Public transport in London is close to hitting the levels last seen before the pandemic, reports Noah Vickers, Local Democracy Reporter

Transport for London has recorded its highest number of August bank holiday weekend bus and tube journeys since the pandemic.

Bus travel over the three-day weekend saw a near 10% increase on the equivalent period last year, with tube journeys seeing a 6% increase – though both were still slightly below 2019 levels.

The high volume of journeys was driven in large part by the millions of passengers who travelled into West London for the Notting Hill Carnival.

Some 10,774,000 bus journeys were made over this year’s bank holiday weekend, compared with 9,789,000 over the same days last year and 11,167,000 in 2019.

Looking at the tube, 7,022,000 journeys were made over the three days this year, compared with 6,630,000 last year and 7,224,000 in 2019. Last month, TfL said concerts held at Wembley Stadium, as well as this year’s Pride parade, had helped some tube stations hit pre-pandemic levels at weekends, if not exceed them.

The new data comes as TfL encourages people to use its services to make the most of this year’s Open House Festival, which is being held from 6th-17th September. The festival, which last year marked its 30th anniversary, will see more than 600 sites open their doors in celebration of London’s homes, architecture and neighbourhoods.

Justine Simons OBE, the capital’s deputy mayor for culture and creative industries, said: “London has been roaring back this summer, with Londoners and tourists from around the world using TfL’s network to explore our capital’s cultural gems.

“There is much more to enjoy this autumn as London plays host to a wide range of events, including London Fashion Week and Open House.”

Events hosted as part of this year’s Open House Festival will include:

• Guided tours of Ferry Lane Estate on 8th and 9th September, a landmark post-war housing estate beside the River Lea in Tottenham Hale
• ‘From Forest to Morris: A Walk Around Walthamstow’ on 8th-10th and 15th-17th September;
• Seven Acre Lake, Canons Park Estate on 10th September – a guided tour of the estate’s private lake;
• ‘Crystal Palace Subway – A Conservation Journey’ on 15th September – a Victorian underpass from 1865, hidden under Crystal Palace Parade;
• The launch of Angel Yard in Edmonton on 16th September;
• ‘A House for Artists’ on 16th September – a creative workshop at a project designed to provide affordable, sustainable housing for artists in Barking Town Centre;
• Shirley Windmill on 17th September – the only surviving windmill in Croydon, built in 1854.

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