Kingston residents were treated to a rare surprise on Sunday as the London Bus Museum hosted a special heritage event for bus routes 65 and 71.

As part of the museum's programme to bring heritage buses to the roads of London, Sunday's event saw the vintage Kingston buses from the 1940s to 1970s take to the borough's streets.

Separate from Transport for London's routes for both buses, the London Bus Museum alongside owners of private buses ran the special service free of charge as passengers were able to board all day from 10am to 5pm.

Sunday's event saw the vintage Kingston buses from the 1940s to 1970s take to the borough's streets (Credit: Simon Bangs)

Kingston resident Simon Bangs was one of the fortunate passengers to make the most of Sunday's event and spoke to Nub News of his enjoyment on taking a trip down memory lane.

He said: "It was really magical to take a road trip back through different eras of bus transport through the borough and relive memories of three generations of our families' youths. Thank you so much to the lovely museum and volunteers for putting this memorable event on."

The number 65 runs between Ealing and Kingston and first launched back in 1934, running from Ealing Argyle Road (now Scotch Common) to Leatherhead via Ealing Broadway, South Ealing, Brentford, Richmond, Petersham, Ham, Kingston, Tolworth, Hook and Chessington.

As for the 71, it was first introduced on 11 January 1950. Running from Richmond Raleigh Road to Kingston via Petersham, Ham Common, Lock Road, Tudor Drive and King's Road.

The 71 was first introduced on 11 January 1950, running from Richmond Raleigh Road to Kingston via Petersham, Ham Common, Lock Road, Tudor Drive and King's Road (Credit: Simon Bangs)

Today's route sees the 71 run between Kingston and Chessington but passengers boarding the heritage buses on Sunday were able to venture on to Leatherhead.

The London Bus Museum has a series of similar heritage events planned throughout the summer including a special Summer Festival 2023.

For more information on the museum and to view all upcoming events, visit the organisation's website here.