Travel Hacks: The London Bus System for Beginners

Picture this. You’ve just moved into your student housing. London is right on your doorstep, filled with culture and history, theatre and art, magic and mystery, and it’s all within your reach – if you could just figure out how the bus system works!

Luckily, as confusing as it may seem to begin with, the iconic red double-deckers need not be intimidating. Once you get the hang of them, you’ll be zipping all over the city in no time like a long time local. Read on for some tips and tricks on how to master the London bus system.

The Basics

The most important things to know about London buses are as follows.

• A single fare costs £1.50.
• You cannot pay in cash – you must use a contactless payment or Oyster card.
• You can make unlimited journeys for free, as long as they’re within one hour of pay-as-you-go payment (contactless or Oyster).
• Service is 24/7.

It’s All About the Money

To master the payment process (and save as much money as possible), keep the following in mind.

• Use a contactless payment card, an Oyster card, a Visitor Oyster card or a Travelcard.
• As long as you’re using the same form of payment each time, the maximum cost of using the bus per day is £4.50.
• If your contactless card was issued outside of the UK, be aware that extra bank charges or transaction fees may apply.
• When getting on the bus, either show the driver your Travelcard ticket or touch your contactless, Oyster or Visitor Oyster card on the yellow reader. Keep all other cards separate to avoid accidentally tapping in more than once.
• If you run out of credit on either a regular or Visitor Oyster, you will be allowed to make one more journey. After that, you must top up.
• Take advantage of student discounts and other concessions.

Stop the Bus, I Want to Get Off!

Of course, once you’ve made it on the bus, there will come a time when you’ve reached your destination and you wish to get off. The most important thing to know is that drivers will only stop at designated places. If you want to exit at the next stop (look at the screen at the front to see what it is), simply press the red button marked ‘STOP’. There are many of these buttons and they can be found on the upright metal poles. After you’ve pressed the button, you will hear a bell and a ‘BUS STOPPING’ light will appear on the screen at the front. The driver will then pull over, open the doors and you’ll be free to exit.

Maps and Timetables

If you want to find out the route that’s closest to your student housing, London bus timetables and maps are your best bet. You can either download them online or pick up a hard copy at the Transport for London (TfL) Visitor Centre.

For more information, visit TfL’s official website, www.tfl.gov.uk.

The bus is arguably London’s most efficient mode of transportation. It’s cheap, easy to use and allows you to sightsee as you travel. Keep these tips and tricks in mind and, before you know it, you’ll be hopping on and off like a local without giving it a second thought. 

Author Plate Sophie Smith works as an independent consultant, specialising in offering advice on London student housing. London offers an unbeatable experience for international students, and Sophie has many suggestions to make sure that their time in the city is positive, safe and enjoyable.