Wake The Tiger brings immersive Routemaster to London

TfL’s iconic Routemaster London bus will get an immersive makeover as it pulls into Absurd City, as part of a new partnership with Wake The Tiger, which is getting ready to open its brand new immersive attraction in Westfield London on Thursday 15 October.

The latest edition of the recognisable TfL bus has been re-imagined and installed inside the 80,000 sq. ft. experience, where visitors will be able to step aboard and walk through it as part of their journey through Absurd City, turning an everyday sight on London’s streets into a surreal parallel world.

The installation plays with one of the central ideas behind Absurd City: taking the everyday architecture, rituals and familiar sights of urban life and twisting them into something strange, surprising and entirely new. 

Luke Mitchell, Chief Creative Officer and Co-founder of Wake The Tiger, said: “Britain has always done eccentricity brilliantly. We’re surrounded by these amazing cultural icons, red buses, red phone boxes, the Underground, things that are instantly recognisable all over the world.

“At Wake The Tiger, we love taking that familiarity and pulling it apart a bit. So rather than simply putting a London bus into Absurd City, we wanted to ask: what happens when you drag it through the portal and let the world get hold of it? That’s where the fun starts. You recognise it immediately, but it’s not behaving in the way you expect.The Routemaster isn’t the only bit of classic Britishness that’s made its way into Absurd City, all twisted into something stranger.We want people to look at things they think they know and suddenly see them differently.”

The collaboration, which was facilitated by IMG Licensing, could also find its way onto the menu at Wunderground, Absurd City’s underground-inspired bar at Westfield London, that will be open to the public without a ticket for the Amazement Park®. 

The two organisations are exploring TfL-inspired food and drink ideas, including exclusive cocktails that put an Absurd City spin on the capital’s transport network. Meanwhile, Londoners may hear some familiar sounds in an unfamiliar setting during After Hours, Absurd City’s programme of adult-only evening events. 

Ellen Sankey, Brand Licensing Manager at Transport for London, said: “Our red buses are recognised around the world, so seeing one take an unexpected detour into Absurd City is a fun way to celebrate an unmistakable part of London in a completely new setting. From food and drink to entertainment and more, Absurd City is bringing a new way for people to experience London’s diverse culture and heritage.

“We’re working together to explore where the partnership could go next, including opportunities to showcase some of the more creative elements of our network.”

Opening on Thursday 15 October, Absurd City will take over an 80,000 sq. ft. space at Westfield London and become Europe’s largest immersive art experience. Daytrippers will journey through a portal into a sprawling cityscape made up of four distinct districts, filled with unfolding stories, secret passageways, tactile installations and unexpected discoveries.

Absurd City is Wake The Tiger’s biggest project to date and its second permanent attraction, following the success of its award-winning Bristol Amazement Park® The Dream Factory, which has welcomed more than half a million visitors since opening in 2022. The London experience expands the parallel world of Meridia first introduced in Bristol.

A certified B Corporation, Wake The Tiger combines counter-culture art and storytelling with a commitment to environmental sustainability and social responsibility.

Absurd City opens on Thursday 15 October 2026 at Westfield London, Ariel Way, London W12 7GF. The self-guided, fully interactive walkthrough experience is suitable for all ages and abilities. Tickets are on sale at london.wakethetiger.com.

For more information on licensing opportunities with Transport for London, visit https://imglicensing.com/brands/tfl/