Why London Buses Are Red

The iconic London bus is red—specifically, Pantone 485 C (a vivid scarlet). This hasn't always been the case, but red has dominated for over a century.

History of the Color

• Pre-1907: Multiple private operators used different colors—green, yellow, chocolate, white—to distinguish routes.
• 1907: London General Omnibus Company (LGOC), the largest operator, painted its entire fleet red to stand out from competitors.
• 1933: London Passenger Transport Board (London Transport) formed, standardizing red across the unified network.
• 1968 onward: The "London Red" shade was formally specified for consistency.

Why Red?

Visibility in London's fog and rain. Brand identity. The Routemaster (1954–2005) cemented the red double-decker as a global symbol of London. Today, Transport for London (TfL) mandates red for all contracted buses—over 9,000 vehicles.

Exceptions

• Heritage routes (9, 15) run vintage Routemasters in red.
• Sightseeing buses (Golden Tours, Big Bus) use different colors (yellow, blue, open-top).
• Non-TfL commercial services may vary.

So when you picture a London bus, you're seeing a century of deliberate branding—and a practical choice for a foggy city.