11 legendary reasons Birmingham's Number 11 bus route is so special as it celebrates 100 years

It’s known as one of the longest bus routes in Europe.

The No 11 will have travelled along its 27 miles circuit around Birmingham’s outer circle for 100 years this Sunday (April 26).

Buses are by far the most popular form of public transport in the city - although three train stations have reopened in recent weeks after being closed since World War II.

You can catch the 11C which goes clockwise, and the 11A which goes anti-clockwise. It passes through key suburbs around the city, including Kings Heath, Acocks Green, Yardley, Erdington, Perry Barr, Bearwood, Harborne and Cotteridge - but doesn’t travel into the city centre.

The route is managed by National Express West Midlands.

There are plans afoot for all buses in Birmingham to be franchised, which means Transport for West Midlands will have more authority for planning and operating the routes and timetables.

Fares increased by 10p to £3 last year (from June 2025) and day tickets by 40p to £5.20.

There are celebrations planned to mark the No 11’s centenary at Wythall Transport museum - see details below.

Here’s a look at what makes the route so special and what you get for your money.

11 legendary reasons why Brummies love the No 11 bus - whether it’s going clockwise or anti-clockwise

1. Up to 36,000 journeys are made every day
2. It serves over 260 bus stops,
3. It brings students to 233 schools, colleges and universities.
4. You can visit 40 pubs along the route
5. It brings shoppers to 19 retail centres, including The Fort, Bearwood town centre, Harborne high street, Kings Heath high street and Selly Oak
6. Patients can travel to six hospitals, including the Queen Elizabeth, City Hospital (Dudley Road) and the Royal Orthopaedic
7. It travels to one prison - Winson Green
8. It passes iconic Brummie landmarks including Cadbury World in Bournville and the Villa Park football stadium in Aston
9. A full circuit on the 11 service can take up to three hours to complete.
10. The 11 route has inspired music and dance, inspiring a song by The Woodbines in 1999 and a dance by Kenneth Reid from the Birmingham Scottish country dance group
11. And it has inspired literature, featuring in at least one novel - author Jonathan Coe's satirical bestseller 'Number 11'

Celebrating the No 11’s centenary at the Transport Museum in Wythall

Transport Museum Wythall is celebrating the 100th anniversary of Birmingham’s iconic 11 bus service this month.

The special trips on different buses through the ages of the 11 route, are part of Transport Museum Wythall’s anniversary celebrations over the late May bank holiday weekend. For more information about the Transport Museum Wythall visit www.wythall.org.uk

‘A Brummie favourite for 100 years’

Adam Rideout, Head of Customer Experience and Marketing at NX Bus said: “Bus is by far the most popular form of public transport here in the West Midlands and our iconic 11 service has long-been a Brummie favourite since it first started some 100 years ago.

“With buses running up to every 10 minutes and single adult tickets still only £3, and a day ticket allowing passengers to explore the region, with unlimited travel on the day, is only £5.20. It remains a very popular route that connects our customers in a number of key areas around the city and is part of the city's transport history.”