438:
283:
308:
1287:
33:
426:
51:
1273:
867:
111:
Longer-established routes were by now using convertible buses. These were buses that had detachable roofs so they could be operated as open top during the summer but as conventional buses at other times. By 1951 Brighton was operating ten permanent open top buses and eight convertibles. At
Torquay
151:, although they were later spread across a larger number of operators. Bristol Omnibus kept its older crew-operated buses at Weston-super-Mare until 1982. Various second-hand buses had their roofs removed to replace them in 1982 but two years later six new
290:
Stage carriage services are operated to a published timetable. The operator's standard ticketing arrangements apply, including the use of day or season tickets if appropriate. Some of the services listed here also have some of the characteristics of the
205:
from
Bournemouth in October 1977 which were placed on a London sightseeing tour. While some city tours were operated just a couple of times each day by one vehicle, the more popular cities saw intense competition, especially after bus services were
345:
Tour buses often charge a premium fare and carry either a tour guide or offer a recorded commentary. They are usually circular routes and generally offer a 'hop-on hop-off' ticket that allows multiple journeys during a specified period.
298:
Some routes operate all year round, but not necessarily with open top buses. Some services have a mixture of open and closed buses. Many of the routes only operate during the warmer months of the year.
905:
951:
139:
Ts with
Eastern Coach Works bodies. Unlike older buses they did not need a conductor as the driver could collect fares and issue tickets. They were initially allocated to Devon General,
946:
1297:
898:
961:
295:
listed below, such as circular routes or publicity that describes the route for tourists. They would not normally carry guides or have recorded commentaries.
234:
revamped its sightseeing division and launched the
Original London Transport Sightseeing Tour brand, to operate a fleet of 50 modified open and closed topped
92:. As new buses became available for regular services more companies introduced new open top services using old buses with their roofs cut off, such as at the
1323:
1121:
1116:
1111:
1106:
891:
871:
1302:
1096:
77:
471:
or for promotional reasons. Private hire is sometimes employed for occasions such as weddings, using the large number of preserved vehicles in the UK.
1027:
1101:
1126:
926:
1328:
1091:
966:
73:
65:
The first open top buses in the United
Kingdom were regular double deck buses, but these were later replaced by buses with enclosed top decks.
941:
612:
120:
bodies were placed into service in 1961. These were named after historic seafarers and known as 'Sea Dogs'. Weston-super-Mare received four
821:
243:
836:
1131:
936:
485:
1138:
1086:
642:
207:
1018:
198:
69:
1143:
59:
334:
services, most using open top buses. Other picturesque rural areas and monuments are also served by open top tours, such as
1189:
490:
167:
1168:
55:
437:
231:
162:
It was nearly twenty years before further open top buses came into production in the United
Kingdom. In 1998 six
132:
480:
383:
144:
1333:
93:
1002:
1291:
1256:
1163:
997:
117:
88:
saw an end to leisure services for a while, for example it was 1949 before open top services resumed at
81:
170:
for a city tour in Paris, France, but new vehicles for
British operators soon followed. These included
1007:
992:
457:
430:
353:
282:
262:
125:
878:
1251:
1246:
883:
307:
1220:
817:
794:
767:
721:
694:
667:
638:
608:
563:
536:
452:
Open top buses are also often used in the UK for victory parades for sport teams, such as the
404:
394:
286:
Cornwall route 300 (now A1) bus at St Ives bus station which overlooks the beaches and harbour
255:
247:
202:
148:
113:
97:
36:
1210:
1065:
371:
359:
319:
311:
219:
179:
175:
152:
140:
135:
ordered a new generation of convertibles for most of its seaside fleets in 1978. These were
32:
16:
Open top buses are used in the United
Kingdom for sightseeing and seasonal summer services.
1225:
976:
971:
931:
527:
Dryhurst, Michael (November 2000). "What were the UK's last permanent new open-toppers?".
441:
398:
235:
121:
89:
222:
since 1997 and Ryan’s
Coaches 'City Tour' and Regency Tours offered further competition.
218:
was carrying up to 150,000 passengers annually but rival tours have been operated by the
633:
Curtis, Martin S. (1998). "Some Open-toppers I Have Known". In Brown, Stewart J. (ed.).
1050:
453:
315:
239:
215:
156:
1317:
1040:
467:
Open top buses also see regular use as temporary viewing platforms at events such as
445:
388:
365:
171:
101:
1277:
1194:
1055:
414:
377:
266:
183:
85:
20:
851:
468:
187:
68:
One of the first operators to provide open top buses for its seaside routes was
39:
425:
1045:
408:
339:
335:
323:
211:
191:
163:
136:
50:
798:
771:
725:
698:
671:
567:
540:
24:
are used in the United
Kingdom for sightseeing and seasonal summer services.
1230:
461:
43:
866:
712:
Morris, Stephen (July 2002). "Yellow Buses: Just an old fashioned girl?".
1173:
1070:
331:
1214:
105:
72:
in 1936. While most operators rebuilt old vehicles for such services,
1060:
1035:
251:
554:
Lidstone, John G. (August 1979). "Passengers Must Remain Seated".
436:
424:
306:
281:
49:
31:
887:
879:
Southdown Bus Group collection including NBC era open top buses
739:
Watts, G.W. (December 1977). "London Transport Vehicle News".
685:"Plaxton and Alexander merge to form TransBus International".
785:
Blackman, Terry S. (March 1998). "Open-top Variety in Bath".
330:
Nearly all major cities in the United Kingdom are served by
584:
Curtis, Martin S (August 1982). "The cream of the fleet".
318:, an Optare Visionaire with Volvo chassis operated by the
197:
City tours started to become popular during the 1970s.
194:
with convertible East Lancashire Coachbuilders bodies.
512:
Kraemer-Johnson, Glyn (2007). "Beside the seaside".
1298:
List of current bus operators of the United Kingdom
1239:
1203:
1182:
1156:
1079:
1026:
1016:
985:
919:
238:buses, on sightseeing tours of London. In May 1992
374:(many locations franchised to local bus operators)
758:Lidstone, John G. (August 1997). "Fleet News".
914:Bus and coach transport in the United Kingdom
899:
607:. Hersham: Ian Allan Publishing. p. 65.
8:
292:
1303:List of bus operators of the United Kingdom
1023:
906:
892:
884:
637:. Shepperton: Ian Allan. pp. 97–104.
628:
626:
624:
349:Companies who operate such tours include:
159:bodywork were purchased as replacements.
507:
505:
579:
577:
501:
74:Maidstone & District Motor Services
693:(546). Ian Allan: 6. September 2000.
261:The other major London operators are
174:who received four permanent open top
7:
872:Open top buses in the United Kingdom
1324:Bus transport in the United Kingdom
816:. Harrow Weald: Capital Transport.
486:Open top buses in Weston-super-Mare
250:. In December 1997, it was sold to
952:Guided buses and Bus Rapid Transit
658:"East Lancs builds open toppers".
14:
666:(516). Ian Allan: 6. March 1998.
1285:
1271:
865:
814:Routemaster Volume Two 1970-2005
265:that commenced in June 1991 and
429:An open top victory parade for
1190:Passenger transport executives
80:with open top bodies built by
1:
1329:Tourism in the United Kingdom
491:Tourism in the United Kingdom
201:purchased seven convertible
168:East Lancashire Coachbuilders
70:Brighton, Hove & District
1169:Translink (Northern Ireland)
562:(293). Ian Allan: 329–333.
58:S-type Bus open top bus of
1350:
592:(329). Ian Allan: 342–346.
444:in promotional livery for
1292:United Kingdom portal
1265:
793:(516). Ian Allan: 32–33.
720:(568). Ian Allan: 34–36.
605:Glory Days: Devon General
481:Open top buses in Torbay
384:London Pride Sightseeing
362:(Bath, Bristol, Cardiff)
269:that commenced in 2012.
1164:Municipal bus companies
303:Open top tour operators
278:Stage carriage services
94:Bristol Omnibus Company
766:(409). Ian Allan: 40.
747:(273). Ian Allan: 518.
603:Morris, Colin (2006).
535:(548). Ian Allan: 30.
449:
434:
327:
287:
62:
47:
1257:Bus Services Act 2017
874:at Wikimedia Commons
812:Blacker, Ken (2007).
440:
428:
310:
285:
53:
35:
458:England cricket team
354:Stagecoach Yorkshire
190:who purchased three
182:chassis in 2000 and
133:National Bus Company
263:The Big Bus Company
126:Eastern Coach Works
1252:Transport Act 2000
1247:Transport Act 1985
1183:Public authorities
450:
435:
328:
288:
203:Daimler Fleetlines
149:Hants & Dorset
114:Leyland Atlanteans
78:Leyland Tiran TD5s
76:purchased six new
63:
48:
1311:
1310:
1221:Mellor Coachcraft
1152:
1151:
927:Articulated buses
870:Media related to
854:The Original Tour
614:978-0-711031-28-9
405:The Original Tour
256:The Original Tour
248:management buyout
155:with convertible
153:Leyland Olympians
124:with convertible
116:with convertible
98:Weston-super-Mare
37:The Original Tour
1341:
1290:
1289:
1288:
1278:Buses portal
1276:
1275:
1274:
1211:Alexander Dennis
1157:Public operators
1024:
1008:Northern Ireland
908:
901:
894:
885:
869:
855:
849:
843:
840:Commercial Motor
834:
828:
827:
823:978-185414-303-7
809:
803:
802:
782:
776:
775:
755:
749:
748:
736:
730:
729:
709:
703:
702:
682:
676:
675:
655:
649:
648:
630:
619:
618:
600:
594:
593:
581:
572:
571:
551:
545:
544:
524:
518:
517:
509:
372:City Sightseeing
360:Bath Bus Company
326:, December 2010)
320:Bath Bus Company
312:City Sightseeing
232:London Transport
230:In January 1986
220:Bath Bus Company
199:London Transport
176:Alexander ALX300
141:Western National
128:bodies in 1961.
40:Ayats Bravo City
1349:
1348:
1344:
1343:
1342:
1340:
1339:
1338:
1314:
1313:
1312:
1307:
1286:
1284:
1272:
1270:
1261:
1235:
1226:Switch Mobility
1199:
1178:
1148:
1075:
1012:
981:
977:New Routemaster
972:AEC Routemaster
932:Buses in London
915:
912:
863:
858:
850:
846:
835:
831:
824:
811:
810:
806:
784:
783:
779:
757:
756:
752:
738:
737:
733:
711:
710:
706:
684:
683:
679:
657:
656:
652:
645:
632:
631:
622:
615:
602:
601:
597:
583:
582:
575:
553:
552:
548:
526:
525:
521:
511:
510:
503:
499:
477:
456:champions, the
442:AEC Routemaster
431:Manchester City
423:
399:New Forest Tour
356:(Peak District)
305:
280:
275:
236:AEC Routemaster
228:
90:Southend-on-Sea
46:in October 2007
30:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1347:
1345:
1337:
1336:
1334:Open-top buses
1331:
1326:
1316:
1315:
1309:
1308:
1306:
1305:
1300:
1295:
1281:
1266:
1263:
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1141:
1136:
1135:
1134:
1129:
1124:
1119:
1114:
1109:
1104:
1102:Greater London
1099:
1094:
1083:
1081:
1077:
1076:
1074:
1073:
1068:
1063:
1058:
1053:
1051:Go-Ahead Group
1048:
1043:
1038:
1032:
1030:
1021:
1014:
1013:
1011:
1010:
1005:
1000:
995:
989:
987:
983:
982:
980:
979:
974:
969:
964:
959:
957:Open top buses
954:
949:
944:
942:Coach services
939:
934:
929:
923:
921:
917:
916:
913:
911:
910:
903:
896:
888:
882:
881:
862:
861:External links
859:
857:
856:
844:
829:
822:
804:
777:
750:
731:
704:
677:
650:
643:
635:Buses Yearbook
620:
613:
595:
573:
546:
519:
500:
498:
495:
494:
493:
488:
483:
476:
473:
460:'s victory in
454:Premier League
422:
419:
418:
417:
412:
402:
392:
386:
381:
375:
369:
363:
357:
316:Bath, Somerset
304:
301:
293:open top tours
279:
276:
274:
271:
240:London Coaches
227:
224:
180:Dennis Trident
157:Charles H. Roe
60:London General
29:
26:
21:Open top buses
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1346:
1335:
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1325:
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1204:Manufacturers
1202:
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1130:
1128:
1127:West Midlands
1125:
1123:
1120:
1118:
1115:
1113:
1110:
1108:
1105:
1103:
1100:
1098:
1097:East Midlands
1095:
1093:
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1041:ComfortDelGro
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978:
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973:
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962:Park and ride
960:
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953:
950:
948:
945:
943:
940:
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909:
904:
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897:
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644:0-7110-2527-4
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443:
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432:
427:
420:
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403:
400:
396:
393:
390:
389:Lothian Buses
387:
385:
382:
379:
376:
373:
370:
367:
366:Big Bus Tours
364:
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173:
172:Lothian Buses
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138:
134:
129:
127:
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119:
118:Metro-Cammell
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102:Devon General
99:
95:
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87:
83:
79:
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71:
66:
61:
57:
52:
45:
41:
38:
34:
27:
25:
23:
22:
1283:
1269:
1195:London Buses
1092:East England
1056:Mobico Group
1028:Major groups
967:Preservation
956:
937:Bus services
864:
847:
839:
832:
813:
807:
790:
786:
780:
763:
759:
753:
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740:
734:
717:
713:
707:
690:
686:
680:
663:
659:
653:
634:
604:
598:
589:
585:
559:
555:
549:
532:
528:
522:
516:(91): 24–31.
513:
466:
451:
448:in July 2008
421:Private hire
415:York Pullman
378:Golden Tours
348:
344:
329:
314:tour bus in
297:
289:
267:Golden Tours
260:
254:and renamed
229:
196:
184:Yellow Buses
161:
130:
110:
100:in 1950 and
86:World War II
67:
64:
19:
18:
1240:Legislation
842:21 May 1992
514:Classic Bus
433:in May 2012
391:(Edinburgh)
208:deregulated
192:Volvo B7TLs
188:Bournemouth
164:Volvo B10Ms
122:Bristol FSs
1318:Categories
1122:South West
1117:South East
1112:North West
1107:North East
1080:By country
1066:Stagecoach
1046:FirstGroup
986:By country
837:First sale
497:References
411:) (London)
409:RATP Group
340:New Forest
336:Stonehenge
324:Bath Abbey
244:privatised
212:Badgerline
178:bodies on
166:bodied by
137:Bristol VR
1231:Wrightbus
1132:Yorkshire
1019:operators
799:0007-6392
772:0007-6392
726:0007-6392
699:0007-6392
672:0007-6392
568:0007-6392
541:0007-6392
469:The Derby
462:The Ashes
322:(outside
210:in 1986.
145:Southdown
108:in 1955.
84:in 1939.
44:Volvo B7L
1174:Wightbus
1139:Scotland
1071:Transdev
1017:Private
998:Scotland
475:See also
380:(London)
368:(London)
338:and the
332:tour bus
273:Services
1215:Plaxton
1087:England
993:England
947:History
920:General
395:Morebus
106:Torquay
82:Weymann
54:A 1921
42:bodied
28:History
1061:Rotala
1036:Arriva
820:
797:
770:
724:
697:
670:
641:
611:
566:
539:
446:Corona
252:Arriva
226:London
1144:Wales
1003:Wales
852:About
787:Buses
760:Buses
741:Buses
714:Buses
687:Buses
660:Buses
586:Buses
556:Buses
529:Buses
246:in a
112:nine
818:ISBN
795:ISSN
768:ISSN
722:ISSN
695:ISSN
668:ISSN
639:ISBN
609:ISBN
564:ISSN
537:ISSN
242:was
216:Bath
147:and
131:The
214:in
186:in
104:at
96:at
56:AEC
1320::
791:50
789:.
764:49
762:.
745:28
743:.
718:54
716:.
691:52
689:.
664:50
662:.
623:^
590:34
588:.
576:^
560:30
558:.
533:52
531:.
504:^
464:.
342:.
258:.
143:,
1217:)
1213:(
907:e
900:t
893:v
826:.
801:.
774:.
728:.
701:.
674:.
647:.
617:.
570:.
543:.
407:(
401:)
397:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
