Launched in 1956, the Routemaster saw continuous service in London until 2005, and remains on two heritage routes in central London. Around 1000 Routemasters survive to this day.
James Bond author, Ian Fleming, is rumoured to have got his inspiration for the secret agent’s code number 007 from the number of the bus that passed outside his favourite pub!
Film appearances include Summer Holiday and Live and Let Die for which then James Bond star Roger Moore took bus driving lessons.
At Beijing in 2008, billions around the world saw David Beckham, Leona Lewis and Boris Johnson in Beijing Olympic on a red double decker bus to mark the handover to London 2012.
