1. You are here:
  2. Homepage
  3. Free heritage bus rides in southeast London

Back to results

Free heritage bus rides in southeast London

Bus routes 61 and 261, London, Greater London, BR1

  • 14 Sep 2024
  • In person
  • Pre-booking not required

Ride free on old buses in southeast London on bus routes 61 and 261, between Lewisham, Bromley and Chislehurst. Saturday 14th September, between 1000 and 1700, serving all 61 and 261 bus stops. Buses provided by London Bus Museum and friends.

Mike Harris

Mike Harris

This is an old bus! This type replaced buses with conductors on route 61 over 50 years ago; most buses on the heritage operation will be rather older.

Mike Harris

Mike Harris

The iconic Routemaster was the type of bus that inaugurated bus route 261 in the Bromley area in 1982. Routemasters will again run on the 261 on 14 September.

Les Stitson collection

Les Stitson collection

London's standard double-deck bus of the 1950s was the RT class, of which several will be in operation on route 61. RT2740 is pictured in 1971 outside the Commodore Cinema in Orpington High Street.

Map by David Bowker, London Bus Museum

Map by David Bowker, London Bus Museum

Where do the routes go?

Buses are the lifeblood of London; about half of all bus journeys in the UK are made in London. The affection that Londoners feel for their buses is apparent whenever they have a chance to ride on a Routemaster or something older. Bus route 61 serves Bromley North, Bromley South, Bromley Common, Locks Bottom, Orpington and Chislehurst. The 261 serves Lewisham, Lee, Grove Park, Bromley North, Bromley South, Bromley Common and Princess Royal University Hospital. On 14 September, open-platform buses with real conductors will run alongside the usual TfL buses along the full routes, serving every stop. No need to book, just turn up at a bus stop and put out your hand. Buses will run about every 15 minutes; full details of times will be posted on our website www.LondonBusMuseum.com. Buses being used will mostly be the iconic Routemaster, dating from the late 1950s and 1960s, and their predecessor the RT-type, which in the 1950s formed the largest standardised bus fleet in the world.
The free heritage service will serve Bromley Common Bus Garage, which is celebrating its centenary with an open day on the same day, 14 September. The garage will feature a display of buses and other attractions. A charge will apply for entry to the garage, with profits donated by operator Stagecoach to Macmillan Cancer Support.
If you enjoy your bus rides, come and visit the London Bus Museum at Brooklands!

Timings & Tours

Saturday 14 September:
1000-1700 about every 15 minutes. (See timetables for further details)

Location & directions

Bus routes 61 and 261, London, Greater London, BR1

Directions:
Catch the bus at any bus stop along TfL bus routes 61 (Bromley - Orpington - Chislehurst) or 261 (Lewisham - Lee - Bromley - Princess Royal University Hospital). No booking, just put your hand out to stop the bus.
Contact on day:
London Bus Museum, Brooklands, Weybridge, Surrey
Telephone number:
+441932837994

Booking information

Pre-booking requirement:
Pre-booking not required

Accessibility details

Please note that old buses are not able to carry wheelchairs or pushchairs. Users should catch the TfL bus service which will run as usual.

Check out our online channels

Back to results

Other nearby events

Scadbury Moated Manor

Scadbury Park, Perry Street, Chislehurst, Greater London, BR7 6LN
Multiple dates available
In person
Pre-booking not required

See the archaeological excavations and Tudor foundations at Scadbury Moated Manor – which still has its moat around it.

Hidden Spaces Tour

St Alfege Church, Greenwich Church Street, London, Greater London, SE10 9BJ
Multiple dates available
In person
Pre-booking required

Join our knowledgeable Tour Guides to discover spaces usually closed to the public and hear about the colourful lives of those who served and worshipped in this amazing space.

Women in St Alfege Tour

St Alfege Church, Greenwich Church Street, London, Greater London, SE10 9BJ
Multiple dates available
In person
Pre-booking required

Join us to hear the fascinating stories of women connected to St Alfege Church and the role they played through the centuries - from organists to bellringers, from scientists to suffragettes.