• Single-deckers - these are the smallest buses, and may have only a single door at the front for entering and leaving. However, these buses can follow routes which aren't navigable by larger vehicles, and thus serve routes which are either circuitous or have fewer passengers.
• Double-deckers - one of the main symbols of London for many years1, big red double-deckers of various designs still serve many routes in the capital. These buses have an entrance door at the front and an exit door halfway along the side, with the staircases mostly sitting somewhere in the middle of the bus. The upstairs section consists entirely of seating, while standing room and room for a wheelchair or pram is available downstairs.
• Bendy buses - a relatively new addition to the fleet, the bendy bus is 18 metres long with an articulated section in the middle. It has fewer seats than the average double decker, but has more standing room and boasts three doors, the rear two of which slide open rapidly to allow as many people as possible to be crammed onto the bus. However, the length of the bus means it takes up more road, can easily block junctions and can have problems navigating corners. Due to the fact that passengers do not have to pass the driver when boarding, tickets should be bought before boarding and fare-dodging occurs more often than on other buses. It is common for people to crowd into the first two-thirds of the bus while leaving space towards the back, so always check the rear doors of a crowded bendy bus to see if there is room.

The bus routes in London are managed by London Buses on behalf of Transport for London. However, the buses themselves are operated by several different companies (such as Arriva, First Bus, London General and Metroline), who have to share the different routes, with the tender for each route being given to the lowest bidder. This means that strike action on the part of one operator will put only some bus routes out of action, but is still a problem due to the drop in capacity it causes. Despite the different companies operating the buses, all London buses are painted red, with only the occasional exception2.