In this guide
Every London bus is £1.75 flat, however far you go, against £3.00 to £5.90 on the Tube — and the Hopper fare lets you change buses free within an hour. Buses also reach neighbourhoods with no Tube station.
💡 Bus & Tram Snapshot:
- Flat Fare: All London bus and tram journeys cost a flat £1.75 (no peak rates, no distance zones).
- Touch In ONLY: Always tap your contactless bank card, phone, or Oyster card ONCE on the yellow reader beside the driver as you board. Never touch out when exiting.
- Hopper Fare: Make unlimited bus and tram transfers within 60 minutes of your first tap for just £1.75.
- 100% Cashless: Drivers do not accept cash. Every passenger must tap their own card or phone.
Bus vs. Underground: Which should you choose?
| Feature | London Bus | London Underground (Tube) |
|---|---|---|
| Single Adult Fare | Flat £1.75 everywhere | £3.00 – £5.90 (Zones 1–6) |
| Sightseeing & Views | 🌟 Top deck front seats offer scenic views | Underground in dark tunnels |
| Speed & Timing | Subject to road traffic & diversions | High-speed, fixed schedules |
| Accessibility | 100% low-floor with wheelchair ramps | ~33% step-free stations |
| Night Travel | 24-hour routes & N-prefixed night buses | 24-hour Night Tube (6 lines, Fri/Sat only) |
| Luggage Space | Limited floor space for large suitcases | Dedicated luggage areas on newer lines |
🚀 When to take the bus: Choose a bus for short hops (1–4 stops), with a pushchair or wheelchair, to avoid station stairs, or for the sights. Take the Tube or Elizabeth line to an airport or a timed appointment.
Every route runs low-floor buses with an access ramp and one wheelchair space, and wheelchair and mobility scooter users travel free on buses and trams. Our step-free London guide compares that with the rail network and lists the central Tube stations with no step-free access.
5 Golden rules of riding a London bus
🌟 Golden Rules of London Buses:
- Signal the Driver: Stand visible at the bus stop flag and extend your arm out to signal the driver to stop.
- Touch In Once: Touch your card or device flat against the yellow reader beside the driver when boarding. Wait for the green light.
- Never Touch Out: Touching out on a bus is unnecessary and confuses the reader.
- Press the Red STOP Button: When your stop is next, press the red STOP button.
- Exit Through the Middle Doors: Exit using the middle doors on double-decker buses so boarding passengers can enter at the front.
How the Hopper Fare works
- 60-Minute Window: Board as many TfL buses or trams as you want within 60 minutes of your first tap, and you will only be charged a total of £1.75.
- Automatic Discount: Tap in on every bus you board with the same card or device and the extra £1.75 charges are waived.
Mixing Buses and the Underground
⚠️ Tube transfers are NOT free: Taking a bus and the Tube charges two separate fares. The 60-minute Hopper window applies strictly to bus and tram transfers.
| Journey Combination | What You Pay |
|---|---|
| Bus ➔ Bus (within 60 mins) | £1.75 total (Hopper fare) |
| Bus ➔ Tube | £1.75 bus fare + Underground Tube fare |
| Bus ➔ Tube ➔ Bus (within 60 mins of 1st bus) | £1.75 for both buses + Underground Tube fare |
| Bus ➔ Bus (after 60 mins) | £1.75 + £1.75 = £3.50 |
Top 4 sightseeing bus routes for visitors
Sit on the top deck at the front window of an ordinary red TfL bus and the fare is the same £1.75 as any other journey:
| Route Number | Useful Sightseeing Section | Key Landmarks Passed |
|---|---|---|
| Route 24 | Camden Town ➔ Soho ➔ Victoria | Camden Market, Theatreland, Trafalgar Square, Whitehall, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Victoria. |
| Route 15 | Trafalgar Square ➔ Tower Hill | Trafalgar Square, Strand, St Paul’s Cathedral, Monument, Tower of London, Tower Bridge. |
| Route 11 | Waterloo ➔ Fulham | Waterloo, Westminster, Victoria Station, Sloane Square, King’s Road Chelsea. |
| Superloop | Outer London Express | Rapid express orbital routes bypassing Central London congestion. |
Open-top Hop-On Hop-Off sightseeing buses
For live or multi-language commentary and stops right outside the major attractions (Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, the London Eye), the private open-top Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Buses — Big Bus, Tootbus and Golden Tours — sell 24, 48 and 72-hour passes.
- Private Tours: Hop-On Hop-Off buses are private tours, not TfL public buses. They do not accept Oyster or contactless taps.
- River Cruise Included: Most 24-hour and 48-hour passes include a free Thames river cruise ticket.
How to use London Trams
London Trams operate across South London surrounding Croydon, Wimbledon, Beckenham Junction, and New Addington, connecting directly with London Overground and National Rail lines.
A tram in Croydon. Photo: Alex Noble, released under CC0.
Tram Boarding & Fare Rules
- Tap on the Platform: Touch your Oyster or contactless card on the yellow reader at the tram stop before stepping onto the tram.
- Never Touch Out: Do not touch out after exiting the tram.
- Wimbledon Interchange Rule: When interchanging at Wimbledon station, touch the dedicated tram-only reader on Platform 10.
- Fares: Tram fares match bus fares (£1.75 flat rate) and are included in the 60-minute Hopper. All tram stops feature step-free street-to-tram access.
8 Common bus & tram mistakes to avoid
- Touching out when leaving a bus.
- Waiting at the wrong stop flag letter: Major stations have several stops (A, B, C, D) on adjacent streets, so match the letter in your app.
- Forgetting to signal the driver: Drivers will not stop unless you extend your arm.
- Using different devices: Tapping in with a bank card on Bus 1 and Apple Pay on Bus 2 counts as two different cards (charging £1.75 twice).
- Trying to pay cash: London buses have been 100% cashless since 2014.
- Pressing the STOP button too late: Press it as the bus leaves the stop before yours.
- Forgetting the Wimbledon Platform 10 tap when transferring to trams.
- Not checking road closures: Parades, marathons and demonstrations divert central buses, so check live status on TfL Go.
Related London Transport Guides
- 🚊 Getting Around London: Complete Transport Overview
- 🚇 How to Use the London Underground
- 💷 London Transport Fares and Costs 2026
- 💳 Oyster Card vs. Contactless Guide
- 🚢 How to Use London River Boats
- ♿ Step-Free London – Ramps, assistance and which stations work
Check live bus arrivals and route diversions with Transport for London.
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