Considering doing a bus bash, what routes shall I travel?

[district]

Got some time on my hands tomorrow, and want to go on some interesting TfL bus routes, but need advice on routes I could go on. Particularly interested in smaller buses (solo operated?), infrequent services, scenic routes, buses which run to the extremities of the network etc.

Only want to use services which accept TfL passes and travelcards.

Hope someone can help!

 

[Antman]

The R8 between Orpington and Biggin Hill which is Solo operated

In the same area Dart operated routes 146, 246,464,R5/10 are scenic rural routes

 

[nicobobinus]

Another vote for the R8, though a Solo is not guaranteed - my last ride a few weeks ago was a mini pointer dart, which made for a squeeze down the narrow smaller lanes.

Steve's suggestions are the best of the bunch - TfL territory is not contiguous with the built up area of 'London', but the borough of Bromley has one of the largest areas of proper countryside with villages and winding country lanes, and TfL has a remit to serve it.

Out to the west, Hillingdon has a similar area of countryside within the London area with a couple of routes running out to the large village of Harefield - the U9 and 331, though the latter is more of a racetrack B-road affair than a country lane tour, and is run with full size E200 darts. From a visitor's perspective, though, that route does have the advantage of being well connected to the tube network at each end.

The 96, 428 and 492 out to Bluewater are busy big-bus interurban affairs with short stretches away from built up areas, so I wouldn't pay too much attention to these. Same for the 81, which is a *very* busy slog along the A4 and requires for the travelcard holder to about-turn in Slough and do the whole trip back in. Not recommended in this context.

The 465 out to Dorking has some fine country running towards the southern end, but will need 2+ hours to cover out & back from Surbiton (I'd recommend this over Kingston for the better rail service - Chessington South is another option). The long Optare Versas the operator fields on this route are nothing special and do crowd out at least as far south as Leatherhead.

The 142 and 258 out to Watford are busy double-deck interurban routes with little break from the sprawling suburbia. Getting in and out of Bushey/Watford is also soul shatteringly slow at certain times of day!

There are a few other peripheral routes with qualities that fall between the recommendations and 'dire warnings' above, but these are the ones that merit most attention to either use or avoid IMO. Have fun!

 

[causton]

How about some of the temporary routes?

Try the 588 from Stratford City Bus Station (north side of Stratford station, head along the road instead of turning left to Westfield) which runs through the Olympic Park before dumping you a short walk from Hackney Wick station - some nice views!

Other than the Borismaster, and the 9H and 15H, I can only echo the comments above that there isn't that much these days. Previously I would have recommended a run out on the 84 but that doesn't take Oyster and uses horrible buses these days!

 

[district]

Thanks, will keep that in mind.

 

[W-on-Sea]

The 464 is certainly scenic.

There are several semi-rural routes in the Havering, Essex, area, but unless you wanted to be exposed to the (not entirely questionable) delights of Brentwood, not sure I would recommend any of them - they are mostly main-road focussed.

Slightly back into town, the longer version of the East London Transit, the EL2, might be worth considering: the final stretch out to Dagenham Dock, across marshland and former industrial sites, is pretty interesting, and surprisingly scenic in its own way. In fact, for sites, I'd recommend going around on the routes around the various docks areas, in Newham, Tower Hamlets and Southwark: some of these neighbourhoods really are like nowhere else in London.

I'd also recommend the H2, which I think is Solo-operated, for a tour around the delights of Hampstead Garden Suburb. In fact, if anything, the H3 (which I think only runs once an hour, and finishes unusually early for a London route) might be more interesting, going not just to the Garden Suburb but also across the Heath Extension, and then along the "millionaires' row" of The Bishops Avenue.

 

[transmanche]

In fact, if anything, the H3 (which I think only runs once an hour, and finishes unusually early for a London route)

I think the H3 (like the W10) may be a bit of a fill-in - perhaps to give a driver/bus some work between school runs?

My vote for scenic routes goes to the 11. Passes a lot of the tourist sights - much cheaper than a tourist bus!

 

[90sWereBetter]

How about the 379 in Chingford, which is probably the shortest TFL bus route, and it runs pretty much on the border with Epping Forest district.

 

[W-on-Sea]

I think the H3 (like the W10) may be a bit of a fill-in - perhaps to give a driver/bus some work between school runs?

I think yes and no. Yes, it is, effectively a fill-in, as I think the bus is used on Hampstead Garden Suburb school journeys that were numbered H1 (but I think may now be something else?): But, no, too, as it partly replaces journeys that the H2 used to make, both via The Bishops Avenue (these were always limited in number), and in some back streets of East Finchley (most of which used to be served as a regular part of the H2 route - although in fact the current H3 route is slightly longer in that area).