The Best London Bus Route

What’s the best London bus route for sightseeing? There’s only one. The magic number 24. Story – Holiday Goddess Editors.

Start With the Basics

This is a good video by a local, if you’ve never taken a London bus before. Starts with the basics.

Bus 24

It’s all about Bus 24 from Hampstead to Pimlico. Of course, you have to get to Hampstead first, but that’s easy. Catch the tube to Hampstead. Then allow about an hour from the top of the bus, if you can, to see an incredible tour of the city.

Highlights of the 24 Bus

The official stop list is here.

At the very end, you will see Pimlico, where Princess Diana taught children while she was dating Prince Charles. At 19 she was a nursery assistant at the Young England Kindergarten School. Her history is dotted along the entire bus route, however.

Victoria Station, also on the way, is one of London’s most famous train stations. This is where Oscar Wilde placed the notorious handbag in The Importance of Being Earnest.

It’s in the Sherlock Holmes story, The Final Problem, too.

Westminster Cathedral

Spectacular, beautiful, world-famous Westminster Cathedral is somewhere you may want to alight and reboard. If you don’t already have an Oyster Card to do that, you can find out more on the London basics bus guide on YouTube (see the first video in the post). Westminster Cathedral is the biggest Catholic cathedral in Britain.

Westminster Abbey

Another place where you may want to stop. This is where Diana’s funeral was held after she was unlawfully killed in Paris in 1997. Every coronation has taken place here, including Charles III. Famous authors and scientific heroes are laid to rest here including Stephen Hawking and Dickens.

Trafalgar Square

Nelson’s Column and some well-known lions reside here. They are known as the Landseer lions, created by Sir Edwin Landseer. The National Portrait Gallery is steps away. This is another place you may want to alight and reboard later.

Camden High Street

Camden is the musical capital of Britain. Amy Winehouse lived here; Britpop bands like Oasis and Blur used to drink here; Madness made their name here.

You can eat alongside the Regent’s Canal outside, if you want to get off the bus – or any number of cafes, terraces or restaurants will keep you happy.

We suggest The Dark Horse, but this website gives you all the options Camden Market.

If you take photos, let us know at @holidaygoddess. Thank you.