London Transport Bus Blinds

London Transport Bus Blinds. In the early days buses carried sign-written wooden

destination boards, a leftover from stagecoaches. Routes lengthened, more versatile roll-blinds came about. London Transport made their own from screen printed paper laid on dutch linen. This was labour-intensive, blinds were out-sourced by the late 1980’s. Stronger, modern materials came into use. New buses are now invariably equipped with computerised electronic displays confining bus blinds to history. I couldn’t hope to show all that I have and I’ll probably never have all that there are but do please ask. These items are simply lovely once framed and make a superb gift or momento of your time spent in London. Below are a few examples of what I have available.

Widths vary from around 33 - 42”. Depths from 6” [one-liner] to 18” [multi-liner]. Please ask if you don’t see what you’d like below. Professional UK framing service available.

Night Buses. A trip on a packed weekend London Night Bus is rarely forgotten! Few places are better to ‘People Watch’ than on public transport. Nighttime travellers make the experience even more enlightening. There’s always a mix of shift workers and revellers, typically made up of people of all nationalities, both tourists and residents of London.

You can often tell the newly-arrived traveling tourists from the more accustomed and the resident! They’ll be the ones with that ‘rabbit caught in the headlights’ look at the general goings-on brought about by a good night out and sometimes more than a few drinks. For me these blinds remind me of a notable journey on a late Saturday night / Sunday morning that I’ll never forget...

I was returning from a rare trip to a night club in Oxford Street with my giggly Italian girlfriend. It was a nice night and we walked along Oxford Street, Regent Street, Piccadilly Circus Haymarket and Pall Mall to Trafalgar Square to catch our bus. Although it was very late there were still many people making their way home. The bus was packed full and we squeezed on board. I clearly recall: Two girls entwined in each others arms kissing passionately by the stairs [and in true 'anything goes London style', no-one batted an eyelid]. Also an unwittingly very funny young irish drunk softly singing as he desperately tried to remain upright. Then a group of lads cracking some really naughty jokes added to the fun and a very smart middle-aged couple that looked completely horrified at the entire scene.

All this as the driver was hurtling through lightly trafficked West End streets [and a couple of red traffic lights] at breakneck speeds! That's London for you, - unforgettable, for so many reasons.

If you've not experienced a London Night Bus ride you've really missed something! The items below are sections from London Night Bus's front destination blind. It will no doubt evoke many memories of your own experience. I have many others with different well-known London destinations.

Page Under Construction, many more to come.

Signs recieved a few days ago in perfect condition, taken straight to the framers, I can't wait! many thanks. 09

More to come!

Right. Routemaster Heaven from YouTube!

Professional framing is available [UK only due to prohibitive airmail charges on larger packets].

Hi Haydn. It's arrived and it's lovely! My Dad will be so pleased and so surprised! Thank you so much for such a brilliant service all round. AH 2010

“My signs arrived last week and I'm over the moon, thank you. I also really liked your innovative packaging”! J 08

“All's well --- the sign has arrived and looks great. Many thanks -- what service! M 2010

Again, thanks so much Haydn, they're all so beautiful. I shall have no hesitation in recommending your website to friends and family, and I'm sure I will be back for more at some stage. Cheers, K. Australia 09”

Hi Hadyn,

Our bus blind arrived over the weekend and I absolutely love it, it is fantastic so thank you very much.

I actually love it so much that I think I will buy some more…M. Australia. 09

Hi Haydn, It arrived today in perfect condition, nicely framed and looks great. It was very carefully packed, so many thanks.

Best regards S. UK 09

Day Trips & Holidays

Being London born of parents that also grew up in London, and without a family car, ‘days out’ destinations were usually somewhere easily reached by London Transport. The Festival Gardens in Battersea was our firm favourite [click here to take you to London Special Bus signs including Battersea Gardens]. Do you remember The Guinness Clock? I was fascinated by it.

Money was always short but sometimes there was enough to venture further afield. A short tube ride to Wood Green to meet the 152 bus to Southend was a rare treat. After my Dad died when I was eleven Mum rekindled her love for Kent and ‘rare long-distance treats’ found us in Margate, Ramsgate & Broadstairs. If you are also ‘of a certain age’ when getting on a plane was only for fighter pilots and Spain was unthinkable you too probably had your regular trips to UK destinations that were convenient from your part of London. Below I’ve listed a few popular destinations I have available. I’ll add more as and when possible. Including delivery no section is more than £42. Expect some wear marks [but no splits or tears] as they’ve all been used and are often at the very least 20 years old, some over 40 years.

For those of you that would rather sample a night bus ride from home watch this one from the N38 in East London!

Full length Routemaster Linen Blind 1986. 27” x78” wide. £ P.O.A.

Full length Routemaster Linen Blind 1988. 33” wide. £ P.O.A.

Full length Routemaster Linen Blind 1988. 27” wide. £ P.O.A.

Below, each one 42 x 72” approx. These would make lovely murals.

Below 42 x 60” approx.

Below 42 x 66” approx

Below. 5 - 6 feet tall, 42” wide. I have a few of the large bus blind panels from South London as shown below that are ideal for an impressive display, available at a reduced price which might take some of the pain out of the inevitable high overseas carriage charges.

Larger bus blind sections from outside London are available. These lovely cloth examples shown below would make wonderful blinds for your windows or fantastic pieces of artwork for your walls. Below are a few from the Midlands.[41” wide and 6 feet tall] and Manchester 35” wide and around 4 -7’ tall. Note the Manchester blind has some striking double height lettering and was removed from a 1951 Crosville Bus. I couldn’t hope to show all that I have so do ask.

Left. From 1971, Harlow Bus Garage routes. Right,36 x 31” linen Sussex blind

Left, a delightful cloth blind from days long gone. 29” wide, some 7 feet long.

Wow! Received the sign safe and sound first thing this morning, it looks more amazing than I'd imagined. Thank you so much for all of your help and your excellent service. The sign has already become one of my favourite things in my home. K 2010