London Buses & Bus Passes / Maps

Official Web Site of London Buses

London Public Bus
London Public Bus

London Buses manages the bus routes in London. The buses themselves are operated by independent operating companies.

The buses range from large double deck buses to small 30 seaters. Most are either single deck "bendy" buses or double decker like that pictured right.

Local Buses
London Underground
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Public Transport Maps
Transport Passes
Oyster
Travelcard
Oyster or Travelcard ?

In Central London you have to pre-purchase tickets, you cannot pay the driver and there are no ticket attendants onboard the bus. Nearly everyone using London buses will be using either an Oyster card or Travelcard to pay for their journeys.


Most bus routes run from around 5 a.m. to about midnight.

At other times there are extensive night bus services. In Central London and the main hotel districts the night buses offer very good coverage and frequencies through the night.


Over much of Central London there are special bus lanes that limit the impact of traffic congestion.


London Bus Journey Planner

Use the TFL (Transport For London) journey planner linked from icon on the left to plan your journeys. The journey planner covers all public transport.


 Central London Bus Map (pdf format)

 Tourist London Bus Map (pdf format)

London Bus Maps

For first time visitors to London who just want to see the main sights, the simplified tourist bus map (link right) gives the main bus routes linking everywhere.


London Bus Fares & Oyster Cards

The days when there were conductors on each bus that issued a ticket depending on where you were going and you paid cash are long gone. On the buses there are flat fares whether you go one stop or to the end of the route.


Nowadays the vast majority of people will be using Oyster Cards.

Not only will your fare be much cheaper using an Oyster card but there is a daily cap, where, however many bus journeys you take in a day you will never be charged more than that daily cap.

Oyster cards are 'smart' cards you swipe across a yellow pad on entering any bus. The pre-pay amount will automatically be debited.

Oyster Cards can be used on most of London's public transport, including the London Underground, DLR and many suburban trains.

More Details of Oyster Cards


London Bus Fares - Flat Fare Per Journey (from 2 Jan 2010 )

Single Journey Fare £2
Children under 16 - Free, see children's fares section below


Oyster Single Journey Fare £1.20

Daily Oyster Cap £3.90

Where To Purchase Your Ticket

As said before, most people using buses do not purchase an individual bus ticket. Instead they use an Oyster Card or Travelcard. If you do however need to pay for a single ticket in Central London you have to pre-purchase your ticket before you board the bus.


You will find ticket machines like the one pictured right where you can obtain bus tickets.

Travelcards and Oyster Cards can be purchased from literally thousands of outlets including Underground Stations and Visitor Centres.

In the front of shop windows you will often see the London Transport logo denoting that shop also sells public transport passes and tickets. Newsagents in particular are liable to offer this facility. You pay no more by buying your tickets from these outlets.


When using a Travelcard in conjunction with buses you can use your Travelcard in any transport zone whatever zones are covered by your Travelcard. So if you have a Zone 1/2 Travelcard it is still valid for travel in zone 6 for example.

More Details of Travelcards


On some buses you will see people entering the bus through the central doors. This is perfectly OK as long as you swipe your card across the Oyster readers that are located along the bus. There are teams of inspectors who descend on a bus sometimes and check for anyone avoiding payment.

London Transport Children's Fares (Children Less than 18 Years Old)

Free Travel For Children On Buses & Underground And The Need For Photocards


Under-5s.

Children under five can travel free at any time on the Tube, DLR, buses and trams as long as they are accompanied by an adult with a valid ticket. Children in this category do not need Photocards.


Children 5-10.

Under-11s can travel free at any time on buses and trams without the need for a Photocard.

They can also travel free at any time on the Tube and DLR when they are traveling with an adult who has a valid ticket. Up to 4 children under 11 years old accompanied by a paying adult travel free on the London Underground.

Unaccompanied children between 5 and 10 must have a valid Photocard.


Children 11-15.

Children aged 11 to 15 years must get an 11-15 Oyster photocard to travel free on buses and trams and at child-rate on Tube, DLR and London Overground services.

You can get around the photocard requirement by purchasing a 1 day Travelcard for the child, (longer length Travelcards do require a photo card) or paying the cash fare.


Children 16-17.

All 16 to 17-year-olds can travel at child-rate on bus, Tube, tram, DLR and London Overground services with a 16+ Oyster photocard.


Obtaining a Photocard.

Visitors to London can order a Photocard in advance for their children and collect on arrival at a travel centre. (There is a Travel Centre at Heathrow Airport as well as in Central London).

Note you need to apply (online) at least 3 weeks prior to arrival.

From 1 September 2010 non-London residents have to pay a non-refundable £10 administration fee

Advance application for Child Photocard

Senior's Fares

There are no special Senior's fares on London's public transport.

If you have an English senior's bus pass then you can travel free on London's red buses free.

If you're a permanent resident in a London borough aged over 60, you can apply for a Freedom Pass for traveling around London. The Freedom Pass entitles you to free travel on London's public transport - Tube, buses, trains, Docklands Light Rail (DLR) and trams.