London Coaches originated from the London Transport Tours and Charters division. In 1986 London Transport formed the Original London Transport Sightseeing Tour brand, to operate a fleet of modified Open Topped and Closed Topped Routemaster buses, on sightseeing tours of London. The business unit was based originally at Battersea bus garage, and moved to Wandsworth bus garage in readiness for creation of the London Buses Operating Units from the Divisional Districts in preparation for privatisation. London Coaches (Kent) Ltd continued to operate as a separate business from Northfleet.