To help raise awareness of the Weekend Hopper offer, three buses on routes 23, 49 and 295 have been wrapped as hopping frogs, with Londoners and visitors encouraged to see if they can spot them all as they travel around the capital over the summer. These three routes offer TfL customers the chance to visit landmarks including world-class museums, the Royal Albert Hall, Piccadilly Circus and Trafalgar Square – as well as connecting with a range of other routes, including London’s growing Superloop network, making it easier to travel across the city to visit family and friends.
The Weekend Hopper will help Londoners enjoy an unforgettable summer, with an exceptional programme of events and experiences across the capital. There is something for everyone, from major sporting moments like the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup and the Novuna London Athletics Meet, to landmark live music including Harry Styles’ record‑breaking 12 nights at Wembley Stadium as well as performances by Olivia Dean and Ariana Grande at The O2 Arena. London’s world‑class museums, theatres and galleries are also hosting a fantastic array of exhibitions, such as V&A East’s inaugural show ‘The Music is Black’, Lucian Freud’s ‘Drawing into Painting’ at the National Portrait Gallery and the Zurbarán exhibition at the National Gallery. Theatre‑goers can enjoy a standout season too, with The Devil Wears Prada at the Dominion Theatre, Hercules at Theatre Royal Drury Lane and Wicked at the Apollo Victoria Theatre.
The return of the Mayor’s £400,000 Summer Streets fund aims to create the biggest ever summer of al fresco dining in the capital [3], as bold plans move forward to transform Oxford Street into a pedestrian plaza that can host world-class events and leisure experiences [4]. The Weekend Hopper fare will make it even easier to enjoy everything London has to offer in the coming months. For example, a family of two adults and two under-16s making three or more bus journeys in a day could save up to £7 a day or £14 over a weekend.
Buses are the most inclusive form of public transport in London, with 96 per cent of households within 400 metres of a bus stop and more than 90 per cent served by high-frequency routes [5]. Buses and trams also offer the most accessible and affordable way to travel sustainably in the capital, with fares among the lowest in the UK and all bus routes served by low-floor vehicles with a dedicated wheelchair space, providing a vital lifeline for vulnerable Londoners and lower income households.
Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “During 10 years as Mayor, I’ve been committed to keeping public transport as affordable as possible. This has included freezing bus and tram fares a record seven times. I am determined to continue to help Londoners with the cost-of-living crisis. My Hopper fare has enabled millions of people to enjoy cheaper bus travel. I know how expensive the summer holidays can be for families and my new Weekend Hopper - which is a whopper of a deal - will make it cheaper and easier for Londoners and visitors to enjoy all that our great city has to offer this summer. I know that buses and trams are a real lifeline for many Londoners, and I’m determined to keep them the most accessible and affordable mode of transport in the capital as we continue building a greener, fairer, better London for everyone.”
London’s Transport Commissioner, Andy Lord, said: “London’s buses and trams are vitally important to helping people all across London get around and visit friends, family, and the vast number of amazing places and events the city has to offer. The Hopper fare has helped revolutionise taking a bus or tram for many people over the last decade and we are delighted to be able to offer a Weekend Hopper fare this summer to further help make public transport affordable and convenient for all.”
Michelle Walker, London Area Director at Arts Council England, said: “The Weekend Hopper fare is a great initiative that will open up London’s extraordinary cultural life to even more residents and visitors. By making travel simpler and more affordable for Londoners, this initiative removes a real barrier to accessing the capital’s museums, theatres, galleries and live events. This is a welcome step that is sure to strengthen the bond between culture and community across London.”
Bernard Donoghue, Director at ALVA - The Association of Leading Visitor Attractions, said: “This is a great initiative from the Mayor. More affordable transport opens up London, not least to Londoners themselves. I'm sure this will prompt more of us to discover the London beyond our neighbourhood and find new favourite places, destinations, attractions and green spaces.”
Kate Nicholls, Chair of UK Hospitality, said: “London has something for everyone, from our iconic pubs and restaurants to world-renowned theatres and festivals, and affordable transport is so important for Londoners and visitors alike. Extending the Hopper fare to weekends throughout the summer will make it cheaper and easier for people to experience the fantastic hospitality that London has to offer, and I'm pleased the Mayor has introduced this initiative.”
David Hamilton, Executive Director at the British Film Institute, said: “There’s nothing quite like a brilliant day out in London, and cheaper weekend travel makes it easier for more people to get out and enjoy the city. Whether you’re visiting museums and galleries, heading to the theatre, enjoying live music, or visiting one of the capital’s incredible cinemas - including major film destinations like the nation’s cinematheque BFI Southbank and BFI IMAX, home to the UK’s biggest screen - the Weekend Hopper fare is a really welcome boost for summer days out across the capital.”
Laura Citron, CEO of Visit London, said: “London is set for an incredible summer with world-class events, outdoor culture, live music, exhibitions, theatre and neighbourhood experiences taking place across the capital. The new Weekend Hopper fare makes it even easier and more affordable for Londoners and visitors to explore more of the city – from iconic attractions and museums to local high streets, green spaces and al fresco dining. Whether you’re discovering somewhere new or revisiting a favourite part of the capital, this summer is the perfect time to experience everything London has to offer.”
Sandra Botterell, Executive Director at Kew, said: “We really welcome the Weekend Hopper ticket initiative, which will hugely help Londoners to explore our wonderful city and enjoy days out at our incredible visitor attractions. We know that nature has a wonderful way of soothing, and I couldn’t think of anything better than spending a day at Kew Gardens and exploring all we have to offer. This summer, Kew will be home to more than 30 outdoor sculptures by iconic British sculptor Henry Moore, placed around the Gardens to inspire people about nature.”
Sarah Saunders, Assistant Director at London Museum, said: “We have a number of buses that stop near us in Docklands, and I hope this will give new and returning visitors an opportunity to drop in over the summer. You can bring a packed lunch and enjoy a day out with us entirely for free; soak up the sun on the Quay, or escape to the cool of our galleries to explore 400 years of London’s history as a port. We have loads planned for families over the holidays too, including the return of our popular festival of Caribbean Culture and a Big Dig experience for budding young archaeologists.”
John Dickie, Chief Executive at Business LDN, said: “It’s really positive to see the Mayor making it even easier for Londoners and visitors to explore everything the city has to offer by bus or tram. Innovation around fares is vital to encouraging more people to use public transport. Building on the popularity of the Hopper fare by extending it at weekends will allow even more people to benefit during an exciting summer for the capital.”
Dee Corsi, CEO of New West End Company, said: “The Mayor's Weekend Hopper Fare initiative will make the West End even more accessible, enabling Londoners and visitors alike to press play on an unforgettable London summer. Compared with 2019, visitors to the West End are now spending 50% longer exploring all that the district has on offer. Summer in the West End promises to be jam-packed with activities for the whole family, from Wimbledon-watching to al-fresco dining and rooftop sunsets; we can't wait to welcome you.”
Dan Feeney, Director at South Ken Culture Quarter, said: “The Weekend Hopper will open London up even further, giving more people the ability to access the culture and heritage that is on their doorstep within our great city. Here in the South Ken Culture Quarter we are home to 22 iconic and extraordinary institutions, bringing together one of the world’s greatest collections of museums, galleries, parks and cultural destinations - many offering free entry and programming. By making it even easier to reach us, the Weekend Hopper will help Londoners reconnect with each other, culture and curiosity in the same way that the Great Exhibition did 175 years ago, showing that these experiences are accessible and here for everyone - just as they were in 1851.”
Nic Durston, CEO of South Bank Business Improvement District, said: “This summer is a big moment for South Bank as we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Festival of Britain – with incredible anniversary programming at Southbank Centre, BFI marking its origins with a season of special screenings and War Horse returning to the National Theatre, not to mention the vast array of restaurants, bars, street food and world-renowned family attractions. With so many bus routes connecting directly into the neighbourhood, it’s one of the easiest places in London to visit, and the new Weekend Hopper fare is a great way to help even more people come and enjoy everything the area has to offer this summer.”
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