See you on the top deck

The first covered double-decker buses made their debut on the streets of the capital 100 years ago. Rob Crossan steps on board and goes up top to trace the evolution of a true London icon

THERE were many reasons why milliners did such a roaring trade in London a century ago: from the trilby to the top hat and from the boater to the snap brim, etiquette and class demarcation played a major role in the ubiquity of headwear. However, there was a more prosaic reason, too. Put simply, if you wanted to ride on the top deck of a London bus, there was a fair chance that, without a hat, you were liable to get a soaking and perhaps even have to open your umbrella. For it was a century ago that the very first double-decker buses with covered tops were embarking on their maiden journeys around the capital. Their roll-out was more than a little haphazard, because London Transport as we know it today…

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Country Life (Digital) - 1 Issue, January 15, 2025

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