10 | £14.10 | £48.10 | £20.30 | £14.40 | £48.10 | £184.80 | £1,924 |
| Zones 2-7 | £15.30 | £14.10 | £49.90 | £25.70 | £15.30 | £49.90 | £191.70 | £1,996 |
| Zones 2-8 | £18.10 | £14.10 | £67.90 | £25.70 | £15.30 | £67.90 | £260.80 | £2,716 |
| Zones 2-9 | £20.00 | £14.10 | £67.90 | £25.70 | £15.30 | £67.90 | £260.80 | £2,716 |
| Zone 3 only | £9.00 | £9.00 | £28.80 | £14.40 | £14.40 | £28.80 | £110.60 | £1,152 |
| Zones 3-4 | £11.00 | £11.00 | £28.80 | £14.40 | £14.40 | £28.80 | £110.60 | £1,152 |
| Zones 3-5 | £13.10 | £13.10 | £31.90 | £20.30 | £14.40 | £31.90 | £122.50 | £1,276 |
| Zones 3-6 | £14.10 | £14.10 | £38.20 | £20.30 | £14.40 | £38.20 | £146.70 | £1,528 |
| Zones 3-7 | £15.30 | £14.10 | £49.90 | £25.70 | £15.30 | £49.90 | £191.70 | £1,996 |
| Zones 3-8 | £18.10 | £14.10 | £67.90 | £25.70 | £15.30 | £67.90 | £260.80 | £2,716 |
| Zones 3-9 | £20.00 | £14.10 | £67.90 | £25.70 | £15.30 | £67.90 | £260.80 | £2,716 |
| Zone 4 only | £11.00 | £11.00 | £28.80 | £14.40 | £14.40 | £28.80 | £110.60 | £1,152 |
| Zones 4-5 | £13.10 | £13.10 | £28.80 | £20.30 | £14.40 | £28.80 | £110.60 | £1,152 |
| Zones 4-6 | £14.10 | £14.10 | £31.90 | £20.30 | £14.40 | £31.90 | £122.50 | £1,276 |
| Zones 4-7 | £15.30 | £14.10 | £36.10 | £25.70 | £15.30 | £36.10 | £138.70 | £1,444 |
| Zones 4-8 | £18.10 | £14.10 | £60.80 | £25.70 | £15.30 | £60.80 | £233.50 | £2,432 |
| Zones 4-9 | £20.00 | £14.10 | £60.80 | £25.70 | £15.30 | £60.80 | £233.50 | £2,432 |
| Zone 5 only | £13.10 | £13.10 | £28.80 | £20.30 | £14.40 | £28.80 | £110.60 | £1,152 |
| Zones 5-6 | £14.10 | £14.10 | £28.80 | £20.30 | £14.40 | £28.80 | £110.60 | £1,152 |
| Zones 5-7 | £15.30 | £14.10 | £36.10 | £25.70 | £15.30 | £36.10 | £138.70 | £1,444 |
| Zones 5-8 | £18.10 | £14.10 | £60.80 | £25.70 | £15.30 | £60.80 | £233.50 | £2,432 |
| Zones 5-9 | £20.00 | £14.10 | £60.80 | £25.70 | £15.30 | £60.80 | £233.50 | £2,432 |
| Zone 6 only | £14.10 | £14.10 | £28.80 | £20.30 | £14.40 | £28.80 | £110.60 | £1,152 |
| Zones 6-7 | £15.30 | £14.10 | £36.10 | £25.70 | £15.30 | £36.10 | £138.70 | £1,444 |
| Zones 6-8 | £18.10 | £14.10 | £60.80 | £25.70 | £15.30 | £60.80 | £233.50 | £2,432 |
| Zones 6-9 | £20.00 | £14.10 | £60.80 | £25.70 | £15.30 | £60.80 | £233.50 | £2,432 |
| Zone 7 only | £15.30 | £14.10 | £36.10 | £25.70 | £15.30 | £36.10 | £138.70 | £1,444 |
| Zones 7-8 | £18.10 | £14.10 | £60.80 | £25.70 | £15.30 | £60.80 | £233.50 | £2,432 |
| Zones 7-9 | £20.00 | £14.10 | £60.80 | £25.70 | £15.30 | £60.80 | £233.50 | £2,432 |
| Zone 8 only | £18.10 | £14.10 | £60.80 | £25.70 | £15.30 | £60.80 | £233.50 | £2,432 |
| Zones 8-9 | £20.00 | £14.10 | £60.80 | £25.70 | £15.30 | £60.80 | £233.50 | £2,432 |
London Bus Routes and Operators
TfL permits several London bus operators to conduct bus services in London. If you have any concerns with a ride, it is good to know which bus operator manages the bus so you know who to contact right away.
Check out the complete bus routes with table here.
London Bus Operators
| Bus Operator | Routes |
| Abellio London Ltd
|
3, N3, 24, 27, N27, 45, 63, N63, 68, N68,
109, N109, 130, 156, 159, 196 201, 270 315, 322. 344, 345, 367, 381, N381 407, 415, 433, 464, C10 P5, P13 S4 |
| Abellio West London Ltd
|
111, 195
207, N207, 267, 278, 285, 350 427, 482, 490, 671 969, E5, E7, E10, E11 H20, H25, H26, H28 R68, R70 U5, U7, U9 |
| Arriva London North Ltd
|
19, N19, 29, N29, 34, 38, N38, 41, N41, 66, 73, N73, 78, 99
102, 103, 121, 123, 141, 144, 149, 150, 158, 175, 191, 192, 221, 229, 242, N242, 243, 253, N253, 254, 259, 269, 279, N279, 301, 313, 318, 325, 329, 335, 340, 341 347, 349, 368, 370, 375, 377, 401, 428, 492 675 B13, B15 W3, W4, W6 |
| Arriva London South Ltd
|
2, N2, 50, 59, 60, 64,
133, N133, 137, N137, 157, 166 194, 198 202, 249, 250, N250, 255, 289 312, 319, 333 405, 410, 412, 417, 432, 450, 466, 468 612, 627, 645, 685, 689 |
| Blue Triangle Buses Ltd
|
5, 15, N15, 69
101, 104, 115, 147, 346, 364, 396 608, 646, 649, 650, 651, 652 656, 677, 679, 686, 687 EL1, EL2, EL3 |
| Docklands Buses Ltd
|
276
300, 376 D7 |
| East London Bus & Coach Company Ltd
|
8, N8, 20, 25, N25, 26, N26, 55, N55, 56, 58, 62, 86, N86, 97,
128, 135, 145, 165, 167, 169, 173, 174, 179, 193 205, N205, 215, 236, 238, 241, 247 248, 252, 256, 257, 262, 275, 277, 287, 294, 296 308, 309, 323, 330, 339, 362, 365, 366, 372, 385, 388, 394, 397 425, 462, 473, 474, 488, 496, 497, 498, 499 616, 667, 673, 674, 678 D3, D6, D8, N550, N551, W5, W11, W12, W13, W14, W16, W19 |
| London Central Bus Company Ltd
|
1, N1, 12, 21, N21, 35, 36, 37, 40, 42, 51
89, N89, 100 108, 129, 132, N136, 171, N171, 172, 176, 178, 185, 188 225, 244, 286, 291 321, 343, N343, 360, 363, 386 436, 453, 469, 484, 486 624, 625, 658, 661, 669 B11, B12, B14, B16 P12 X68 |
| London General Transport Services Ltd
|
11, N11, 14, 22, N22, 39,
44, N44, 57, 67, 74, N74, 76, 77, 80, 87, N87, 88, 93 106, 118, 131, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, N155, 163, 164, 170, 184 200, 209, 212, 213, 214, 219, 230, 232 280, 337, 357, 378, 379 424, 430, 444, 456, 476 485, 493, 507, 521, 657, 690 G1, W15 |
| London Sovereign Ltd
|
79, 125, 142,
183 251, 288, 303, 326, 395, 398 642, 698 H9, H10, H11, H12, H14, H18, H19, N5, X140. |
| London Transit, London United
|
9, N9, 13, 18, N18, 23, 28, N28, 33, N33, 49, 65, N65, 70, 71,
72, N72, 85, 94 105, 110, 116, 117, 148 203, 211, 216, 218, 220, 223, 224, 228, 235, 258, 265, 266, N266, 272, 281, 283, 290, 293 371, 404, 406, 411, 414, 418, 419, 423, 440, 452, 465, 467, 470, 481 613, 635, 639, 655, 662, 665, 670, 681, 696, 697, C1, C3 E1, E3, H17, H22, H32, H37 H91, H98 K1, K2, K3, K4, K5, N97, S3, X140 |
| Metrobus Ltd
|
119, 126, 127, 138, 162,
208, 227, 233, 264 320, 352, 353, 354, 355, 358, 359 403, 413, 434, 455, 463 633, 654, 663, 664 R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, R10, R11, S1, X26 |
| Metroline Travel Ltd
|
4, 6, 7, N7, 16, N16, 17, 30, 32, 43,
46, 52, 90, 91, N91, 98, N98, 107, 112, 113, N113, 134, 139 140, N140, 143, 168, 182, 186 189, 190, 204, 210, 222, 231, 234, 237, 240, 245, 260, 263, 268, 271, 274, 292, 297 302, 306, 307, 316, 317, 324, 328, 332, 382, 384, 390, 393, 460, 491, 533, 631, 632, 634, 643 C11 E2, E6, E8, E9 H2, H3, H13 N20 W7, W8 |
| Metroline West Ltd
|
31, N31, 81, 83, N83, 92, 95,
114, 120, 187 206, 226, 282, 295 331 483, 487 607 A10 U1, U2, U3, U4, U10 |
| South East London & Kent Bus Company Ltd
|
47, 53, N53, 54, 61, 75, 96,
122, 124, 136, 146, 160, 161, 177, 180, 181, 199, N199 246, 261, 273, 284, 314, 336, 356, 380, 422, 472 601, 602, 621, 638, 660, 672, 684 P4 |
| Sullivan Bus & Coach Ltd
|
217, 298, 299, 327, 389, 399,
603, 605, 606, 617, 626, 628, 629, 640, 653, 683, 688, W9 |
| Uno | 383, 692, 699 |
London Bus Map
With the help of TfL’s Bus Spider Maps, you can download a PDF map for each bus route to help you with your journey.
Type in a bus route or area and click “Find Spider Maps“. Choose from the list of maps given and download the ones you need.
Alternatively, you can use TfL’s Bus Map to search for your bus route. Input a street or area in the search bar and click “Go”. The map shows all bus options near the location you searched.
Need a bus route map for Central London? Check out this key route map in Central London, ready to download at TfL.
(Key Bus Routes in Central London provided by Transport for London)
London Bus Times
There are several ways to check live bus arrivals in London to keep you on track with your schedule.
You can check TfL’s live bus arrival times by clicking on a bus route. For example, click on Buses 1-50, and select any bus route from 1 to 50.
The page leads you to the list of stations for the route you chose. When you click on a bus stop, the page then shows the live arrival times, first and last services, timetable, and route details from weekdays and weekends. Check this example of a live arrival of route 1 Kingsway/Holborn Station.
Another way to receive live updates is by sending the bus stop code to 87287 or +44 7797 800 287 for international numbers.
You can also look at the Countdown Signs at the bus stop itself where it shows live arrival information.
Lastly, you may see live updates from a Digital Sign available in various places such as shopping centres, hospitals, and town halls.
How to Use London Bus
All bus stops have signs indicating the stop name. Once the bus arrives, allow passengers to alight first before entering the bus. Get on board through the front door of the bus and tap your card on the yellow card reader.
You only tap the yellow card reader once upon entering and you do not need to do it when you exit.
Once you are on the bus, find an available seat. Remember, priority seats are usually for pregnant women, PWDs, and the elderly.
To get off the bus, press the red “stop” button found on the metal posts when the next stop is your destination.
However, if you are riding a Hail and Ride service bus, you can get off anywhere and anytime since there are no designated stops for this type of bus. Read how to use buses in London to learn more.
London Bus App
To help you with your trip, download the TfL Go app, your all-around app to see maps and routes, live bus times, live status updates, walking and cycling routes, toilet locations, and many more.
The app is available to down on the AppStore for iOS or Google Play for Android devices. Its interactive maps allow you to zoom in and out, find a bus stop, and check the next bus arrival update.
On top of that, you can plan your journey in a step-free mode. Once you select step-free mode, you’ll be passing areas that are all wheelchair friendly. The app finds step-free areas in trains and platforms.
London Bus Trip Planner
Use TfL’s Plan a Journey tool to help you travel from point A to point B. Just type in where you are coming from and where you are going. Moreover, you can select your planned departure time so the tool shows which buses are available.
After inputting the details, the tool shows all the available public transportation options, from buses to Tube.
It also gives you an estimated travel time for each station and its total. If you need more help in planning, take a look at TfL’s travel tools.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many buses in London are there?
According to TfL, they manage approximately 9,300 buses operating on 675 routes, 50 bus stations, and over 19,000 bus stops.
Can I use my bus pass in London?
If you are using the Bus & Tram Pass, you can use it to ride buses in London. Use it on the day of your pass until 4:30 in the morning after the expiration date.
You can get a Bus & Tram pass in several locations such as ticket machines at stations, online with your contactless and Oyster account, TfL Oyster and contactless app, Oyster Ticket Stops, and Visitor Centres.
What happens if I don’t have enough credit to pay for a bus fare?
Even if you don’t have enough credit on your card, you can still ride the bus one more time. The balance on your card becomes negative, so make sure to top again to pay for the negative balance and have enough credit to ride the next bus.
Is there a Bus Fare Calculator in London?
There isn’t really a bus fare calculator since you pay a Hopper Fare costing £1.65, which is a London single bus fare. It allows you to travel anywhere, no matter how many stops within one hour of use.
You can always check the bus fare costs given by TfL.
Ready to Hop on a London Bus?
Now that you know about bus fares, routes, tickets, and how to ride, you are now ready to see London like a local. Before traveling, it is advisable to read TfL’s guidance on safer travel in London.
Moreover, you can also get some insight on bus and coach passenger rights.
Have you ever ridden a London bus before? Help a fellow traveler and share your experience by commenting in the comments section below. If you have any tips and advice, we’d love to know them too here!
