Page 380 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - London

378  SUR VIV AL GUIDE

Travelling by Bus and Boat

The red double-decker bus is one of London’s most recogniz- drivers will not stop unless
able symbols, but the design of London buses has changed a they are waved down by a
great deal over the years. The old, classic open-backed Route- passenger. If they do not stop
master buses have been withdrawn (with the exception of despite being hailed, it means
that the bus is full and no
two “heritage” routes), and in their place are modern, square- passenger has asked to get
sided double-deckers, single-deckers for less busy routes, and off. Destinations are displayed
a modernized Routemaster bus with access at the back and clearly on the front of the bus,
front of the bus. Travelling by bus is an enjoyable, easy way to and on many buses, the next
see London, especially in the middle of the day, and much upcoming stop is indicated on
cheaper than going by Tube or DLR if you have an Oyster electronic information boards,
or announced by an auto matic
card. On the minus side, bus journeys can be slow, especially voice system. However, if you
during rush hour (8–10am and 5–7pm Monday to Friday). are unsure which stop you need,
ask the driver to alert you, and
stay on the lower deck.
Finding the Right Bus one. Stops also have local area Board buses at the front,
Bus maps showing all the main maps showing which of the so that you can touch in your
routes are available free from adjacent bus stops, identified by Oyster Card on the yellow
Travel Information Centres, or a letter, you need for buses to a Oyster reader by the driver’s
can be downloaded from the particular area. If in doubt, ask cab, or show your Travelcard.
Visit London and Transport for the bus driver when boarding. Hopper bus fares were intro­
London (TfL) websites. All London duced in 2016, allowing any­
bus stops have bus route signs Using London Buses one paying by either Oyster
displaying the routes that run or contactless card to make a
from that stop, with lists of their Buses halt at stops marked with second bus journey for free
main destinations. On streets the London bus logo. Many within one hour of touching
that are used by several bus have electronic display boards in on the first bus. Inspectors –
routes – for example Oxford indicating when the next bus is sometimes in plain clothes –
Street in the West End – routes due (this information can also often check whether
are bunched together at be accessed via an app). Some passengers have valid tickets
different stops near each other, stops are “request” stops, where or passes.
so make sure you find the right
Useful Bus Routes Tottenham
Tottenham
Court Road
Bus Stops Several of London’s bus routes are particularly convenient Court Road
Buses halt at all major stops, for the capital’s main sights and shops. If you arm yourself
such as train stations and with an Oyster card or Travelcard and are in no particular British Museum
British Museum
popular shopping and visitor hurry, sightseeing or shopping by bus can be great fun. The Aldgate
Aldgate
destinations, on their routes. cost of a journey by public transport is far less than any of
At some stops, called request the charges levied by tour operators, although you won’t
Covent
stops, the driver will not halt have the commentary that tour companies give you as you O Oxford Circus xford Circus Covent Cannon
Cannon
Garden
Garden
St Paul’s
Street
unless alerted. If you want to pass sights (see p358–9). There are also some sights or areas (Liber St Paul’s Street Tower of
(Liberty)ty)
Tower of
Aldwych
Cambridge
London
board, raise your arm as the in London that are either hard to get to by Underground, or Marble Cambridge Aldwych London
can be reached much more directly by bus. Buses run
Marble
Circus
bus approaches the stop; when regularly from the city centre to, for instance, the Royal Arch Circus The
The
Arch
Strand
you want to get off, ring the Albert Hall (see p209) and Chelsea (see pp196–201). Strand
bell once before your stop.
London Bridge
London Bridge
Knightsbridge
Knightsbridge
Piccadilly
(Harrods) Piccadilly
(Harrods)
Circus
Hyde Park
Hyde Park Circus
Charing Cross
Corner
Corner Charing Cross Oxo
Oxo
(National Gallery)
Victoria
Victoria (National Gallery) Tower
Tower
Waterloo
(Buck Waterloo
(Buckingham ingham
P
Palace)alace)
Sloane Square
Sloane Square Westminster
Westminster
(
(Westminster Abbey)Westminster Abbey)

South Kensington
South Kensington
(Victoria and Albert Museum
(Victoria and Albert Museum
and Natural History Museum)
and Natural History Museum)
Tate Britain
Tate Britain
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