Summary
The No. 24 London Bus Route
There are many London bus routes that are great for sightseeing. The Number 24 route is among the more popular options, as it starts in Hampstead in North London, passes through Central London, and concludes in Pimlico near Victoria Station. The full trip takes about an hour.
The route commences in South End Green at the intersection of South End Road and Pond Street. It’s a brief walk from Hampstead Heath Station on the London Overground. While there, you might stroll through Hampstead Heath, visit 2 Willow Road, the former residence of architect Ernő Goldfinger, or enjoy a pub lunch at The Roebuck, which features a lovely garden.
The No. 24 bus is a new Routemaster model. These buses are fully accessible, with three entrances allowing for swift boarding and alighting.
Exploring Camden
The initial portion of the route is quite residential. However, in approximately 10 minutes, the bus reaches Camden and makes a left turn onto Chalk Farm Road. The Stables Market is located on the right, with the Camden Town railway bridge arching overhead.
Take a quick glance up Camden High Street before the bus turns left onto Hawley Road. Look out for The Hawley Arms pub on the right, a favorite spot of the late Amy Winehouse.
The bus then takes a right onto Camden Road, bringing you close to Camden Town Tube Station. In this direction, the bus does not travel along the one-way Camden High Street. Nevertheless, if you were to do the route reverse, you would have the opportunity to experience the famous Camden Markets that line the road.
Remaining on the bus, it now veers left and follows a parallel route to the lower section of Camden High Street.
At Mornington Crescent, you’ll see the stunning Leslie Green-designed tube station. As the bus turns left by the station, glance right to admire the delightful Art Deco building that previously housed the Carreras Black Cat Cigarette Factory, a design deeply influenced by Egyptian aesthetics.
Continuing on, the bus merges into Hampstead Road and heads toward Central London.
Central London
As you move forward, you will notice the BT Tower straight ahead before reaching Euston Road and Warren Street Tube Station. BT Tower stands as a notable communications tower and impressive landmark at 177 meters tall. Although it once featured a revolving restaurant open to the public, it unfortunately closed its doors in the 1970s.
The bus veers onto Gower Street, where University College London (UCL) is situated on your left. Here, you can disembark to see Jeremy Bentham inside, while a glance to the right will lead you to the Grant Museum.
As you pass Bedford Square on your right, take a moment to admire the Georgian architecture coupled with vintage-style lamp posts.
About half an hour into your journey, you’ll arrive at the stop for Great Russell Street, where you can easily access the British Museum, conveniently located just off to the left.
Look straight ahead and to your left to spot the James Smith & Sons umbrella store, a fixture since 1857.
The bus passes directly across New Oxford Street, steering toward the Oasis Sports Centre and Covent Garden before taking a right turn onto Charing Cross Road. Ahead, you’ll see Centre Point, a skyscraper with 34 floors and a viewing gallery located on the 33rd floor.
Utilizing Denmark Street to reach Charing Cross Road, the bus soon arrives at Cambridge Circus, the junction with Shaftesbury Avenue, where the Palace Theatre will be on your right.
Trafalgar Square
Next, the bus heads toward Trafalgar Square. Initially, you’ll see the National Portrait Gallery on your right, followed by St Martin-in-the-Fields church on the left, until the entire square becomes visible on the right.
When at the Trafalgar Square/Charing Cross Station bus stop, keep an eye out for the covert police box, before the bus navigates down Whitehall, with the stunning Big Ben in sight.
To your right, see Horse Guard’s Parade, where the mounted cavalry often attracts groups of tourists eager for photos. On the left is Banqueting House, distinguished by a magnificent ceiling in the Hall painted by Rubens, which remains the only surviving structure of the Whitehall Palace that once existed along both sides of this street in the late 1500s.
Pay attention to the armed officers and the black railings on your right—this denotes Downing Street, the residence of the Prime Minister at number 10. A quick glance to your left reveals the London Eye, situated on the opposite bank of the Thames River.
Ultimately, you will arrive at Parliament Square, where the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben are visible to your left. The bus will circle the square, soon bringing Westminster Abbey to your left, with the Supreme Court positioned to your right.
Ending in Pimlico
The bus now traverses Victoria Street, an area where there isn’t much to observe. However, do take a moment to look left just before Victoria Station to see Westminster Cathedral, which features a viewing gallery 64 meters (210 feet) above street level.
The bus does not enter Victoria bus station. Instead, it travels alongside the station down Wilton Road, a street lined with numerous restaurants and cafes. Next, it takes a left onto Belgrave Road, signaling your arrival in Pimlico. Getting off at the stop for Pimlico Station on Lupus Street provides a convenient five-minute walk to visit Tate Britain.
