Sharpen those elbows and hold on tight! (Buses in general)

Member Name: 7sefton

Product:	Buses in general
Date:	02/08/01 (46 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Cheap (for London), fun, and fexible to get around and see the sights. They are usually just as good as the tour buses, minus the anoying guide.

Disadvantages: Traffic is mad in London, so this has it's problems (although the buses get priority).

In the average city, the air outside a car or on a form of public transport is nearly 5 times as cleaner as that behind the steering wheel. And so to keep healthy and enjoy the city, this is the best option.

We all know London is no ordinary city, with both good and bad points. the good points well outweigh the bad ones, but one majour problem when your going about your adventure in the jungle of buildings we know as London sporting your very fetching Union Jack hat is the traffic. It just seems to come from nowhere, and move at snail-pase through the city.

A good way to avoid this is coach. But these, unless booked with your holiday, are expensive and need to be booked in advance. But this is London - why be sooooo boring and 'touristy' by getting on your air-conditioned coach? Hop on the famous red buses. They're cheap, clean, an experience, famous and sometimes have an open top deck (yay!). You also get to meet the people that make London what it is - the Cockneys! These fun, witty, happy go lucky peeps will kepp you amused through your journey at no extra cost (just don't forget your stop!).

They do sometimes get crowded - but your on holiday. Get in there and sharpen your elbows. Or even better wait till the bus is pulling away and jump on the back like they do in films (this is not very advisable at the rush hour though) - actors eat your hearts out!

Generally, there are number of special tickets running for different seasons. Check these at any torist info centre or travel centre, as these usually work out cheaper if your going to be travelling around London by bus a lot.

My advice though is to site near to the conductor if you don't really know where your going, as they are usually happy to warn you when your stop is approaching. Also, always sit by the conductor late at night in London, on the bottom deck. I'm not saying that it's dangerous, only I find it usually makes me feel more
at ease in a strange, big city later at night.

Do remember that London, like any other major city, does suffer from crime and drug problems, so always be on your gaurd, and wear bag across you so it's harder to snatch. As London is attractive to tourists all year round, it is an ideal taget for thieves. Don't let careless actions ruin your break.

All in all I've always found them to be a good, fun and cheap way to see all the sights, shop 'til you drop and see London as the true crazy place it is.

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