Year of the Bus celebrates two centuries of London buses with a Regent Street Bus Cavalcade on 22 June

Almost 50 buses from the earliest horse-drawn model of the 1820s right up to the New Routemasters of the present day will transform Regent Street in the heart of London’s West End on Sunday 22 June in celebration of the Year of the Bus.

The Regent Street Bus Cavalcade, which will allow visitors free, unprecedented access to the most celebrated London buses of the last 185 years, will be held along the entire length of Regent Street which will be closed to traffic for the day. There will also be a variety of free family activities on offer including Lego workshops, a children’s theatre show and the chance to have a personalised message recorded by the voice of London buses, Emma Hignett.

The most modern buses – including those powered by hydrogen, electricity and hybrid technology – will be stationed near Oxford Circus, with vehicles increasing in age as visitors make their way towards Piccadilly Circus. Buses on display from a bygone era will include an example of the earliest horse-drawn bus, motor buses – including London Transport Museum’s recently restored B-type bus, a trolley bus and the original and iconic Routemaster.

Visitors to the Regent Street Bus Cavalcade will also get the chance to:

• Visit a bus shelter and bus stop made entirely out of Lego outside Hamleys toy shop. Lego will also be holding workshops for children throughout the day where they can make Lego bus stops to take home;
• View theatre performances throughout the day – full of fun, feathers and laughter – of the much-loved children’s book Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!
• Take home a personalised announcement recorded for you by Emma Hignett – the voice of London’s buses;
• Visit the Battle Bus exhibition and find out about London Transport Museum’s newly restored B-type bus which will be on display at the event. These buses were commandeered in large numbers during the First World War and converted into ‘Battle Buses’ to carry soldiers to the frontline and were also used as ambulances and even mobile pigeon lofts;
• Visit the London-based contemporary jewellery company Tatty Devine’s stall which is launching a bus-inspired jewellery range created especially for the Year of the Bus. Tatty Devine will also hold jewellery making workshops on board a London bus;
• Browse London Transport Museum’s pop-up shop selling exclusive Year of the Bus gifts inspired by London’s classic red buses. Shops along the length of Regent Street will open at noon;
• Re-fuel at the London Transport Pop-Up Canteen.

The Regent Street Bus Cavalcade, which is supported by the Regent Street Association and The Crown Estate, is part of Transport for London (TfL’s) celebrations to mark the Year of the Bus which is organised in partnership with London Transport Museum and the capital’s bus operators.

Further information about the Year of the Bus can be found at tfl.gov.uk/yearofthebus and ltmuseum.co.uk

regentstreetonline.com