Navigating London by bus is an excellent way to see the city, offering views you’d miss on the Underground. However, for first-time visitors, understanding the bus system can be a little confusing. This guide will help you Travel London Via Bus like a seasoned pro, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable experience.
Oyster and Contactless Payment: Your Ticket to Ride
London buses are cashless, so you’ll need a contactless payment method. The most common are Oyster cards and contactless bank cards or mobile payments. When you board, you’ll see a yellow card reader near the driver. Simply tap your Oyster card or contactless payment onto the reader. It’s important to remember to “tap in” when you get on the bus, but unlike the Tube or trains, you do not tap out when you exit. Tapping in is only possible at the front of the bus, by the driver. The older buses with multiple doors and card readers inside are no longer in service. Now, the front door is strictly for entrance, while the center and rear doors are for exiting only.
Onboard Information and Knowing Your Stop
Once onboard, keep an eye on the screens inside the bus. These screens display the name of the upcoming stop. In addition to the visual display, an automated voice announcement will also call out the next stop. When your stop is approaching, press one of the red “stop” buttons located on the poles throughout the bus. Often, someone else will have already pressed the button, and the screen will indicate “Bus Stopping”. There’s no need to press it again, though many passengers do! It’s wise to start moving towards the exit doors as your stop nears, but be mindful of the bus’s motion, especially if you’re not used to moving on a moving vehicle. Bus drivers use CCTV to monitor passengers intending to alight, so they will be aware of people moving towards the doors at stops. Don’t rush, but be prompt when exiting.
Standing Safely on a Moving Bus
For those times when you can’t get a seat, standing on a London bus requires a bit of balance. A good technique is to position your stronger foot towards the front of the bus – think of your stance on a skateboard or snowboard. Make sure to hold onto a pole or handrail for stability, especially when the bus is moving. This balance technique is also useful on the Tube.
Bus Stop Etiquette: Queues and Priorities
You might notice that formal queues aren’t really a thing at London bus stops. Since many bus routes often serve a single stop, a strict queue would be impractical. However, there’s an unspoken understanding of who arrived first. It’s always considered courteous to give priority to those with mobility issues, parents with strollers, or elderly passengers.
Navigating Routes and Directions
A common mistake for visitors is boarding a bus going in the wrong direction. Always check the bus destination displayed on the front of the bus, alongside its route number. You need to know the final destination of the bus in the direction you want to travel. Bus stops are marked with letters (e.g., Stop A, Stop B, etc.), which are used in transport maps and apps to help you identify the correct stop for your route. Using these letter designations in conjunction with route maps will ensure you are traveling London via bus in the right direction.
By following these tips, you’ll be well-prepared to confidently travel London via bus, experiencing the city like a local and enjoying the sights along the way.
