London Buses route 9 (Heritage)

9H
First London AEC Routemaster on Kensington High Street in August 2011
Overview
Operator	First London (2005-13) Tower Transit (2013-14)
Garage	Westbourne Park (X)
Vehicle	AEC Routemaster
Peak vehicle requirement	5
Status	Defunct
Began service	14 November 2005
Ended service	25 July 2014
Night-time	Night bus N9
Route
Start	Kensington High Street
Via	Hyde Park Corner
End	Trafalgar Square
Length	3 miles (4.8 km)
Annual patronage	423,299 (2013–14)

London Buses route 9 (Heritage) was a Transport for London contracted bus route in London that initially ran between the Royal Albert Hall and Aldwych before being extended from the Royal Albert Hall to Kensington High Street and shortened from Aldwych to Trafalgar Square. It was operated by First London and later Tower Transit with AEC Routemasters from November 2005 until July 2014.

To counter unfavourable media coverage of the withdrawal of London's classic AEC Routemaster fleet, Mayor of London Ken Livingstone promised to introduce a heritage Routemaster operation. After hopes that this would be operated commercially, it eventually materialised as tendered short workings on two existing routes, 9H and 15H. The route was initially operated by First London from Aldwych to the Royal Albert Hall, duplicating the eastern half of route 9. The route was criticised by the Liberal Democrats for missing out important tourist attractions such as Buckingham Palace, Big Ben and the British Museum.

This approach ensured passengers with other mobility problems would have alternatives to the Routemasters. The two heritage routes began operation on 14 November 2005. The Routemasters selected had been rebuilt in the early 2000s by Marshall Bus with new engines, windows and lighting.