GVVT are collaborating with the Routemaster Association for an exciting new event with a distinctly cross-border flavour. ‘London Comes to Glasgow’ will celebrate the iconic Routemaster and all things London buses. The event will bring together Routemasters and other London buses from across the country and showcase their role in Glasgow’s transport story, particularly during the turbulent period following bus deregulation in October 1986, now approaching its 40th anniversary.
The event will take place over the weekend of Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th July 2026. The Saturday will involve a number of free tours around the City based on routes previously operated by Routemasters with the Sunday featuring an open day at Bridgeton Bus Garage with a free service. The aim on the Saturday is to create a number of route recreations involving parts of Kelvin’s 5/5A, Clydeside’s 10/11 & 23/26. See below for more details! The following day, the focus turns to the garage with a spectacular line-up of visiting Routemasters and other London buses or buses with a significant London connection. All the usual Super Sunday activities will be there too: heritage displays in the Archive & Museum, stalls, open vehicles, bus simulator and more, all enhanced with a distinct London twist and supported by a free, frequent shuttle service into the city centre
If you have a bus or commercial vehicle with London links we’d love you to bring it along and be part of our event! Please get in touch, we’d love to hear from you! please enter it using this link https://rb.gy/qq28zh
2026 will also mark the Routemaster’s 70th year in service, so the weekend will blend nostalgia with celebration, a fitting tribute to one of Britain’s most beloved buses, in a city that gave it a very different kind of second life.
Saturday 4th July – RM routes day tour highlights with a selection of London and Glasgow buses running on the tour
Key information and highlights of what to expect from the ‘RM Routes’ tour:
- A selection of London and Glasgow buses will be running on the tour taking in former Clydeside and Kelvin routes that Routemasters operated on across the city. It will also cover lots of the Clyde crossings including the Erskine Bridge and Clyde Tunnel.
- Meeting point – Couper Street (near junction with Kyle Street) – post code G4 0DL. This is a few hundred yards north east of Buchanan Bus Station.
- Meeting time – 0945
- Depart Couper Street at 1000 heading to Balornock East (Clydeside 11 route and terminus) – photo stop at Balornock East.
- Balornock East to Arden/Carnwadric (along the Clydeside 11 route) via part of M8 and over Kingston Bridge (joining the M8 at Cathedral and exiting off Kingston Bridge on to West Street) – photo stop at the former Clydeside depot at Thornliebank.
- Arden/Carnwadric to Old Kilpatrick (along part of Clydeside 10/11 and Kelvin 5 routes) – photo stops for Erskine Bridge and at the former Kelvin depot at Old Kilpatrick- note that en route there will be a break at Silverburn Shopping Centre for toilets and refreshments around midday.
- Old Kilpatrick to city centre (Killermont Street) via the Erskine Bridge into Erskine and on to Inchinnan (pause at McGills depot), on to Renfrew, over the new bridge to Yoker and on to Clydebank Bus Station before return to city centre via the Clyde Tunnel and Govan. Drop off at Buchanan Bus Station (this will take in Kelvin 5/5A and Clydeside 23/26 routes) – note that en route there will be a break at Clydebank for toilets and refreshments around mid afternoon.
- Expected arrival time at Buchanan Bus Station – 1630
- There is no charge for this tour but booking is highly recommended to avoid disappointment!
- Vehicle allocations to be confirmed nearer the date.
- Booking is now open! Please go to the following link to book places: London Comes to Glasgow ‘RM Routes’ tour – booking form
Sunday 5th July – London Comes to Glasgow at Bridgeton Bus Garage
- Visiting vehicles (all types London related) on display
- Routemasters and Glasgow/GCT buses run every 10-15min, covering part of old RM routes
- Kelvin – 5/5A – Bridgeton – City Centre – Partick/Thornwood roundabout
- Clydeside – 11 – Bridgeton – City Centre – Pollokshaws Toll
- Magicbus – 20 – City Centre – Croftfoot roundabout
We are delighted to announce that we will also be releasing a special ‘London Comes to Glasgow’ souvenir programme on the day of the RM Routes tour. These will be available to buy from the GVVT volunteers on both days, on the tour buses on Saturday and at Bridgeton Bus Garage on Sunday. It will be packed with loads of event information and special features, all for just £5!
Look out on our website and socials for more information nearer the time of the vehicles that will be running on the day.
Stay tuned on the GVVT and RMA websites and socials for more news and announcements
