Everyone expected to spend their mornings queuing thanks the tube strike - but the bus queue at Liverpool Street Station really took the biscuit.
Would-be commuters found themselves in a queue almost as long as the station itself on Thursday morning.
By just 7.45am the queue was already huge with people desperately trying to get to work on time as officials did their best to placate the crowd, handing out bottles of water.
This isn't the first time the curse of the giant bus queue has struck - last month's tube strike saw a line outside Victoria which took an astonishing two minutes simply to reach the end of.
But the bus queues almost seem to pale into insignificance when you look at the 200 MILES of traffic jams plaguing the capital.
At 8.45am there were 428 separate traffic jams causing 197 miles of tailbacks, according to traffic experts at TomTom.
That was double the congestion at the same time last Thursday, although not as bad as the previous Tube strike a month ago when there were 1,445 jams and 761 miles of delays.
The most congested roads were around Parliament Square (delays of 48 minutes) and on the A40 from Wood Lane to Marylebone Road (30 minutes).
Members of four unions are taking industrial action for the second time in a month because of a deadlocked dispute over plans to launch a new all-night Tube service next month.
Might be best to stick to walking...
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London Tube Strike
Tube strike(01 of50)
A passer-by reacts after being offered a leaflet by a member of the tssa union outside King's Cross station, London, as commuters and tourists face a day of travel chaos because of a strike which has closed the underground. (credit:Yui Mok/PA Wire)
Tube strike(02 of50)
A passer-by takes a leaflet from a member of the tssa union outside King's Cross station, London, as commuters and tourists face a day of travel chaos because of a strike which has closed the underground. (credit:Yui Mok/PA Wire)
Britain Tube Strike(03 of50)
People queue for buses in London, Thursday, Aug. 6, 2015. Commuters are facing a day of disruption after a strike shut down the London Underground system for a second time this summer. Unions walked off the job amid a dispute about how to implement a new 24-hour service on weekends. Unions argue work-life balance issues haven't been addressed and that management should hire more people to cover extra shifts. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) (credit:Frank Augstein/AP)
Britain Tube Strike(04 of50)
Buses queue in London, Thursday, Aug. 6, 2015. Commuters are facing a day of disruption after a strike shut down the London Underground system for a second time this summer. Unions walked off the job amid a dispute about how to implement a new 24-hour service on weekends. Unions argue work-life balance issues haven't been addressed and that management should hire more people to cover extra shifts. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) (credit:Frank Augstein/AP)
Britain Tube Strike(05 of50)
Workers refill bicycle hire racks in London, Thursday, Aug. 6, 2015. Commuters are facing a day of disruption after a strike shut down the London Underground system for a second time this summer. Unions walked off the job amid a dispute about how to implement a new 24-hour service on weekends. Unions argue work-life balance issues haven't been addressed and that management should hire more people to cover extra shifts. (AP Photo/Ashley Chan) (credit:Ashley Chan/AP)
Britain Tube Strike(06 of50)
People cycle, run or walk across London Bridge in central London, Thursday, Aug. 6, 2015. Commuters are facing a day of disruption after a strike shut down the London Underground system for a second time this summer. Unions walked off the job amid a dispute about how to implement a new 24-hour service on weekends. Unions argue work-life balance issues haven't been addressed and that management should hire more people to cover extra shifts. (AP Photo/Tony Hicks) (credit:Tony Hicks/AP)
BRITAIN-TRANSPORT-STRIKE(07 of50)
Commuters queue for buses as a 24 hour tube strike hits the morning rush hour at Victoria station, central London on August 6, 2015. The strike began at 6:30 pm (1730 GMT) on August 5 and will run until Friday morning, causing disruption for millions of commuters and tourists.AFP PHOTO/Leon Neal (Photo credit should read LEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:LEON NEAL via Getty Images)
BRITAIN-TRANSPORT-STRIKE(08 of50)
Commuters queue for buses as a 24 hour tube strike hits the morning rush hour at Victoria station, central London on August 6, 2015. The strike began at 6:30 pm (1730 GMT) on August 5 and will run until Friday morning, causing disruption for millions of commuters and tourists.AFP PHOTO/Leon Neal (Photo credit should read LEON NEAL,LEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:AFP via Getty Images)
BRITAIN-TRANSPORT-STRIKE(09 of50)
Two skaters take part in a promotional event by Penny Skateboards, giving free boards to stranded commuters as a 24 hour tube strike hits the morning rush hour at Victoria station, central London on August 6, 2015. The strike began at 6:30 pm (1730 GMT) on August 5 and will run until Friday morning, causing disruption for millions of commuters and tourists.AFP PHOTO/Leon Neal (Photo credit should read LEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:LEON NEAL via Getty Images)
BRITAIN-TRANSPORT-STRIKE(10 of50)
Commuters cross the river Thames on the Millennium footbridge as a tube strike hits the morning rush hour in the city of London on August 6, 2015. Millions of Londoners were forced to walk, cycle or take packed buses to work today as Underground staff staged a second strike in a month over plans to run trains all night at weekends. London Underground staff walked out yesterday evening and will not return until the morning of August 7, causing a shutdown of all 11 lines on the subway network and severely disrupting the capital. AFP PHOTO / BEN STANSALL (Photo credit should read BEN STANSALL,BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:AFP via Getty Images)
BRITAIN-TRANSPORT-STRIKE(11 of50)
Commuters cross the river Thames on the Millennium footbridge as a tube strike hits the morning rush hour in the city of London on August 6, 2015. Millions of Londoners were forced to walk, cycle or take packed buses to work today as Underground staff staged a second strike in a month over plans to run trains all night at weekends. London Underground staff walked out yesterday evening and will not return until the morning of August 7, causing a shutdown of all 11 lines on the subway network and severely disrupting the capital. AFP PHOTO / BEN STANSALL (Photo credit should read BEN STANSALL,BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:AFP via Getty Images)
BRITAIN-TRANSPORT-STRIKE(12 of50)
London Underground Piccadilly Line tube trains are parked at the Northfields Depot in west London on August 6, 2015 during a 24-hour strike of Underground staff. Millions of Londoners were forced to walk, cycle or take packed buses to work as Underground staff staged a second strike in a month over plans to run trains all night at weekends. London Underground staff walked out on August 5 evening and will not return until the morning of August 7, causing a shutdown of all 11 lines on the subway network and severely disrupting the capital. AFP PHOTO / LEON NEAL (Photo credit should read LEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:LEON NEAL via Getty Images)
BRITAIN-TRANSPORT-STRIKE(13 of50)
London Underground Piccadilly Line tube trains are parked at the Northfields Depot in west London on August 6, 2015 during a 24-hour strike of Underground staff. Millions of Londoners were forced to walk, cycle or take packed buses to work as Underground staff staged a second strike in a month over plans to run trains all night at weekends. London Underground staff walked out on August 5 evening and will not return until the morning of August 7, causing a shutdown of all 11 lines on the subway network and severely disrupting the capital. AFP PHOTO / LEON NEAL (Photo credit should read LEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:LEON NEAL via Getty Images)
Britain Tube Strike(14 of50)
Commuters are reflected in a bus window as they queue for a bus in London, Thursday, Aug. 6, 2015. Commuters are facing a day of disruption after a strike shut down the London Underground system for a second time this summer. Unions walked off the job amid a dispute about how to implement a new 24-hour service on weekends. Unions argue work-life balance issues haven't been addressed and that management should hire more people to cover extra shifts. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Britain Tube Strike(15 of50)
Police officers stand guard at a bus stop outside Paddington Station in London, Thursday, Aug. 6, 2015. Commuters are facing a day of disruption after a strike shut down the London Underground system for a second time this summer. Unions walked off the job amid a dispute about how to implement a new 24-hour service on weekends. Unions argue work-life balance issues haven't been addressed and that management should hire more people to cover extra shifts. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Britain Tube Strike(16 of50)
Ticket entrance machines are seen behind metal gates at the closed entrance to Marylebone tube station in London, Thursday, Aug. 6, 2015. Commuters are facing a day of disruption after a strike shut down the London Underground system for a second time this summer. Unions walked off the job amid a dispute about how to implement a new 24-hour service on weekends. Unions argue work-life balance issues haven't been addressed and that management should hire more people to cover extra shifts. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Britain Tube Strike(17 of50)
Thousands of bicycles are locked in a bike rack at Paddington Station in London, Thursday, Aug. 6, 2015. Commuters are facing a day of disruption after a strike shut down the London Underground system for a second time this summer. Unions walked off the job amid a dispute about how to implement a new 24-hour service on weekends. Unions argue work-life balance issues haven't been addressed and that management should hire more people to cover extra shifts. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Britain Tube Strike(18 of50)
Passengers crowd around a bus stop outside Paddington Station in London, Thursday, Aug. 6, 2015. Commuters are having to find alternative methods of travel Thursday as the London tubes are not running due to a strike. London's mayor has ruled out offering more money to resolve a London Underground labor set to shut down services for the second time this summer. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) (credit:Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP)
Britain Tube Strike(19 of50)
Passengers crowd around a bus stop outside Paddington Station in London, Thursday, Aug. 6, 2015. Commuters are having to find alternative methods of travel Thursday as the London tubes are not running due to a strike. London's mayor has ruled out offering more money to resolve a London Underground labor set to shut down services for the second time this summer. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) (credit:Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP)
Tube strike(20 of50)
People wait for buses close to Brixton Underground station, London, as commuters and tourists face a day of travel chaos because of a strike which has closed the underground. (credit:Anthony Devlin/PA Wire)
Tube strike(21 of50)
Police watch as people queue for a bus near Stratford station, London, as commuters and tourists face a day of travel chaos because of a strike which has closed the underground. (credit:John Stillwell/PA Wire)
Tube strike(22 of50)
RMT members hold a picket outside Brixton Underground station, London, as commuters and tourists face a day of travel chaos because of a strike which has closed the underground. (credit:Anthony Devlin/PA Wire)
Tube strike(23 of50)
RMT members hold a picket outside Brixton Underground station, London, as commuters and tourists face a day of travel chaos because of a strike which has closed the underground. (credit:Anthony Devlin/PA Wire)
Tube strike(24 of50)
RMT members hold a picket outside Brixton Underground station, London, as commuters and tourists face a day of travel chaos because of a strike which has closed the underground. (credit:Anthony Devlin/PA Wire)
Tube strike(25 of50)
RETRANSMISSION WITH IMPROVED QUALITY People stand on a cramped bus from Finsbury Park station, London, as commuters and tourists face a day of travel chaos because of a strike which has closed the underground. (credit:Becky Barnes/PA Wire)
Tube strike(26 of50)
RETRANSMISSION WITH IMPROVED QUALITY People stand on a cramped bus from Finsbury Park station, London, as commuters and tourists face a day of travel chaos because of a strike which has closed the underground. (credit:Becky Barnes/PA Wire)
Tube strike(27 of50)
People queue for buses near Stratford station, London, as commuters and tourists face a day of travel chaos because of a strike which has closed the underground. (credit:John Stillwell/PA Wire)
Tube strike(28 of50)
Police wait by a bus stop as people queue for a bus near Stratford station, London, as commuters and tourists face a day of travel chaos because of a strike which has closed the underground. (credit:John Stillwell/PA Wire)
Tube strike(29 of50)
Police watch as people queue for a bus near Stratford station, London, as commuters and tourists face a day of travel chaos because of a strike which has closed the underground. (credit:John Stillwell/PA Wire)
Tube strike(30 of50)
RMT members hold a picket outside Brixton Underground station, London, as commuters and tourists face a day of travel chaos because of a strike which has closed the underground. (credit:Anthony Devlin/PA Wire)
Tube strike(31 of50)
RMT members hold a picket outside Brixton Underground station, London, as commuters and tourists face a day of travel chaos because of a strike which has closed the underground. (credit:Anthony Devlin/PA Wire)
Tube strike(32 of50)
A commuter asks for directions outside a closed Brixton Underground station, London, as commuters and tourists face a day of travel chaos because of a strike which has closed the underground. (credit:Anthony Devlin/PA Wire)
Tube strike(33 of50)
People queue for buses near Liverpool Street station, London, as commuters and tourists face a day of travel chaos because of a strike which has closed the underground. (credit:Kate Ferguson/PA Wire)
Tube strike(34 of50)
Commuters wait to board a train to Kings Cross at Finsbury Park overground station, London, as commuters and tourists face a day of travel chaos because of a strike which has closed the underground. (credit:Yui Mok/PA Wire)
Tube strike(35 of50)
Commuters wait to board a train to Kings Cross at Finsbury Park overground station, London, as commuters and tourists face a day of travel chaos because of a strike which has closed the underground. (credit:Yui Mok/PA Wire)
Tube strike(36 of50)
Commuters wait to board a train to Kings Cross at Finsbury Park overground station, London, as commuters and tourists face a day of travel chaos because of a strike which has closed the underground. (credit:Yui Mok/PA Wire)
Tube strike(37 of50)
Police look on as people queue for a bus at Stratford station, London, as commuters and tourists face a day of travel chaos because of a strike which has closed the underground. (credit:John Stillwell/PA Wire)
Tube strike(38 of50)
BEST QUALITY AVAILABLE People stand on a cramped bus from Finsbury Park station, London, as commuters and tourists face a day of travel chaos because of a strike which has closed the underground. (credit:Becky Barnes/PA Wire)
Tube strike(39 of50)
People queue for a bus at Stratford station, London, as commuters and tourists face a day of travel chaos because of a strike which has closed the underground. (credit:John Stillwell/PA Wire)
Tube strike(40 of50)
BEST QUALITY AVAILABLE People stand on a cramped bus from Finsbury Park station, London, as commuters and tourists face a day of travel chaos because of a strike which has closed the underground. (credit:Becky Barnes/PA Wire)
Tube strike(41 of50)
People queue for a bus at Stratford station, London, as commuters and tourists face a day of travel chaos because of a strike which has closed the underground. (credit:John Stillwell/PA Wire)
Tube strike(42 of50)
People queue for a bus at Stratford station, London, as commuters and tourists face a day of travel chaos because of a strike which has closed the underground. (credit:John Stillwell/PA Wire)
Tube strike(43 of50)
People queue for a bus at Stratford station, London, as commuters and tourists face a day of travel chaos because of a strike which has closed the underground. (credit:John Stillwell/PA Wire)
Tube strike(44 of50)
Travellers are turned away at Paddington Underground station, London, as a strike by Underground workers closed the capital's entire Tube system. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday August 5, 2015. Members of four unions are taking industrial action for the second time in a month because of a deadlocked dispute over plans to launch a new all-night service next month. See PA story INDUSTRY Tube. Photo credit should read: Anthony Devlin/PA WireA closed sign at Waterloo Underground station, London, as a strike by Underground workers closed the capital's entire Tube system. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday August 5, 2015. Members of four unions are taking industrial action for the second time in a month because of a deadlocked dispute over plans to launch a new all-night service next month. See PA story INDUSTRY Tube. Photo credit should read: Anthony Devlin/PA Wire (credit:Anthony Devlin/PA Wire)
Tube strike(45 of50)
A man looks at a Tube map at a partially closed entrance at Paddington Underground station, London, as a strike by Underground workers closed the capital's entire Tube system. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday August 5, 2015. Members of four unions are taking industrial action for the second time in a month because of a deadlocked dispute over plans to launch a new all-night service next month. See PA story INDUSTRY Tube. Photo credit should read: Anthony Devlin/PA WireA closed sign at Waterloo Underground station, London, as a strike by Underground workers closed the capital's entire Tube system. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday August 5, 2015. Members of four unions are taking industrial action for the second time in a month because of a deadlocked dispute over plans to launch a new all-night service next month. See PA story INDUSTRY Tube. Photo credit should read: Anthony Devlin/PA Wire (credit:Anthony Devlin/PA Wire)
Tube strike(46 of50)
People queue for a bus at Stratford station, London, as commuters and tourists face a day of travel chaos because of a strike which has closed the underground. (credit:John Stillwell/PA Wire)
Tube strike(47 of50)
People queue for a bus at Stratford station, London, as commuters and tourists face a day of travel chaos because of a strike which has closed the underground. (credit:John Stillwell/PA Wire)
Tube strike(48 of50)
People walk past a closed Finsbury Park underground station, London, as commuters and tourists face a day of travel chaos because of a strike which has closed the underground. (credit:Yui Mok/PA Wire)
Tube strike(49 of50)
BEST QUALITY AVAILABLE People stand on a cramped bus from Finsbury Park station, London, as commuters and tourists face a day of travel chaos because of a strike which has closed the underground. (credit:Becky Barnes/PA Wire)
Tube strike(50 of50)
BEST QUALITY AVAILABLE People stand on a cramped bus from Finsbury Park station, London, as commuters and tourists face a day of travel chaos because of a strike which has closed the underground. (credit:Becky Barnes/PA Wire)