“We’re all going on a Summer Holiday — to pubs!”
On Saturday 18 July 2026, an open top vintage bus service will loop its way around three south-east London pubs of repute (indeed they all feature in our 100 Best Pubs in London roundup): the Green Goddess in Blackheath, the Shirker’s Rest in New Cross, and the Rusty Bucket in Eltham.
With Stephen from the Green Goddess at the wheel (he’s a former bus driver), and Deserter duo Andy and Vince chipping in as conductors, it’s bound to be a hoot — and what’s more it’s free. (The bus that is, not the beers.)
Says the Green Goddess: “It’s often joked about the 286 and 53 buses being the unofficial shuttle buses between our respective public houses so we thought why not put our own bus on!”
The vehicle — a 1970s DMS2 127, and former Whipsnade Zoo tour bus — will run to an afternoon/evening timetable (“subject to traffic and shirking”) visiting each pub four times. Each hostelry offers an excellent range of drinks (beers in particular) and will be doing food, as well as pouring a commemorative ‘Shirk, Rust and Pray’ pale brew. Passengers are also allowed to drink on the bus — take that, TfL.
One more bonus: if you get your (free) bus ticket stamped at all three pubs, you’ll be entered into a prize draw.
This really is shaping up to be the summer of the antique double-decker: other opportunities to hop aboard include Imberbus on Saturday 15 August and free Heritage Open Days rides on Saturday 13 September
Shirk, Rust and Pray vintage bus pub crawl, Saturday 18 July, free. Children and dogs welcome on the buses (kids’ curfew at the Rusty Bucket is 7pm; Shirker’s Rest and GG don’t have one).
