Bus leisure routes

Routes and maps to help you explore the city on an iconic red London bus. Click on the attractions on the online versions of the PDFs to find out more about them, or print out the print-friendly A4 versions to take with you on your day out.
Cartoon of buses exploring London landmarks

Bus leisure route 9: London's Museums and Palaces

Take bus route 9 to explore several royal palaces including St James's Palace, Clarence House and Kensington Palace, as well as interesting museums such as the London Transport Museum and the Natural History Museum. The route also includes other famous London landmarks, such as Trafalgar Square, and parks to explore and relax in. 

The route stops at or near:

  • Somerset House
  • Covent Garden Market
  • London Transport Museum
  • Trafalgar Square
  • St James's Palace and Clarence House
  • Green Park
  • Wellington Arch and Hyde Park Corner
  • Natural History Museum
  • The Albert Memorial
  • Kensington Palace
  • The Design Museum
  • Holland Park

Bus leisure route 17: Heritage and Pubs

Take bus route 17 and visit some of the oldest pubs in London, the Charles Dickens Museum and St Paul's Cathedral, amongst other historical highlights.

The route stops at or near:

  • King's Cross St Pancras Station
  • Charles Dickens Museum
  • Grays Inn Road, Square and Chapel
  • Cittie of Yorke Pub
  • Ye Olde Mitre
  • Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese
  • Old Bailey
  • St Paul's Cathedral
  • Monument to the Great Fire of London
  • George Inn

Bus leisure route 22: Antiques and Curios

Take bus route 22 and explore various antiques shops, art galleries and markets, as well as one of London's most famous shops, Fortnum & Mason. Break up shopping with a palace or park visit.

The route stops at or near:

  • Fulham Palace
  • New King's Road antique shops and art galleries
  • Furniture and Arts Building
  • Lots Road Auctions
  • Wellington Arch
  • Green Park
  • The Ritz
  • St James Street
  • Old Bond Street
  • Fortnum & Mason
  • Royal Academy of Arts
  • Piccadilly arts, craft and food market

Bus leisure route 35: London's Markets

Take bus route 35 and spend a day exploring markets across London, which sell everything from food and flowers, to clothing and gifts.

The route stops at or near:

  • Brixton Market
  • Borough Market
  • Leadenhall Market
  • Lloyd's of London
  • Spitalfields Market
  • Brick Lane Market
  • Columbia Road Flower Market

Bus leisure route 139: Classic London

Take bus route 139 and see some of the most iconic London attractions, including Piccadilly Circus and Trafalgar Square, and famous shops such as Hamleys Toy Store and Selfridges & Co.

The route stops at or near:

  • Somerset House
  • Covent Garden Market
  • London Transport Museum
  • Trafalgar Square
  • Piccadilly Circus
  • Hamleys Toy Store
  • Bond Street
  • Selfridges & Co
  • Lord's Cricket Ground
  • Abbey Road and Abbey Road Studios

Using our buses

For a more enjoyable bus journey, travel outside the peak times (between 06:30 and 09:30, and between 16:00 and 19:00, Monday to Friday).

Children under 11 travel for free on London buses.

You can't use cash to pay for your bus fare. Instead, you can pay as you go using a contactless, Oyster or Visitor Oyster card, or you can use a Travelcard or Bus & Tram Pass.

Unlimited journeys within one hour

Our Hopper fare lets you make unlimited bus journeys within one hour for £1.50, when you use pay as you go (an Oyster, Visitor Oyster or contactless card) to pay for your travel. You can hop on and off as many buses as you like within the hour and only pay for the first bus.

Bus journeys are also capped at £4.50 a day, so this is the most you will have to pay to travel by bus for a whole day.

Make sure you touch in on the yellow reader when you get on a bus each time. You don't need to touch out when you get off.

Travelcards and Bus & Tram Passes

If you're using a Travelcard or Bus & Tram Pass (a paper ticket or on your Oyster card), you can use this to travel on our buses as many times as you like.