On 7 July 2005, a series of four coordinated bomb attacks occurred during the morning rush hour across central London, killing 52 people.

Three of the attacks occurred on the London Underground, while the fourth targeted a number 30 bus that was travelling through Tavistock Square at the time.

[citation needed] Spirit of London, initially carrying Stagecoach fleet number 18500, was unveiled on 3 October 2005.

[citation needed] During the early hours of 19 October 2012, while operating on 24-hour route 69 from Walthamstow Central to Canning Town, Spirit of London was set on fire in an arson attack.

There are a few notable external differences to the rebuilt bus; for example, the rear end was reconstructed using panels from contemporary Enviro400s, with the registration plate thus moved from a glass containment panel at the upper-deck level to an inset holder in the redesigned rear bumper.

Additionally, the Spirit of London branding was made much larger and more prominent across the side of the bus, and one of the panels below the front windscreen was repainted black as a memorial.