London is full of listed buildings, each of which is protected by a thick shield of regulation and rules which for better or for worse keeps history from being destroyed. But London's growing population demands more and more schools so what happens when one of those listed buildings is a school? That was the problem facing Hampton Court House, a 2-18 private school whose historic site sits at the border between London and Surrey. The building and grounds were designed by the 18th-century architect Thomas Wright for the Earl of Halifax and his new lover, then-renowned opera singer Anna Maria Donaldson. While the interior of the building has seen minor refurbishments, the exterior of the building has hardly changed in the past 2 centuries. After new ownership in 2021, the school looked to take in more students but ran into a myriad of regulatory problems with accommodating the influx.
 
The solution, at first may seem straightforward, if you can't expand or add to the building, build another. Well, they tried, in the early 2010s ground was broken on three new classroom blocks, a few minutes west of the main building. While they weren't completed until almost a decade later, in 2017, 2018 and 2021, the new blocks opened and greatly aided in the growing number of students. However, in 2023 they came under fire from Richmond Council as they had not been given or even asked for permission for the renovations and in doing so had demolished some structures which edged on historic, being built in the 20th century. The Richmond council ended up approving the constructions retroactively as the structures they replaced were in a state of disrepair. While a win for the school, the problem of the growing student body remained and it affirmed they could not erect any new, permanent structures on the historic grounds. So they found an odd workaround.

(Image: Author) They bought a bus. The school purchased a decommissioned London bus, previously the X26 and removed the internals like seats, engines and steering mechanisms, renovating it into a cosy library adorned with fairy lights, bookshelves and pillows in the school colours. The wheels and exterior remain, although repainted, making it recognizably a bus with a Hampton Court House twist. This is also beneficial because it is not legally considered a permanent structure and can be theoretically moved at any time meaning all planning approval can be circumvented. It also takes considerably less time to erect and is more environmentally friendly, saving a lot of metal from the landfill and giving it a new home.
 
But do the students like it? I was told by three sixth formers that "In theory its not a bad idea, but [they've] never been in it.", "The younger kids really enjoy it" and "It's great for young kids but lacks usability for the older years".  Its opening was during National Storytelling Week 2024 and attended by Twickenham MP Munira Wilson and local author Alice Ross where the latter handed out new book copies and the former inaugurated the bus as in service. The school is considering more buses to combat the growing number of students, ideally freeing up or creating more classroom space as the library bus did. Hence, the school seems to have deemed it a success especially as its website's newsletter shows primary students enthusiastically reading in their brand-new bus, an odd but interesting solution to a growing problem.