One good way to tour around London is through a bus, be it the iconic red buses of London or the traditional Routemaster buses, with an open rear platform and on-board conductor to collect fares. Buses are generally quicker than taking the Tube for short (less than a couple of stops on the Tube) trips, and out of central London you’re likely to be closer to a bus stop than a tube station.

Bendy buses are extra-long buses which are common on some busy routes. These busy routes which are served by bendy buses always carry a yellow route sign. These buses have doors which open along the length of the bus and there is no on-board conductor. Nevertheless, do not be tempted to hop on and hop off without paying as this is illegal and can be very risky. Large teams of inspectors frequently descend on these buses accompanied by police, and it’s possible to be arrested and prosecuted.
Getting a bus is not a problem in London as over 5 million bus trips are made each weekday and there are over 700 different bus routes. Each bus stop has a sign listing routes that stop there. Bus routes are identified by numbers and sometimes letters. Yellow signs indicate you must purchase your ticket before you board. You must either have a Pay-as-you-go Oyster card, travelcard season ticket, bus saver ticket, bus pass, or have bought a one way ticket from a machine at the bus stop. Bus journeys are free for those under age 11. Student Oysters (only available to students studying in London) go up to age 18 and journeys are still free, you will be fines for £2 if you fail to show an Oyster.

Buses display their route number in large digits at the front, side and rear. All bus stops have their location and the direction of travel on them. The new iBus system provides bus times and destination information on a audio-visual display. Unlike The Tube one way tickets do not allow you to transfer to different buses.

Lying on the eastern fringes of the West End, the district of Covent Garden is a popular shopping and tourist site in London. The district holds its place with a number of shops, street performers and many elegant buildings, theatres and entertainment facilities, including the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, and the London Transport Museum.

Earlier the space was famous for its open-air fruit and vegetable market. However, slowly both the market and the surrounding area faded into oblivion as taverns, theatres, coffee-houses and brothels opened up; the gentry moved away, and rakes, wits and playwrights moved in. The place is now a major tourist location containing cafes, pubs, small shops, and a craft market called the Apple Market, along with another market held in the Jubilee Hall.

Long Acre is the main thoroughfare of this district, running north-east from St Martin’s Lane to Drury Lane. The area to the south of Long Acre contains the Royal Opera House, the market and central square, and most of the elegant buildings, theatres and entertainment facilities, including the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, and the London Transport Museum; while the area to the north of Long Acre is largely given over to independent retail units centred on Neal Street, Neal’s Yard and Seven Dials.

The Royal Opera House in the Convent Garden was constructed as the “Theatre Royal” in 1732. It has been the home of The Royal Opera since 1945, and the Royal Ballet since 1946. The central square in Covent Garden is simply called “Covent Garden”, often marketed as “Covent Garden Piazza” to distinguish it from the eponymous surrounding area. The church of St Paul’s was the first building, and was begun in July 1631 on the western side of the square. The London Transport Museum is in a Victorian iron and glass building on the east side of the market square. The Covent Garden area has 13 theatres, and over 60 pubs and bars, with most south of Long Acre, around the main shopping area of the old market.