London Buses Were Not Always Red

One of the most recognizable images of the city is its fleet of red buses. However, one of the interesting facts about London is this hue wasn't always present on the famous buses. Each of them used to have a unique color, with each color denoting a particular route. The origin of their color can be traced back to the early 1900s when the transportation system was run by many rival businesses.

The majority of the buses were owned by the London General Omnibus Company (or L.G.O.C. ), which painted its entire fleet red in 1907 to stand out from rivals. The color was chosen by London Transport in 1933 and has been used ever since. The London Underground roundel, the Royal Mail, Kit & Kat, and McDonald's all utilize the same color. It is this that has created a special for London, making the city more famous all over the world.