1920s

Some say that London’s articulated buses compromise safety. An exegesis of this image of London circa late 1920s taken from an advert in a trade journal might prove a useful comparison of how life used to be.


It’s at Bank which, interestingly, was the terminus of the first co-ordinated horse bus timetable in London, in 1829 (sic). In the background of the picture, a horse drawn goods haulier is just visible, still operating in central London. The last horse bus in London, though, ran in 1914.

There are three open top double decks in view. These are likely to be B, K or X types. The two whose route numbers are visible on the original image are on routes 9 and 15, two old-established services whose modern-day equivalents are essentially the same as back then. Neither is operated by bendy buses. These days, the 9 sees London United Volvo B7TL/East Lancs Vykings and the 15 East London Tridents. The Aldwych-Liverpool Street section of the 9 ceased in 1992 and the 15 was rerouted via the Tower in 1985 – both relatively recently in terms of their long histories. Both routes today enjoy separately-tendered Routemaster heritage services 9H and 15H over short sections.

The driver of each bus is exposed to the elements, with just a canopy over his head. This would never keep him dry when driving into rain and certainly would not keep him warm. The conductors would fair little better, serving the exposed upper deck via an equally exposed rear spiral staircase. For some years, the metropolitan police opposed closed top deckers, fearing a roof would make the vehicles too top-heavy.

It’s difficult to tell at what time of day the photo’s taken. But the buses are certainly all full. The upper decks are full of gentlemen. No women are visible. Most if not all are wearing other than flat caps, indicating that bus travel in Bank was for professionals. In central London more than anywhere else you will still find a mix of passengers using buses today.

Indeed, there is a marked hierarchy of hats in the scene – the bicyclist delivery man in the foreground with a customary flat cap. That couriers also use bicycles in the heart of London in the 21st century is telling, though these days they wear protective head gear.

The street scene is a busy one. Yet, there’s no white (or red or yellow) paint on the roads, no traffic signals or pedestrian crossings. Instead, three police constables are visible, the nearest in the picture seems half-heartedly to be directing traffic. They all have a white band on each tunic arm as an early example of PPE (personal protective equipment), hi-vis clothing.

There are remarkably a large number of adverts on the buses. This would have been a “new” medium at the time rather like the internet was 10 years ago, but one that has stood the test of time in urban areas. None can specifically be identified on the original save for Lipton’s Tea.

With thanks to the London Bus Page in Exile for additional information.