This coming weekend can be thought of as the weekend of the bus — for there are two major events taking place.
Stockwell Bus Garage Open Day
On Saturday is an exceptional chance to sate your modernist architectural desires as one of the great post-war buildings welcomes visitors inside.
This is the Stockwell Bus Garage, and it is an exceptional building.
At the time of its construction, it had Europe’s widest concrete spans, and is today recognised as one of the most important modernist buildings in London.
Rarely seen by outsiders, the bus garage will be open to the rest of us from 10am to 5pm on Saturday 21st June.
Along with the opportunity to ride a bus through the bus wash, and see some fine examples of heritage buses, including the museum’s recently restored B-type bus, there will also be a mobile exhibition and a range of family entertainments.
There will also be illustrated talks throughout the day.
The bus garage is just around the corner from Stockwell tube station. [map link]
Regent Street Bus Cavalcade
Then on the Sunday, almost 50 buses from the earliest horse-drawn model of the 1820s right up to the New Routemasters of the present day will fill Regent Street, which will be closed to traffic for the day.
The most modern buses – including those powered by hydrogen, electricity and hybrid technology – will be stationed near Oxford Circus, with vehicles increasing in age as visitors make their way towards Piccadilly Circus.
Buses on display from a bygone era will include an example of the earliest horse-drawn bus, motor buses – including London Transport Museum’s recently restored B-type bus, a trolley bus and the original Routemaster.
In addition to the buses, there will be a bus stop made from lego, the usual pop up shops, and an exhibition about the restoration of the “Battle Bus”.
The cavalcade will be open between 11:30am to 6pm.
Incidentally, if you are there, pop into the basement of Hamleys.
Very interesting will attend Stockwell tomorrow 21at June. Thanks.