The Vintage Red Bus Company Limited

Thorpes started as a coach company in 1968 with one coach run by Frank Thorpe Senior. The company grew through the heyday of private hire excursions in the coach industry through the 1970s and 1980s to a fleet size of 15 high quality ‘heavyweight’ Leyland and Volvo coaches.

With the deregulation of the bus industry in the mid 1980s and entry into the business of James and Frank Thorpe Junior the company diversified into the bus market and more specifically the London bus arena. Throughout the 1990s the company, now known as Thorpes Buses won the tenders to operate several high profile London bus routes, namely route 210, 316 and 70. By 2000 Thorpes had sold its coaching arm and focused entirely on bus operation with 2 sites in West London, over 100 buses and 350 employees. In 2004 the family decided to sell the company to Metroline who retained the routes, site and staff, many of whom work on the ‘Thorpes Routes’ and from the ‘Thorpes Site’ to this day.

Undeniably then the company is steeped in bus industry heritage and with James Thorpe Junior taking the lead with The Vintage Red Bus Company that has the experience, passion and knowledge to ensure that your travel experience on our vintage buses is a memorable one.