Heritage buses will ply the streets of Blackheath and Lewisham next month – offering passengers a free ride and a chance to go back in time on route 54.

The event will coincide with an open day at Catford Bus Garage, which will mark 111 years of the depot that currently runs the modern-day 54 service.

Buses dating from the 1930s to the 1980s, including the classic Routemaster and its predecessor, the RT, will run between the Royal Standard and Elmers End Green between 9.30am and 5pm on Saturday September 13, serving all stops.  

Plans to run to Woolwich have had to be abandoned because of expected congestion from the Charlton Athletic v Millwall match at The Valley. The SE London derby kicks off at 12.30pm on the same day, and the museum had been planning the heritage day for months before the fixture date was known. 

The event is being run by the London Bus Museum, based at Brooklands, near Weybridge in Surrey. It is part of a programme to get its collection of vehicles out of the museum and seen by Londoners. Other owners of vintage buses are expected to join in. No fares will be charged, but some conductors may be using their original ticket machines to offer souvenirs.

Flyer for the event

The 54 has run since 1922, although the route today’s passengers would recognise did not emerge for another couple of years. Until 1973 the service ran from Selsdon to Woolwich before being cut back to Croydon. 

When Croydon gained its tram network in 2000 the 54 was cut back again, and since then it has run between Elmers End and Woolwich, through Beckenham, Catford, Lewisham, Blackheath and Charlton.

Other extensions over the years have included buses running to Riddlesdown, on the edge of the Surrey countryside, as well as Plumstead Common, Charlton Asda and the old Woolwich Industrial Estate in what is now Thamesmead.

The open day at Catford Bus Garage, which is run by Stagecoach London, takes place from 11am to 4pm. Admission is £5 for adults and £3 for under-16s, while family tickets cost £13. Proceeds will go to Macmillan Cancer Research.

More details – which will include timetables closer to the date – are on the London Bus Museum website.

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