First, let’s nail the basic fact. A single London bus ride costs £1.75. That’s it. No matter if you go one stop or all the way from Heathrow to Hackney. It’s a flat fee.
This is a glorious deal in an expensive city. A single tube ride to Zone 1? That’ll set you back nearly three times as much. The bus is the budget king of London transport.
But wait—there’s a beautiful twist. You can’t pay with cash. The driver will politely (or firmly) refuse your crumpled fiver. It’s a contactless-only world on the double-decker.
The Magical Hopper Fare
Here is where it gets truly wild. You pay £1.75 for your first bus. Then, if you hop on another bus within an hour, the second ride is free. This is called the Hopper Fare.
Imagine the power. Need to grab a coffee in Soho, then visit a friend in Peckham? One pound seventy-five. It’s like a buy-one-get-one-free for the entire city.
This magic even works if you take a tram. Or mix a tram and a bus. The machine tracks you like a benevolent traffic ghost. It’s the best deal in London, and nobody talks about it enough.
