Favourite London Bus Route?

[RubyFakeLips]

I appreciate this is niche.

Reminiscing about when I had no money and a baby that loved being on the bus. Could take the 38 from almost outside my hackney flat, with him in the carrier. Sit on the top deck and go to the west end all the way to Victoria and back.

More recently I've been a fan of the 15.

328 (see it's already had a mention) Kilburn to World's End. Also Muswell Hill to Gower St (134? 43?).

@RubyFakeLips Routemasters had high steps. My gran was independent for another five years because they were replaced by single deckers.

Number 11 for me.

341
First bus route from my flat in Manor House to where I worked in clerkenwell - happy times!

The No 11 is a good one. From Victoria, passes W. Abbey, Houses of Parliament, Whitehall, Traf Square, St Paul's, terminating at L'pool St.

I grew up in SW1-central London and we got a lot of visitors, distant relies etc passing through. My dad was not a Londoner by birth, but loved it with all his heart. He used to take visitors out on the No.11, which is as good as any official sightseeing bus. Dad died nearly 30 years ago, and I have lived in London for most of that time, but in Dad’s glory days of showing people round on the No11, it went all the way to Parson’s Green, then onto World’s End and King’s Road. Back in day people loved it!

53... would take me from my house to the west end...for numerous shopping/clubbing trips

So pleased to see all the love for the 15! Definitely the best route.

The N15 and N21 night buses too were an experience. Many years since I've been on one. That episode of Luther put me off night buses forever

I came here to say the 38, OP

Hands down the best bus

Think I might spend tomorrow on the buses, number 11 obvs...

The 19 or 38 for me, although the 319 has some me proud over the years, although the route doesn’t win prizes for beauty or interest

and THAT ep of Luther does have a lot to answer for! Terrifying.

Oh I love this thread. I see someone else has mentioned the 14. I’ll add the 74 for pure nostalgia. So many happy memories of lugging baby DS1 around on those. If you were lucky on the 14 there’d be someone helpful to drag the buggy on.

Weirdly I’m now drawn to I think the 139? Runs from Waterloo to Trafalgar Square, how life has changed. But my recent happy memories are chatting teen DS’s and DP, planning our routes around the gallery.

@HerBigChance

The 328 from Golders Green to Chelsea - mooches through West Hampstead, Kilburn and Bayswater. Great route.

The 19 I used to get from Finsbury Park through Angel, Bloomsbury, Piccadilly and then on to Battersea.

The 94, already mentioned, is another lovely route through Holland Park and then Chiswick. The 27 goes there too (Chalk Farm, Baker Street, Paddington and then on out west).

I used to spend ages on the buses when I had very little money and they're a great way to piece London together above ground. You just don't get the same perspective from the tube.

Oh yes - so true about helping you to piece together how London actually fits together. People that get the tube all the time think the map is accurate! I lived in south east and north east London where there are no tubes so the bus was my guide.

The 453 from Deptford Bridge, past Parliament Square, along Regent Street to Marylebone. You could use your Oyster to then take the Chiltern Railway to somewhere like Amersham.

Apparently, you can see into Downing At from the top storey of the 453 bus. ( Downside is it aways gets diverted or held up when there are demonstrations). A very picturesque route first thing in the morning. Reminds you of that nineteenth century poem about the early morning clothing the buildings and the river. Around Trafalgar Square is a very beautiful part of London, especially with not so many tourists.

One extreme to the other too. Handsome and grand buildings near Deptford Bridge almost rotting away. Inexplicable how something hasn't been done to preserve this chunk of history and renovate into flats. New Cross comes along next, and the university at Goldsmiths keeps pubs and shops in existence. Otherwise, much heritage there falling apart. Some say the 453 is as good as a tourist bus. All of the train stations are pleasant now and uncrowded and it's good to be able to talk to the excellent TFL staff and overground ones.

London is a pleasant place at the moment and apparently the hotels are doing great deals.

The old 23 route. I love the changes from Westbourne grove, then Paddington then Edgware Road, Oxford street then regent street ending nearish the strand.
They changed it and it broke my heart.

@BikeRunSki

The No 11 is a good one. From Victoria, passes W. Abbey, Houses of Parliament, Whitehall, Traf Square, St Paul's, terminating at L'pool St.

I grew up in SW1-central London and we got a lot of visitors, distant relies etc passing through. My dad was not a Londoner by birth, but loved it with all his heart. He used to take visitors out on the No.11, which is as good as any official sightseeing bus. Dad died nearly 30 years ago, and I have lived in London for most of that time, but in Dad’s glory days of showing people round on the No11, it went all the way to Parson’s Green, then onto World’s End and King’s Road. Back in day people loved it!

The 11 was the bus I used to get to university from my halls on kings road to the strand Also the 22 Would always sit on the lh side to window shop from the top deck

Number 8 before they shortened the route. Took you right through the west end. The 159 reminds of great nights out when I was young

Reminds you of that nineteenth century poem about the early morning clothing the buildings and the river.

Upon Westminster Bridge, by William Wordsworth?

Earth has not anything to show more fair:
Dull would he be of soul who could pass by
A sight so touching in its majesty:
This City now doth, like a garment, wear

The beauty of the morning: silent, bare,
Ships, towers, domes, theatres, and temples lie
Open unto the fields, and to the sky;
All bright and glittering in the smokeless air.

Never did sun more beautifully steep
In his first splendour, valley, rock, or hill;
Ne'er saw I, never felt, a calm so deep!

The river glideth at his own sweet will:
Dear God! the very houses seem asleep;
And all that mighty heart is lying still!

@DameAlyson

Not buses, but one thing I regret that I never did was the old North London Line, all the way from Kew to North Woolwich. It doesn't do that any more.

It was old slam door trains. Goodness knows how long it would have taken.

I took the North London line every weekend from Stratford to Richmond to see my boyfriend (now DH).Took forever on slow, rattly trains that were often dirty and delayed.

73 for me! Grew up with it. The old route which went from Stoke Newington to Hammersmith Broadway. That bus was my life pretty much. So many memories of hopping on and off it along Oxford Street! Oh and the 38 to Victoria! Upstairs right at the front was the best view but so smoky.

Another vote for the 38!

@DameAlyson

Reminds you of that nineteenth century poem about the early morning clothing the buildings and the river.

Upon Westminster Bridge, by William Wordsworth?

Earth has not anything to show more fair:
Dull would he be of soul who could pass by
A sight so touching in its majesty:
This City now doth, like a garment, wear

The beauty of the morning: silent, bare,
Ships, towers, domes, theatres, and temples lie
Open unto the fields, and to the sky;
All bright and glittering in the smokeless air.

Never did sun more beautifully steep
In his first splendour, valley, rock, or hill;
Ne'er saw I, never felt, a calm so deep!

The river glideth at his own sweet will:
Dear God! the very houses seem asleep;
And all that mighty heart is lying still!

Loved reading this. Thank you

Love this thread. In my heyday I was known as the font of all bus route knowledge.

I vote for the N/176. So much crazy shit happened on there, even when I could afford a cab I used to still get the night bus for the excitement. All life can be found on a South London night bus.

No. 37! Used to take me from my flat in East Dulwich to DP's (now DH) flat in East Putney. I'd sit with a massive grin on my face the whole way!

No. 77 took me from our flat in Wandsworth to Vauxhall, where I would get a pot of MOMA blueberry bircher to eat for breakfast at work!

It's the number 8 for me.

You are all bringing back memories of spending time on buses as a broke student as a way of seeing the Capital!

I was on a 360 from Vauxhall to Royal Albert Hall today, via Pimlico, Royal Hospital Chelsea, South Ken and the museums. Gorgeous!