Which Promotional Bus Is Right for Your Campaign?

An ambitious campaign like yours deserves a vehicle that delivers a major impact. Promotional bus hire gives you a way to do just that. From double-decker buses to open-top and single-decker buses, there are plenty of options to choose from – so how do you know which is right for your brand activation?

Read on as we compare the options, explore what each bus has to offer, and help you find the best fit for your promotional campaign.

Double-decker bus

Which vehicle could make a bigger impression than the double-decker bus?

The Carmex double-decker bus, hired for a promotional campaign from Promohire, with a crowd lining up.

With two levels of usable space and plenty of room for branding, a double-decker gives you the freedom to create a much bigger (and more involved) experience. You can make each part of the bus into a specific ‘engagement zone’, whether it’s for product sampling, testing the latest tech, playing a game, or relaxing in a mobile lounge.

At around 14 feet tall and over 30 feet long, this branded bus will instantly turn heads and get your message seen. And because our double-deckers are modern, they’re Euro-6 compliant for carbon emissions – making them greener than you might expect.

A promotional bus, hired by The Works for the 'Find your Story' children's campaign. A play area inside the Find Your Story double-decker bus for The Works, customised by Promohire.

There’s so much you can do with them, too! While The Works wanted a multi-tier bus for learning, Carmex used the lower deck for games and samples – keeping the upper deck for mobile storage.

Double-decker bus hire is perfect for:

Large-scale brand takeovers that command attention
Immersive walkthroughs with multiple stations
Entertaining lots of visitors throughout the day
Including several elements inside one branded bus
Activations set during the cool or rainy seasons
Campaigns that need a large, mobile storage area

Open-top bus

This vehicle delivers the tourist experience and is always a hit with influencers.

An open-top promotional bus hired by Hinge, pictured in London's Trafalgar Square.

With an open upper deck, you can expect promotional bus hire with a summery vibe. Just as importantly, it puts the people at the heart of the activation. That makes it ideal for campaigns where visibility matters, whether you’re touring a city or looking to build social media content.

It’s also great for hosting a multi-stage activation where the lower and upper decks need to provide a very different experience. For example, the lower deck can feature a ball pit and sampling station, while the upper deck hosts an open-air DJ.

The Popmart open-top bus in London, with a crowd and Big Ben. The open-top branded bus for Popmart, pictured with the London Eye, wrapped by Promohire.

From hosting guests to creating a striking backdrop for social content, open-top bus hire delivers plenty of excitement and branded spectacle. Just be sure to plan campaign logistics and vehicle routes well ahead for the best results!

Open-top bus hire is perfect for:

Creating a strong visual moment
City centre routes and landmark tours
Encouraging user-generated content
Influencer and celebrity collaborations
Summer campaigns with lots going on

Single-decker bus

Don’t need two levels? Deliver a bold experience in a more straightforward format.

The single-decker branded promotional bus hire, in place for the Spotify & COACH Tabby Tour brand activation.

With all campaign elements on one level (and no staircase to work around), this bus is a solid choice for custom walkthroughs. That can work brilliantly for campaigns where you want guests to move between areas, interact with a product or speak with ambassadors.

A single-decker branded bus starts life as a blank canvas, and as it’s just as long as the other options, there’s plenty to work with. This promotional bus is the latest in our fleet and has already delivered massive engagement for the likes of Spotify and COACH.

The lounge inside the Spotify and COACH Tabby Tour promotional bus hire. Gen Z guests enjoy the Spotify & COACH Tabby Your bus.

A single-decker bus could be the right choice for:

A focused brand experience
Simple yet immersive walkthroughs
Product demonstration/lounge areas
Making a big impact on a tighter budget
Modular builds, taken on the road

Routemaster – a vintage alternative

Inject vintage style into your brand activation with this classic vehicle.

The Klayd Routemaster, a promotional bus from Promohire, in London's Covent Garden.

Modern buses aren’t your only option. If you want a branded bus with a little more character but slightly less room, then the Routemaster may be the ideal choice. Combining the classic British style with both a lower and upper deck, there’s still plenty of space to get creative.

A Routemaster can work especially well as a backdrop for photography and content. You could even hire a conductor to play up the past for extra customer engagement.

A Routemaster promotional bus hire, wrapped by Promohire for the Elle London premier. The Malone Souliers Routemaster branded bus in London, driving past Big Ben.

As a true British symbol, this vehicle has been used for festivals, city tours, and even premieres! Find out how Malone Souliers took over London, with a luxury shoe store and drinks bar for lucky shoppers.

Choose Routemaster bus hire if you want to:

Give your campaign a distinctive look
Include a touch of British heritage
Create a memorable content backdrop
Include a custom, multi-level experience
Add a little nostalgia to the experience

Ready to find your promotional bus?

If you’re leaning towards a single- or double-decker bus for your next project, then we have just the vehicle for you! Whichever you choose, it will be fully wrapped for your campaign dates, with a driver and standard logistics provided on your behalf.

See our complete guide to double-decker bus hire for more info, check out our pricing calculator for an on-screen estimate, or click below for more info!