Home Museum News Museum Exhibits The Trust Join Us Museum Events Visiting the Museum Frequently Asked Questions The Building Relevant Links Members Area Site Last Updated:

The Trust Many of us took for granted the buses on which we travelled to school, or to work, or to shops in the nearby town. We may have memories of red buses in the towns or of green buses in the country, of single-deckers or double-deckers, of buses with conductors or buses where you paid the driver. Apart from some Routemaster buses still running in central London, what happened to all those other "proper looking" buses? The bad news is nearly all were scrapped when their service days were over. And the good news? Well, a few somehow managed to escape the breaker's blowtorch and some can be seen at Cobham Bus Museum, home of the London Bus Preservation Trust Limited (LBPTL), a registered charity. The Museum houses a remarkable collection of around 35 buses and coaches, the widest selection under one roof of ex-London Transport motor buses in the world. About two thirds are owned by the Trust and the remainder by individual members. Some buses have been fully restored, and have won many awards, while others are currently being restored or are waiting their turn for attention. The Trust's vehicles are all of London origin and date from about 1875 to 1979. Items of street furniture and other transport artefacts are displayed around the Museum. The building itself has an interesting history, dating from World War 2, and was closely connected with Barnes Wallis and his "Bouncing Bomb" tests. The origins of the Trust date back to 1966 when bus preservation was in its infancy. Mindful that a whole generation of London buses was in danger of extinction, a small group of far-sighted enthusiasts worked hard to secure premises with garaging and maintenance facilities to help ease the plight of would-be bus preservationists. The Cobham site was acquired in 1972 and the story has been one of steady progress since that time. Much has been achieved but much remains to be done. The Trust's reputation for restoring old London buses is now known internationally. A visit to Cobham Bus Museum will provide an amazing insight into the high standards of skill and craftsmanship involved in restoring and maintaining the unique collection of vehicles and artefacts. Don't, though, expect to see beautifully laid out displays. The Museum resembles a working bus garage, which many believe provides the charm and character of Cobham. The buses are not just static exhibits. Many operate on various days during the year, providing the opportunity to see, hear and ride on a wide selection of old buses. Details of this year's events can be found by checking the details on the events page. Sometimes our buses and members, all of whom are volunteers, attend events held at other venues. Registered Office: Unit 8, Pinewood Place, Kingston Road, Ewell, Surrey, KT19 0BZ Registered Charity No. 1053383   Registered Company No. 1061762 A list of directors may be obtained on request from the registered office.

The London Bus Preservation Trust Ltd, Redhill Road, Cobham, Surrey, KT11 1EF Tel. 01932 868665

Registered Charity No. 1053383

For general Museum enquiries, the Museum can be contacted by email
Site created and maintained by Nick Abbott, © 1997-2008