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Top 10 facts about double-decker buses in London 

If you have ever been to England’s capital, chances are you’ve seen one of the two-story red buses coming down one of the busy streets. Known as a double-decker bus, this popular – and iconic – vehicle is one of the main tourist sights in the city of London. Not only is it a popular mode of transportation for tourists and businessmen alike, but riding a double-decker bus is something that every person who visits London has to experience at least once!

Even though you may think that riding on a two-story bus is the same everywhere you go, London buses are different. Although you may have ridden a two-story coach bus in the past, there is some nostalgia about hopping onto the double-decker bus as it coasts down the busy historical streets of London.

But have you heard some little-known facts about the history and the development of the double-decker bus that has made it so famous? Is there something about its history that makes people want to ride one every time they visit England’s capital? Maybe – find out more about this British icon. 

They are usually the same size

A Hedingham Enviro400 in England – By Chris Sampson – L386-SN10CCV-4 060610 CPSUploaded by Ultra7, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12038239

One fact about the double-decker bus in London Is that all buses in the United Kingdom are typically the same size. Although there are some specialty-made options that you can find in specific companies or certain cities, the most common size of a double-decker bus is usually between rou31 feet and 36.5 feet long, with the bigger size the more common option in recent years due to bigger size of roads and the higher population in metropolitan areas. The traditional size of double-decker coach buses in the United Kingdom are between 39 feet and 45 feet, since they have the necessity to carry more people for long distances across the country. 

They are a national symbol!

An historical Brixton to Clapham horse drawn bus – By Colin Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=23364357

Although you may think that they are only iconic to tourists and visitors, the double-decker bus in London has become a national icon for the entire country of England! You will often find the double-decker bus on souvenirs, in gift shops, on t-shirts, and in common British memorabilia that is sold across the world. 

Hybrid double-decker buses taking over?

A New Routemaster bus operating in London – By Martin49 from London, England – LT 471 (LTZ 1471) Arriva London New Routemaster, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=59119763

The next save of the future might include hybrid double-decker buses flooding the streets of London and other UK cities. Instead of double-decker buses that run on gas – or petrol as we say in the UK – you may find the hybrid option taking over the streets. Along with eclectic cars and hybrid vehicles that are better for the environment and the car’s fuel economy, a hybrid double-decker bus was first introduced all the way back in 2007 in London! The Routemaster, a diesel option, was also introduced in 2012. England has been making multiple strides to include environmentally-friendly options in their fleets in London, such as adding five electric double-decker buses in 2015.

They have been featured in numerous movies

The London double-decker bus is not only a cultural icon, but it has been used in many movies in the past decades. Double-decker buses are used in movies like The Mummy Returns, Live and Let Die, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, and Thomas & Friends.

North America is slowly catching on

Countries with double decker buses – By UKBus – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=106512724

Although the double-decker style rose to fame in London, other countries are slowly catching on to the productivity and efficiency of this vehicle style. In North America, Canadian cities were the first to adopt this transportation style. The most common sites where you can find double-decker buses include Edmonton and Ottawa!

The first double-decker was created in 1847

An Arriva Southern Counties Volvo B7TL – By Arriva436 – File:Arriva Guildford & West Surrey 6403 GN04 UDS.JPG, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=32504574

The first double-decker appeared on the scene – or the streets -be back in the mid-19th century with the Omnibus. Theis UK-manufactured bus was drawn by three horses – yes, this is before engines were used in cars and buses! The upper deck of the double-decker was completely open, whereas the lower deck was covered to protect from weather and precipitation. 

You can convert double-decker buses for recyclable purposes

If a double-decker bus goes out of commission – due to performance issues or having been used for multiple years – you can convert these old London icons into mobile homes, restaurants, or much more! After all, since this is such a British icon, why would you simply get rid of it? Many double-decker buses are no longer being used by the London transportation system are now being used as tourist attractions, buildings, catering locations, mobile homes, campervans, or restaurants/cafes. 

The Lodekka was a popular design

Bristol Lodekka – By Terry Wha from Bolton, UK – Originally posted to Flickr as “Bristol Lodekka F56G – 1961”, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1004914

A specific kind of double-decker bus that was popularly used in the United Kingdom was the Bristol Commercial Vehicles’ Lodekka car. This vehicle model was made and produced for nearly 20 years, spanning from 1949 until 1968. With an interesting design of a low ceiling height, low floor level, and a half-cab layout, the Lodekka was an aesthetic and intersecting double-decker vehicle that worked well for the narrow roads and the low bridges you can find scattered around the United Kingdom. 

Daimler Chrysler produced the first double-decker bus in Germany

Berlin Omnibus – By Jcornelius – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=783314

Daimler Chrysler, which you may know now as Daimler AG, was the first producer of a double-decker vehicle to be made, sold, and used in Germany! Complete with a powerful engine at the time – reaching a top speed of just under 20 kilometers per hour – this double-decker first came to light at the very end of the 19th-century. 

Miss Phyllis Thompson is an icon herself

Felix Bus – By Dave Root – Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1845996

Speaking of British icons, Miss Phyllis Thompson is a birth icon of her own! She became the first woman to drive a  double-decker bus in the United Kingdom back in the mid-20th century for Felix Bus service.