London is one of the world’s most iconic cities, and one of the easiest ways to see many of its landmarks is by exploring London on public bus routes without spending a fortune. These routes take you past some of the city’s most famous sights without having to book a sightseeing bus.
You can follow each route exactly as we describe it, or even do it in the opposite direction. Just make sure you are at the correct bus stop and travelling in the right direction.
⏱️ Keep an eye on journey times. At certain times of day, especially when traffic is heavy, the journey can take longer than usual.
Check a transport app with real-time information to plan your journey. One reliable option is Citymapper. And if you can, sit upstairs: the views are unbeatable.
🚌 Quick overview
Here are the four bus routes we recommend and the highlights of each one:
| Route | Get on at | Get off at | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | Trafalgar Square | Tower of London | St Paul’s, Sky Garden, Tower of London |
| 9 | Trafalgar Square | Palace Gate | Piccadilly, Hyde Park, Royal Albert Hall |
| 139 | Charing Cross Station | Abbey Road Studios | Oxford Street, Sherlock Holmes, Abbey Road |
| 159 | Oxford Circus | St Thomas’ Hospital | Whitehall, Big Ben, London Eye |
Bus stop letters and routes can change. Always check the information at the bus stop or in your app before travelling.
🚌 Recommended bus routes
Each route shows you where to get on, what you will see along the way and where to get off. Remember that you can also travel in the opposite direction.
From Trafalgar Square to the Tower of London
Ideal for: Exploring historic London, from the city centre to the Tower of London.
What you’ll see along the way
- Royal Courts of Justice
- St Paul’s Cathedral
- The Monument (Great Fire of London)
- Sky Garden
- St Dunstan
- Tower of London
From Trafalgar Square to Kensington
Ideal for: Seeing the elegant side of London, including Piccadilly, Hyde Park and Kensington.
What you’ll see along the way
- Piccadilly
- Fortnum & Mason
- The Ritz
- Green Park
- Wellington Arch
- Hyde Park
- Harrods
- Albert Memorial
- Royal Albert Hall
- Kensington Palace
- Princess Diana Memorial
From Charing Cross to Abbey Road
Ideal for: Combining shopping, Sherlock Holmes and a photo at the famous Beatles crossing.
What you’ll see along the way
- Trafalgar Square
- Piccadilly Circus
- Regent Street
- Hamleys Toy Store
- Oxford Street
- Sherlock Holmes Museum
- The Beatles Crossing (Abbey Road)
From Oxford Circus to the London Eye
Ideal for: Seeing Westminster and several of London’s most famous landmarks in a single journey.
What you’ll see along the way
- Piccadilly Circus
- Trafalgar Square
- Whitehall
- Horse Guards
- Downing Street (Prime Minister’s residence)
- Big Ben
- London Eye
Have you ridden a double-decker yet? 🚌
Explore London using our public bus routes and tell us about your experience: did you also get the feeling that the bus was going to tip over on every turn? 😅 Spoiler: it never does. Leave a comment and tell us what you thought of your ride on the iconic red bus.
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