A bus driver at the wheel, wearing a checked bow tie, in around 1965placeholder image
A bus driver at the wheel, wearing a checked bow tie, in around 1965 | Getty Images

26 of the best photos transporting you back to golden era of bus travel in the 60s, 70s and 80s

There was no tapping on and off back then, but getting the bus was a much smoother experience for many passengers.

These retro photos take you back to a golden era of bus travel in the UK during the 60s, 70s and 80s.

Fares were cheaper, buses were more reliable, with less traffic on the road, and you didn’t have to put up with people talking loudly on their phones or playing tinny music.

This retro photo gallery shows the buses we rode back then, from the classic London Routemaster to Bendibuses and ‘Little Nippers’ in Sheffield, and the men and women who drove them.

The nostalgic black and white images also feature drivers training, conductors collecting fares, and one passenger trying to board with a very unusual companion.

What are your memories of getting the bus in the 60s, 70s or 80s, and how do you think bus travel today compares to how it was back then?

News you can trust since 1897
Follow us
© 2026 Iconic Media Group Ltd. All rights reserved.Cookie SettingsTerms and ConditionsPrivacy notice