Do London buses take cash?

What works instead

A contactless bank card, a phone or watch, an Oyster card or a paper Travelcard. Tap the yellow reader once as you board. Buses have no exit reader, so you never tap off.

If your card is declined

You will be asked to use another. Drivers cannot take cash and cannot let you travel without a valid payment, so carrying a second card is worth more in London than carrying notes.

The hopper fare

Unlimited bus and tram journeys within an hour of the first tap cost a single fare, so changing buses to cross London does not cost twice.