Buses: Get On Board

Brighton & Hove Buses:
Our South Downs Bus

Introducing our beautiful new South Downs bus – with its soft colours, vintage interiors, original artwork and lines from a famous poem by Tennyson. This is the third in our Get Bus(y) series celebrating the amazing things to do and see in and around our city.
This time we’re paying tribute to the wonderful natural playgrounds of countryside and coastline on the city’s doorstep – the South Downs National Park and Brighton & Lewes Downs Biosphere.
We want to inspire more people to explore this rich tapestry of wildlife, landscapes, tranquillity and history – by bus.
Artist – Inspired
And talking about inspiration, the South Downs bus – designed by Brighton’s Harrison Agency – pays tribute to Sussex artist Eric Ravilious, whose work during the 1920s and ‘30s included many South Downs landscapes. Ravilious’ engravings and woodcuts, and his use of patterns and blocks of pastel colour were the inspiration behind the bus’ unique ‘wallpaper’ design.

“His work is amazing – in many ways it looks so contemporary, so fresh. It really has stood the test of time,” says designer and illustrator Jamie Eke.
The bus interiors have a vintage 1930s theme and were designed by Scott Welti (Jamie’s colleague at Harrison Agency) working with Chloe Bullock from Brighton’s Materialise Interiors.
Inside and out you’ll find lines from a poem by Tennyson, who loved the South Downs:
You came,
and looked and loved the view,
Long-known and loved by me,
Green Sussex fading into blue,
With one gray glimpse of sea.
Days out in the Downs
The National Park and Biosphere offer great experiences within easy reach of the city. There’s the fresh air and freedom of the great outdoors, the special landscapes, rare downland, chalk reefs, and fantastic views. And plenty to do – from walks and rock-pooling to country pubs and cafes, farm shops and vineyards, artists’ studios, historic houses and gardens, picturesque villages and towns.
For great ideas about getting out and about in coast and countryside, go to www.visitbrighton.com/countryside/home.
To see original works by Eric Ravilious, catch a Coaster to Eastbourne’s Towner Gallery.