Top Bus Routes for Sightseeing in London

There’s a lot to see on a trip to London, especially on your first visit to the city. Taking a bus is one of the easiest ways to get a good view of London without much hassle or expense; all you have to do is find out which route you want to take and leave the driving to them while you admire the scenery. London is covered by more than 700 bus routes, many of which pass some of the city’s iconic sights. As a bonus, many of the buses are double-deckers, providing an excellent vantage point from the upper deck. This guide focuses on central London routes, and includes tips along with the key sights included on each route.

London buses no longer accept cash fares, therefore, you will need an Oyster card loaded with sufficient credit or a travelcard. Alternatively, using a contactless payment card is an excellent option for London transport.

If you are short on time and want to guarantee that you see all of the big sights in London, your best bet is the classic Big Bus Tours circular route.

No. 11 Route

This bus route is ideal for first-time visitors to London. The key section of the No. 11 route begins at Liverpool Street Station and concludes at Victoria Station, traversing the City of London and passing landmarks such as St. Paul’s Cathedral, Trafalgar Square, the Houses of Parliament, and Westminster Abbey.

No. 9 Route

The No. 9 route features a beautiful section starting in Kensington and ending at Covent Garden, going past the Royal Albert Hall and Hyde Park, along Piccadilly, and past St. James’s Palace towards Trafalgar Square.

No. 73 Route

The No. 73 route begins at Victoria Station and travels to Stoke Newington in northeast London. It passes the Buckingham Palace Gardens, Wellington Arch, Hyde Park, Marble Arch, and runs the length of Oxford Street, including Islington.

No. 26 Route

The No. 26 route starts at Hackney Wick in east London and concludes at Waterloo by the South Bank. The route meanders through Hackney and the City of London, traveling over Waterloo Bridge, offering stunning views on both sides.

No. 24 Route

The No. 24 route commences at Hampstead Heath and winds its way to Pimlico, near the famous Tate Britain. This route passes through Camden and Trafalgar Square, and leads to Parliament Square, providing glimpses of the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey.

RV1 Route

The RV1 route begins at Tower Hill, adjacent to the Tower of London, and proceeds to Covent Garden. It connects the Tower of London with London Bridge and Borough Market, via Tower Bridge, leading to Waterloo and the South Bank to Covent Garden Piazza.

139 Route

This route begins in West Hampstead and traverses affluent North London neighborhoods, such as St. John’s Wood, home to the famous Abbey Road pedestrian crossing. Eventually, it continues through Oxford and Regent Streets, passing by Piccadilly Circus and Trafalgar Square, concluding in Waterloo with stunning views from Waterloo Bridge.

Many visitors to London enjoy walking through locations featured on the London Monopoly board. However, navigating these locations is much easier by taking the bus on these four routes, which will drive you past nearly all the Monopoly board locations. These routes interconnect, allowing you to catch No. 205 at Marylebone Station, No. 78 at Liverpool Street Station, No. 72 at Old Kent Road, and No. 23 at Fleet Street. For a quicker tour, pick No. 23, where you will see most of the Monopoly board names along just this one route.