please empty your brain below
Going by TfL's abysmal choices in bus routes, I suspect Bus leisure route 11 might show up instead (allowing you to tick Westminster off as well but with the Tower of London being quite some distance - yet still mysteriously mentioned)

the orange one | 06.07.18 - 7:17 a.m. | #

It's good that TfL are encouraging bus use for tourists. I've always been wary of using the bus as I don't always know how many stops there are to go and this can get confused further by missing stops. However, having had to use one for work the other day (first time at 29!) I have to say the communication onboard was fantastic. Much better (information) than busses out in the sticks in Kent.

robbaker292 | Homepage | 06.07.18 - 7:17 a.m. | #

Good idea, poorly executed. Is this becoming a TfL mantra?

100andthirty | 06.07.18 - 8:02 a.m. | #

Sad to see the 17 designated as a tourist leisure bus. I shall be using that one later today and it has always been fairly easy to get on,outside of rush hour,unlike the Tower Hill to Trafalgar Square route.
Btw when I was young, East Street market was called East Lane. Perhaps only by people who lived locally.

Jo W | 06.07.18 - 8:02 a.m. | #

'Duration of non-stop route: 65 minutes' - so its limited stop?, an express? - in what way is it non-stop?

'... runs from Clapham Junction to Shoreditch', so what number bus route goes the other way?

Still Anon | 06.07.18 - 8:08 a.m. | #

Or was Charlie Chaplin born in Smethwick, west Midlands?

Tony Martin | 06.07.18 - 8:11 a.m. | #

Has all the hallmarks of marketing puff from office based non-bus users rather than actual bus route reality. It’s a common problem..

Roger French | Homepage | 06.07.18 - 8:14 a.m. | #

Here's a badly phrased tweet from @TfL promoting bus leisure routes:

Did you know that there's a London Bus route that will take you past all the classic sights?📍 Find out more about the sights you can see from an iconic red London bus! 👀

diamond geezer | Homepage | 06.07.18 - 8:51 a.m. | #

Sorry TfL but I think I shall stick to my usual route when showing visitors around which is from Buckingham Palace down the Mall, the Heritage 15 to the Tower and then walking back along the South Bank to the Houses of Parliament, thanks.
A nice circular mix of the parts most tourists have actually heard about and want to see.

Cornish Cockney | 06.07.18 - 9:19 a.m. | #

Perhaps towards the end of this year TfL might designate a special leisure route for tourists to view the Christmas lights. I'm sure they could find someone to sponsor it.

Andrew | 06.07.18 - 9:26 a.m. | #

Just read the 22 pdf. The walk at the end is entirely down to the route being diverted at Green Park to Oxford Circus as part of the first round of West End bus changes. Bet whoever drew this all up was using an old map!

Even better. The nearest station for Fulham Palace is shown as Fulham Palace. Can anyone find that on a tube map?

ap | 06.07.18 - 9:40 a.m. | #

Long time reader, first time commenter.

Something I did back in 2016 was to travel the entire route 23 and I felt that it gave a good snapshot of London. It goes from Westbourne Park to Liverpool Street via a variety of locations: Portobello market, Paddington, Marble Arch, Selfridges, Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, Fleet Street, St Paul's and the Bank of England. I found it to be a quite interesting experience to see all these locations one after another from the front seat on the top deck of a double decker.

dg writes: Alas the 23 was withdrawn between Aldwych and Liverpool Street last September.

X-Plaistow | 06.07.18 - 9:43 a.m. | #

Agree that route 15 is an obvious missing route.
Wonder if they aren't promoting it because it already rammed with tourists most of the time?

IslandDweller | 06.07.18 - 9:44 a.m. | #

Many years ago, when the 12 ran from Norwood Junction to Harlesden, riding that one from end to end would show someone just about every aspect of London life, if you had the patience to wait for a through bus

Max Roberts | 06.07.18 - 10:03 a.m. | #

in nigh-on 30c heat, crawling along in traffic, surrounded by pollution, on a non-air-conditioned bus: no thanks.

Grumpy Anon | 06.07.18 - 10:03 a.m. | #

Weird promoting the 139 as a tourist route, the southern section is hardly unique when compared to other bus routes, and amusing to see sights on Oxford Street promoted, seeing that Sadiq (and TfL as a result) want to remove buses from Oxford Street!
Lord's is a bit tenuous (the number of people not going to a game, but wanting to visit the ground must be tiny), which leaves Abbey Road, the main reason for any tourist to be near the 139!

Mikey C | 06.07.18 - 10:09 a.m. | #

Everyone seems a bit po-faced here. Is that it that bad an idea?

dg writes: See 100andthirty's comment at 8.02.

Messiah | 06.07.18 - 2:53 p.m. | #

I think there are far worse ways a tourist or Londoner could spend 40 minutes (or more) than on a 35 travelling from Brixton to Borough. Brixton itself is worth much more than the market,the glorious facades of Electric Avenue, an interesting War Memorial, the Town Hall. Camberwell too is worth a stop and a wander around the Green and along Church Street. The Walworth Road provides a graphic illustration of how London grew in the 18th and 19th centuries, and also the shop fronts and demographics of present-day, working London. The ever-changing Elephant too is worth a stop. And at the Borough opposite the market are several fine old pubs like the George. Probably a whole day could be spent on this section of South London.

michael | 07.07.18 - 5:58 a.m. | #

Yes, I think Michael has the right spirit for enjoying London. It just needs TFL to hire him and DG to write up a blurb for these routes. DG readers could submit new bus and walk tours for anyone to follow. Fun for all. So much to see from upstairs, all hidden in plain sight. And say where the good loos are.

Herbof | 07.07.18 - 8:20 a.m. | #

@ Herbof - depending on your interests and openness then almost every London bus route has some merit to it. As Michael suggests there is plenty to do along the 35 route.

For all those thinking the 15 is marvellous then they need to think again given the horrific traffic conditions it has faced for many years.

TfL actually need to get their buses moving at something faster than 2 mph to make bus travel even worth considering. There's no point in promoting a network that is not working properly. TfL are far more pre-occupied with cutting the network to bits and making it less attractive. Until that mindset changes and finances are improved then it's pointless indulging in any promotional effort.

PC | 07.07.18 - 3:58 p.m. | #

i thought the number 24 bus route was generally viewed as the most tourist friendly.

ADS | Homepage | 08.07.18 - 12:55 p.m. | #











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