Why are London buses red?
London buses are red because in 1907 the London General Omnibus Company, the city's largest bus operator, painted its buses red to stand out from competitors. Red buses later became the standard across London.
In the early 1900s, many bus companies operated in London, each with its own colors. The London General Omnibus Company chose red to make its vehicles easy to recognize.
When London Transport was created in 1933, bringing most bus services under one organization, red remained the standard color.
Iconic buses
The most famous London bus is the Routemaster, a double-decker with an open platform at the back, introduced in 1956. Passengers could hop on and off, and a conductor collected fares.
Routemasters were withdrawn from regular service in 2005, though some still run on heritage routes. A new Routemaster-style bus, sometimes called the Boris Bus, was introduced in 2012.
Today, London buses are run by private companies under contract to Transport for London, which requires them to be mostly red. Many are now electric or hybrid. The red bus is a symbol of London on souvenirs and postcards.