I think they were driving on the left well before the law in the 18th century (1722) to keep traffic moving over old London Bridge. Before that it was just custom throughout the land. Evidence from an old Roman quarry near Swindon supports the theory they drove on the left (shallow ruts in, deep out from the loaded wagons). Pope Boniface VIII told all pilgrims traveling to Rome in 1300 AD to keep to the left, for a very good reason, it kept the sword hand free for dealing with all the heathens and unbelievers along the way. If anybody knew about swords it was the Romans. Rome after all wanted the loot (nothing new there). Add to that wagon drovers who sat on the right and kept the left hand free for the whip. That said, the Savoy Hotel and Hammersmith bus station entrances force you to drive in on the right and exit on the left.

All this of course has absolutely nothing to do with the narrow, standard or broad gauges that trains run on. Except of course that the GWR had it's drivers on the right and the trains were usually on the left so they could see where they were going.

Nigel

Spot on about the sword hand and driving on the left Nigel.  :thumbs

The Savoy Hotel entrance is configured that way so that the driver's door arrives at the hotel doorway ready for the Chauffeur to "do the honours" without having to walk around the car.  Hotel guests at the Savoy, would never drive themselves ………………… :shock:

Why Hammersmith Bus Station should follow this custom amazes me ………………… :???: