Number 24 London Bus from Pimlico to Hampstead Heath
This week’s prompt for haiku Heights is the word ‘Red’. I considered red roses as it is nearly St Valentine’s Day but then I thought of the iconic red buses in London and I was off!
One of the great things about being over 60 in the UK is that we get a bus pass for free travel on local buses. This pass can be used anywhere in the country, not just in your own city. So when I go to London I can travel all over the city on the red buses for absolutely nothing.
My favourite bus, and the one I use most often, is the number 24 from Pimlico to Hampstead Heath. I usually take a coach to London Victoria then get on the 24 near there. The bus then takes an hour or so to get to Hampstead where my journey ends.
The route the 24 travels is as good as any tourist bus as it takes in some of the greatest sights of London:
Westminster Abbey, Houses of Parliament, Whitehall, Downing Street, Horseguards Parade, Admiralty Arch, Trafalgar Square, National Gallery, St Martin in the Fields, Haymarket and Theatreland, Charing Cross Road, Camden Town with its famous Market, Lock and Canal, and finally Hampstead itself with its famous Heath.
On the way you can see world famous galleries, inns, hospitals, statues, universities, monuments, museums, Cathedrals, and lots of buildings marked with blue badges where famous people once lived or worked.
Another delightful aspect of travelling on London’s Red buses is the cosmopolitan nature of the passengers. People come from all over the world to live and work in London and I just love to hear the different languages and see the different styles of clothes. By the time I arrive in Hampstead I feel as if I have had a mini trip around the world.
Culture’s condensed in
Our capital city on
A red London bus
Winchcombe in the Cotswolds
Phone box, post box, brake
Lights and barriers brightened
up Broadway today
Heavenhappens 
Makes me want to visit London! Love the poems!
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Do visit you would love it x if you ever come I will show you the best bits!
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Very nice, and I must say I’m envious of your country’s transit policies 🙂
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Yes it is great to have free bus passes. We are hoping they don’t get withdrawn as we are now in a double dip recession whatever that is!!
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I just love the way you fashion out a fantastic Haiku out of an equally fantastic life experience, bus rides are fun-times as long as there is no traffic hassles..
Both Haiku get a Wow from me.
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Thank you Reshma you are too kind x x x Buses are great i think, you get to mix everyone up and see life at its most basic and often its best x
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Thanks for sharing such wonderful memories of your bus rides…I had similar memories taking the bus home in London too. I worked in Cheapside and took the 2 buses home to Golders Green and had I similar experiences to yours…. TY! 🙂
Eliz
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Ah I am so pleased it brought back memories for you x this is the beauty of blogging i think x we cast out little bits of ourselves and they land where they will x if someone else enjoys them then it nudges the world a little x
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I’ve ridden on those red London buses. Wouldn’t trade the experience for any other!
Crimson Silk Flower
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I agree, it is real life at its best x I just love the mixing of cultures and the simplicity of a bus ride x
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Indeed, to imagine and then to create a unique image with words.. this is really out of box thinking…oh, that box must be full of Red.. energy..and passion..
RS:)
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Wow what a fabulous comment x thank you so much x Praise indeed x
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An enjoyable ride indeed. 🙂 A most unique take on the prompt 🙂
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Thank you x glad you liked it!
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