This book offers a concise, chronological history of bus and coach travel, exploring the significant contribution this form of travel has made to the development of Britain’s tourism industry. Through eight chapters the book explores the way that bus and coach travel has evolved, from early horse-drawn carriages to the latest electric buses, taking readers on a journey of technological innovation, public and private sector ownership and competition between rail, air and road transport. Along the way, Peter Robinson and Harry Cameron look at both scientific developments and the role of buses and coaches in popular culture, examining the public’s enduring fascination with group travel, coach tours and heritage collections.

Dr Peter Robinson has been a regular visitor to Elvaston since he was four years old. He is an academic, tourism industry expert, photographer, author of several books, and ECGT Chair of Trustees. Harry Cameron is currently an Associate Lecturer at Cardiff Metropolitan University and has lectured on tourism and transport. He has also collaborated on transport and tourism related consultancy projects worldwide. His research interests are varied and extend to the geographies of transport and mobility, transport history, marine and industrial heritage.