Favourite London bus route?

[ANDREW_D_WEBB]

331 from Uxbridge to Ruislip runs through some pleasant countryside west of London. On the other side of town the 370 and 372 cross rural farmland en route to Bluewater

 

[ANDREW_D_WEBB]

331 from Uxbridge to Ruislip runs through some pleasant countryside west of London. On the other side of town the 370 and 372 cross rural farmland en route to Bluewater

For Bluewater I do, of course, mean Lakeside

 

[Statto]

I seem to recall that the 246 was a link to Westerham which had been severed when the 320 was terminated at Biggin Hill. I thought (but could easily be mistaken) that it was a Metrobus initiative adopted by TfL when the 146 was tendered. Metrobus ran it, then lost out to Stagecoach (TB), but since regained by Metrobus. The 146, though, has passed to Stagecoach.

Ian Armstrongs site confirms the 246 Bromley-Westerham introduced when the 320 was cut to Biggin Hill
https://www.londonbuses.co.uk/_routes/current/246-2.html

 

[PeterC]

331 from Uxbridge to Ruislip runs through some pleasant countryside west of London. On the other side of town the 370 and 372 cross rural farmland en route to Bluewater

The 370 is a genuine 300 series Country route. It only became a TfL service in 2007.

 

[Andrew Nelson]

When you get to my age you think of the Country area and Green Line as well. For me I would go for the now defunct 721 and 339 which I used to visit my first girlfriend as a teenager.

With so much chopping and changing of routes in central London I am not sure which are still in place. I always had a soft spot for the 9 and the 11 from Liverpool Street round by St Pauls and Aldwych (I know the 9 has been cut back since I used it regularly). Also, in an earlier incarnation the 8 as you could see over the rear wall of Buckingham Palace. When my kids were small they loved being able to look into the "Queen's back garden".

Actually, it's the Queens FRONT garden.

 

[NorthKent1989]

Who remembers the 710? It ran from Surrey Quays to Bluewater via Lewisham, Eltham, Bexleyheath, Crawford and Dartford.

 

[MotCO]

Who remembers the 710? It ran from Surrey Quays to Bluewater via Lewisham, Eltham, Bexleyheath, Crawford and Dartford.

Who operated it, and when? I seem to recall that Metrobus registered a number of commuter routes like this in the 1990's(?), but don't think they ever operated.

 

[NorthKent1989]

Who operated it, and when? I seem to recall that Metrobus registered a number of commuter routes like this in the 1990's(?), but don't think they ever operated.

London Central If I can recall correctly, it only lasted a few months

 

[Romilly]

Mine is the 53 (Plumstead to Whitehall), in years gone by this used to run from Erith al the way to Hampstead, by today’s standard it’s still a long route and is the spine of South East London, linking Plumstead, Woolwich, Charlton, Blackheath, Greenwich Park, Deptford, New Cross, Elephant and Castle & Lambeth with the bright lights of the West End.

Of course, the 53 is under threat of being curtailed, at its London end, from Whitehall to "County Hall", although by "County Hall" TfL mean the bus stop at The Cut under the dripping, and pigeon-infested, Waterloo railway bridges: a most inglorious terminus for a great route. Consultation on the proposed curtailment closed in November I seem to remember, but the outcome is still awaited so far as I can see.

 

[madannie77]

I think my favourite route when I lived in The Great Wen (way back in the mid to late 90s) was the N91, as it was the only bus which I could catch in Central London which would take me all the way home. During the day it had to be two buses if I didn't feel like taking the Underground. It was also operated by Capital Citybus using shiny new Volvo Olympians, much nicer than the MCW Metrobuses which were the usual fare around my part of north London.

I particularly liked the fact that it started on Northumberland Avenue and I was the only passenger who seemed to know that. I was therefore able to bag a good seat before the bus was mobbed on Trafalgar Square (in those days the stop was in front of the National Gallery). Occasionally almost the entire running time for the route was used up before we got to Tottenham Court Road, but I didn't really care as I would have been on the way home from a good night out.

 

[Mike99]

I started bus spotting c1967 in South East London, the 12 was the route I spent the most time travelling on, but up-post mention of the tunnel at Heathrow, I can remember on my many red-rover days using the 82 through the cargo tunnel at Heathrow long since closed!! There are so many favourites to mention though

 

[NorthKent1989]

Of course, the 53 is under threat of being curtailed, at its London end, from Whitehall to "County Hall", although by "County Hall" TfL mean the bus stop at The Cut under the dripping, and pigeon-infested, Waterloo railway bridges: a most inglorious terminus for a great route. Consultation on the proposed curtailment closed in November I seem to remember, but the outcome is still awaited so far as I can see.

Disgraceful! All this because they’re assuming that people in Woolwich will use CrossRail.

That’s why they axed the X53 in the end, because of the Jubilee line, not realising how useful it was.

The 180 is also being cut back and rerouted to North Greenwich which makes little sense.

 

[delt1c]

Historically for me would be the 47 from Shoreditch Church to Farnborough The George. You started on the edge of the city and ended on the edge of London.
For a rural run the 242 from Chingford Station to South Mimms took some beating

 

[ChilternTurbo]

614 has a mix of views towards London from Arkley and some fast running along the A1 and A1(M)
251 the section between Highwood Hill and Totteridge & Whetstone has a rural feel to it - would be a good view to if they put double deckers on it.

I've got a soft spot for the 251 having grown up in Edgware. I remember riding on the BL class Bristol LHs as a child but have a soft spot for the Carlyle bodied Darts which replaced them and used to go like stink on the 'fast' section between Totteridge and Mill Hill!

 

[Wirewiper]

If you really want to see the contrast between the "haves" and "have-nots" in London, take the bus (I cannot remember the route number) from Waterloo to Hackney - I was with my mate who had an errand in Hackney and we rode that route and I was struck by the sheer opulence of the City and the shabbiness of Hackney High Street at the end of the ride! What a contrast.

That was the 26 you caught - it doesn't actually go to the centre of Hackney (which doesn't have a High Street), but you would have passed by Well Street Market. These days Hackney is looking considerably less shabby than it used to.

The 26 was created in July 1992 to replace the eastern section of route 6 and convert it to driver-only operation. Route 6 used to run all the way from Kensal Rise to Hackney Wick but was curtailed to Aldwych.

 

[Wirewiper]

I've got a soft spot for the 251 having grown up in Edgware. I remember riding on the BL class Bristol LHs as a child but have a soft spot for the Carlyle bodied Darts which replaced them and used to go like stink on the 'fast' section between Totteridge and Mill Hill!

I'm going to show my age here - I remember the 251 with RFs!

 

[Wirewiper]

When you get to my age you think of the Country area and Green Line as well. For me I would go for the now defunct 721 and 339 which I used to visit my first girlfriend as a teenager.

With so much chopping and changing of routes in central London I am not sure which are still in place. I always had a soft spot for the 9 and the 11 from Liverpool Street round by St Pauls and Aldwych (I know the 9 has been cut back since I used it regularly). Also, in an earlier incarnation the 8 as you could see over the rear wall of Buckingham Palace. When my kids were small they loved being able to look into the "Queen's back garden".

The 11 still runs to Liverpool Street, the 9 was curtailed to Aldwych in July 1992.

The 8 to Victoria was actually quite a short-lived incarnation, as it originally ran to Willesden Garage. This too changed in July 1992 when it was withdrawn between Oxford Circus and Willesden (replaced on this section by new route 98) and rerouted to Victoria via Mayfair and Hyde Park Corner, replacing route 25 over this section. This ended in June 2009 when the route was cut back to Oxford Circus, the section to Victoria covered by an extension of route C2 (today, the 22 operates over this section, but there is a proposal for a new route 311 to come this way). It was further cut back to Tottenham Court Road Station in August 2013; this was supposed to be a "temporary" curtailment but has now been made permanent.

 

[urpert]

I seem to recall that the 246 was a link to Westerham which had been severed when the 320 was terminated at Biggin Hill. I thought (but could easily be mistaken) that it was a Metrobus initiative adopted by TfL when the 146 was tendered. Metrobus ran it, then lost out to Stagecoach (TB), but since regained by Metrobus. The 146, though, has passed to Stagecoach.

The 246 is worth a mention in any case as it can be quite a spectacular descent of Westerham Hill. (It also passes the highest point in Greater London as pub trivia experts will doubtless already know.)

I also used to enjoy the minibus route which went through the Rotherhithe Tunnel, though I can’t remember the number. It was a proper tfl route, not one of the ELLX replacement buses which also used the tunnel.

 

[Busaholic]

The 246 is worth a mention in any case as it can be quite a spectacular descent of Westerham Hill. (It also passes the highest point in Greater London as pub trivia experts will doubtless already know.)

I also used to enjoy the minibus route which went through the Rotherhithe Tunnel, though I can’t remember the number. It was a proper tfl route, not one of the ELLX replacement buses which also used the tunnel.

I can't remember the number of the route either, but historically it was the 82, the very poor cousin of the 108/A which used the neighbouring Blackwall Tunnel. The 82 could lay claim to be the most bizarre route ever operated by London Transport, and one of its most unreliable to boot. LT could have been said to operate it through gritted teeth, and it was hated by crews too!

 

[Statto]

Disgraceful! All this because they’re assuming that people in Woolwich will use CrossRail.

That’s why they axed the X53 in the end, because of the Jubilee line, not realising how useful it was.

The 180 is also being cut back and rerouted to North Greenwich which makes little sense.

Yep very reminiscent of the 54 being cut from Croydon to Elmers End because of the Croydon Tramlink, apparently there was a lot of protests over that but London Buses[before TFL] ignored them & still cut the 54.

 

[Statto]

I can't remember the number of the route either, but historically it was the 82, the very poor cousin of the 108/A which used the neighbouring Blackwall Tunnel. The 82 could lay claim to be the most bizarre route ever operated by London Transport, and one of its most unreliable to boot. LT could have been said to operate it through gritted teeth, and it was hated by crews too!

Original 82 was Stepney-Rotherhithe route did a loop round the old Surrey Commercial Docks, what is now Bermondsey, 82 was partly replaced by the P2 South Bermondsey-Rotherhithe, but P2 stayed on the south bank & never went through the tunnel

P14 Surrey Quays-Isle Of Dogs appeared in 88, operated by minibuses, but was withdrawn in 99, partly replaced by the 395 Limehouse-Surrey Quays, which in turn was withdrawn in 06, don't think any route has gone through the Rotherhithe tunnel since.

 

[Busaholic]

Original 82 was Stepney-Rotherhithe route did a loop round the old Surrey Commercial Docks, what is now Bermondsey, 82 was partly replaced by the P2 South Bermondsey-Rotherhithe, but P2 stayed on the south bank & never went through the tunnel

P14 Surrey Quays-Isle Of Dogs appeared in 88, operated by minibuses, but was withdrawn in 99, partly replaced by the 395 Limehouse-Surrey Quays, which in turn was withdrawn in 06, don't think any route has gone through the Rotherhithe tunnel since.

Seem to remember reading that buses are banned from Rotherhithe Tunnel now?

 

[urpert]

Original 82 was Stepney-Rotherhithe route did a loop round the old Surrey Commercial Docks, what is now Bermondsey, 82 was partly replaced by the P2 South Bermondsey-Rotherhithe, but P2 stayed on the south bank & never went through the tunnel

P14 Surrey Quays-Isle Of Dogs appeared in 88, operated by minibuses, but was withdrawn in 99, partly replaced by the 395 Limehouse-Surrey Quays, which in turn was withdrawn in 06, don't think any route has gone through the Rotherhithe tunnel since.

395 is the one I’m thinking of. Operated by converted Mercedes minibuses towards the end of its life.

 

[PermitToTravel]

Seem to remember reading that buses are banned from Rotherhithe Tunnel now?

Everything bigger than a car is now banned from the Rotherhithe Tunnel. You can't even go through in a Transit Connect (car-sized) van any more!

 

[Statto]

Everything bigger than a car is now banned from the Rotherhithe Tunnel. You can't even go through in a Transit Connect (car-sized) van any more!

Having looked at the tunnel on street view i'm not surprised, the lanes look quite narrow, it's weird pedestrians can walk on the portals there's a staircase leading from both portals, you can't walk through the tunnel itself.

After Rotherhithe tunnel, there's only the Blackwall tunnel & Dartford crossings going towards the Thames estuary

 

[urpert]

You certainly used to be allowed to walk through it, though it can’t have been good for respiratory health!

 

[Mikey C]

Having looked at the tunnel on street view i'm not surprised, the lanes look quite narrow, it's weird pedestrians can walk on the portals there's a staircase leading from both portals, you can't walk through the tunnel itself.

After Rotherhithe tunnel, there's only the Blackwall tunnel & Dartford crossings going towards the Thames estuary

Surely you can still walk through the tunnel, or has that changed?

Not something I ever want to do mind you! Not until all vehicles are electric anyway...

 

[Mike99]

I'm going to show my age here - I remember the 251 with RFs!

Ditto

 

[david737]

Everything bigger than a car is now banned from the Rotherhithe Tunnel. You can't even go through in a Transit Connect (car-sized) van any more!

Hence the queue's of traffic you get at the roundabout which often stretch back to Surrey Quays or along Jamaica Road back to Tooley Street depending on which direction you are coming from.

 

[Busaholic]

I'm going to show my age here - I remember the 251 with RFs!

I regret to say I remember TDs on the 251, regret in the sense of lost youth, not to disparage Leyland's fine class of buses! My first ever bus photo (and, considering everything, I've taken relatively few over the decades) was a TD on the 240A at Edgware Station.