Buses are a great way to get around London and ideal for sightseeing too. There are over 17,000 bus stops all across London so you are never far from a bus route.

Fares cost 70p for bus rides in outer London and £1 for journeys in central London (zone 1.) Children under 16 years old can make any bus journey in London for a flat fare of 40p (14 and 15 year olds require a Child Photocard).

Most bus drivers and conductors are very friendly and will help you if you are not sure that you are travelling in the right direction. Just ask, and if not, they will stop at the next stop for you to get off, cross the road and catch another in the right direction. We all do it!

If you are planning on doing quite a bit of travel around London in one day, it makes sense to buy a One Day Travelcard. This has the added advantage that it can be used on the London Underground and trains within a certain area. There are several zones you can buy cards to cover: Zone 1 covering central London and Zones 2, 3 and 4 covering outer London. Then there is 5 and 6 that covers Heathrow airport. You can buy these travel cards from tube stations and some newsagents. To stop a bus, just put out your hand and the bus will stop, unless it is already full. To get off at a Request stop ring the bell once and in good time to let the driver know.

Night buses run all through the night from midnight on certain routes on a reduced timetable and are prefixed with the letter N. At £1 or £1.50, they are a lot cheaper than a taxi!

Most of London's buses are red, but some come in other colours for example, there is a gold painted bus to commemorate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee; all will display the London Bus Service sign.