BUS TRAVEL

London’s bus system consists of bright red double- and single-deckers, plus other buses of various colours. Destinations are displayed on the front and back, and the bus number is on the front, back and side.

Most double-deckers have a conductor whom you pay after finding a seat. But there are a lot of ‘one-man’ single-deckers, in which you pay the driver when boarding the bus. You should get on the bus through the front door and tell the driver where are you going - your fare depends on the distance. If you have a Travelcard, show it to the driver.
Buses stop only at clearly indicated stops. It’s one of the British customs to queue in a straight line, if you are waiting for a bus.

There are also Request Stops with red signs, a white symbol, and the word ‘Request’ added. At these stops you must hail a bus by raising your hand. Both types of stops have route diagrams and timetables. Smoking is not allowed on any bus.

Although travelling by bus is a good way to see sights, I wouldn’t recommend you to take the bus if you are in a hurry. There are a lot of traffic jams, the buses go very slowly, and during the rush hours you may find yourself waiting 40 minutes for a bus and then not being able to get on it when it arrives.