London’s RV1 bus route connects many of London’s top landmarks and is well worth exploring. RV stands for River because it follows the Thames line for much of the route. The RV1 is also a clean machine, as it runs on hydrogen fuel cells, so it only releases water and does not emit smelly odors.
The route links the Tower of London with London Bridge and Borough Market, via Tower Bridge, and Waterloo and South Bank with Covent Garden.
The route starts from the opposite Tower Gateway station (the DLR station) and is well signposted from the Tower Hill tube station. Do not cross the street into Tower Gateway Station; instead turn left and the bus route starts from under the bridge.
An Oyster card or day trip card makes all London buses (and tubes and trains) a hop-on hop-off service (you can hop on and off at different stops throughout the day without paying any extra).
The RV1 London bus route
Time needed: approximately 40 minutes
Start: Tower of London
Acabado: Covent Garden
While waiting at the bus stop, notice the old wooden Tower Hill station sign on the wall (under the bridge on the same side as the bus stop).
The best seat for this single deck is on the right side, at the front of the highest level seats.
The bus goes around the block and then within minutes you’re waiting in line to cross Tower Bridge with the Tower of London ahead and to your right.
As you make your way up Tower Bridge, look right at the disguised fireplace before crossing the famous bridge. As you cross the bridge, look to your right to see City Hall, HMS Belfast and The Shard.
Once over the iconic bridge, you are right on Tooley Street. You will pass the Unicorn Theater on the right, which offers shows for children and young people, then More London, a development of modern buildings that includes the City Hall. Next to the right is Hay’s Galleria, which was built on the site of the great 1861 Tooley Street fire, which was the biggest fire in London since the Great Fire of London in 1666. There is a plaque on Battle Bridge Lane, a detour from Tooley Street on the right.
London Bridge station is on your left and when the bus reaches the end of the street, look right to see London Bridge and try to see the golden top of The Monument on the other side of the bridge on the right.
The bus turns left here about 10 minutes into its journey, passing Borough Market on your right before the next stop at The Hop Exchange. This interesting Grade II listed building is on your right at the bus stop. It was a center for the brewing industry when it opened in 1868 and is now a corporate hospitality venue, but it has been well restored.
As you pass under a rail bridge over Southwark Street, you can see colored lights on the wall. The lighting was installed in 2008 as part of a local government project to improve the area, and if you pass in the half hour or hour, you will see the lights slowly change from a multi-colored shower to a solid-colored wall. .
While there aren’t many major sights along this route, it connects many major tourist attractions and bus advertisements even guide you as to where to get off, such as’ Great Guildford Street. Get off here for The Globe Theater. ‘ And ‘Lavington Street. Get off here at Tate Modern «.
More ‘works of art under the bridge’ can be seen near the end of the street with a striped wall almost 50 meters long called ‘Lines Vertidas’. You’ll get about 20 minutes into the ride at this point.
The bus turns into the residential area of Coin Street, which has managed to create decent housing in what was a near-abandoned site. Residents came together in the early 1980s to campaign against proposals for the area that would have destroyed their community and now live in the heart of London’s prosperous South Bank.
The bus passes Upper Ground and Belvedere Road, which parallels the River Thames, although it cannot be seen. You will pass the back of the National Theater, BFI Southbank, Southbank Center and Royal Festival Hall before seeing the London Eye, also on your right. Look when you come out under the bridge, just past the Royal Festival Hall, and you will see Big Ben behind the London Eye as well.
The bus turns left to go to Waterloo Station 30 minutes into your journey. As you exit the Waterloo Station / York Road bus stop, look to your right to see the decorative Waterloo Train Station building.
And now it’s time to go left and go over Waterloo Bridge. The views are considered to be some of the best in London, with the South Bank, the Houses of Parliament and the London Eye to your left, and to your right you can see St Paul’s Cathedral and the City of London.
Once over Waterloo Bridge, the bus turns left onto the main road and takes you to Covent Garden and the West End. The end of the route leaves you in front of the Piazza and ready to explore Covent Garden.
