What is the name of the iconic red double-decker bus in London?

The iconic red double-decker bus in London is the Routemaster.

Designed by AEC for London Transport, the Routemaster was introduced in 1956 and became one of the city’s most recognizable vehicles. Its lightweight aluminum body, automatic transmission, power steering, and open rear platform made it distinctive among mid-20th-century buses. The classic design was used extensively across London for decades.

Routemasters were gradually withdrawn from regular service, with the final scheduled examples running in December 2005. The main reasons included accessibility requirements, since the high-floor layout and rear platform were difficult for many disabled passengers to use. Modern London buses replaced them, including the newer New Routemaster, which entered service in 2012.

A common mix-up is treating every red London double-decker as a Routemaster. London has used many other models, including the AEC Regent and modern double-deckers. Routemaster refers specifically to the famous AEC design, not simply to the vehicle’s color or two-level layout.