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The big red double-decker bus has been a stalwart of London life and a globally recognised symbol of the city for over 100 years. In those 100 years, those buses have gone through several iterations. Back in the day, they had open platforms for Londoners to hop on and off. Now, loads of them have high-tech stuff like on-board USB chargers and electric motors.
But at the end of the month, one London bus route is going back in time. From around 9am to 5pm on March 29, heritage buses will take over route 19 between Finsbury Park and Battersea Bridge. And, even better, the vintage double-deckers, dating from the 1930s to 1980s, will be completely free to ride. All you have to do in head to one of the stops along the routes, stretch out your arm and hop on.
Route 19 began as route H in 1906 and has run continuously between Highbury and Battersea, largely unchanged, for nearly 120 years. Most of the vehicles taking part in heritage day will be the RT-type from the 1950s and passengers may even get an old-style ticket as a souvenir.
It should be noted that, because the buses are so old-fashioned, they’re not unable to accommodate wheelchairs or most modern buggies. Nevertheless, the London Bus Museum said ‘our crews will make every effort to help the less able and those with small children enjoy a ride back in time’. Regular buses will still be running along the route on the day.
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