Bus Driving Experience

What Can I Expect

Show them who's boss of the bus-lane on these fabulous bus driving experiences! No need for your Public Service Vehicle (PSV) licence here, as you will be driving a bus (or two!) around the specially coned out area at North Weald Airfield circuit in Essex. Ding, ding, all aboard!

There's a trio of big and beautiful vehicles, namely the classic Routemaster double decker, a modern double decker and a proper bendy bus - and of course, all of them are red. 

The Routemaster is a legend of London. These iconic double decker buses first tooted their way onto the streets in 1958 and ran until 2005. The new generation Routemasters you see today are fine, but nothing compares to an original, which is exactly what you'll be driving.

Unique in that the engine is up front, the driver is perched high up in a little half-cab, whilst the conductor is near that open rear platform. It made it so easy for us all to hop on and hop off, with little regard for actual bus stops or road safety, but it was fun. 

Driving a routemaster is quite an experience. For a start, you actually have to climb up into your wee cab. Then you'll see that, unlike a normal car, the steering wheel is gigantic and very flat. To get full-lock on in a hurry you'll have to have to put some elbow grease into it, that's for sure.

The modern double decker bus shows you how the same basic two-deck design has evolved over the years. It's a lot more comfy for the driver, who now also took on the role of selling tickets too. 

Then here's the bendy one. These 18 metre-long articulated monsters had a short-lived career on London's streets, having lasted just seven years on 12 routes in the capital. Mayor Boris Johnson branded them 'writhing whales of the roads' and somewhat unceremoniously decommissioned them all and sold most of them to Malta. Like you do.

Luckily for you, at least one has remained in the UK and it's here in Essex. Still adorned with those stickers politely asking us to 'Buy your ticket before boarding', it's as authentic as you can get. These behemoths of the city streets are still really common on the continent, but now long gone and forgotten in this country.

It's really rather cool to be able to have a go at driving a bendy bus. And whilst you are in the hot seat on your bus driving experience, take a look in the rear view mirror and imagine 120 commuters' faces looking at you…that's a lot of passengers.

As many of our happy customers' comments below confirm, these bus driving experiences in Essex are the stuff of childhood dreams realised. Book today and get it ticked off your bucket list!

Availability

• Dates are subject to availability and spaces are limited so please book early to avoid disappointment
• Sessions run on selected Sundays between March - November

Current scheduled 2024 Dates:

• May 5th
• May 26th
• June 23rd
• August 4th

Suitable For

• Minimum age 17
• Drivers must hold and produce a current UK or European driving licence
• Height restrictions: minimum 5ft 1 ins, maximum 6ft 5ins
• Maximum weight 22 stone
• Participants should have a good general level of fitness
• The Routemaster design requires the driver to be able to climb up into the drivers cab

Spectators

• Spectators are welcome
• Please note spectators are not permitted to ride as passengers in the vehicles

Anything Else