The traditional double decker London buses, where you hop on or leave via a platform at the back, are being phased out but can still be seen on some routes in central London. You are most likely to see newer double decker buses where you enter via doors at the front and either show passes to, or purchase tickets from the driver, and exit via doors in the middle. However, there are also single decker buses with either one or two sets of door and the new long 'bendy' buses where you can enter via any of the three sets of doors. All London buses are red and only stop at designated bus stops or in designated hail and ride zones which are found in the suburbs. To stop a bus you will need to signal to the driver that you want the bus to stop. To do this while at a bus stop simple wave your hand to attract the drivers attention as the bus approaches the stop and while onboard do this by pressing one of the stop button. In central London you will need to purchase a ticket or pass before boarding the bus as drivers cannot accept cash fares. While out in the suburbs this is not usually the case except on a few clearly identified routes. When you need to purchase a ticket prior to boarding a bus there will be ticket machine at the bus stop which will accept coins only. Although it is not strictly necessary to have the exact fare when paying the driver for a ticket it is better if you do as the driver may not allow you to board if he does not have change.

The cash fare for a single bus journey is £2.00 irrespective of the distance covered, however, if you need to change buses you will need to purchase a new ticket for each bus taken. There are a multitude of passes and discounts available that you may wish to consider if you plan to travel extensively on public transport. If you are planning to be in London for an extended period you may wish to consider the Oyster Card and if you plan to use public transport extensively on specific days you may wish to consider a Travelcard.

For further information on bus travel visit the Bus Travel pages of the Transport for London web site.