List of bus routes in London
This is a list of Transport for London (TfL) contracted bus routes in London, United Kingdom, as well as commercial services that enter the Greater London area (except coaches). Bus services in London are operated by Abellio London, Arriva London, CT Plus, Go-Ahead London, London Sovereign, London United, Metroline, Quality Line, Stagecoach London, Sullivan Buses, Tower Transit and Uno.
TfL-sponsored operators run more than 500 services.
Non TfL-sponsored operators run 36 principal services between parts of Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Berkshire, Kent, Surrey and Sussex on the one hand and London on the other and one local council sponsored service each in the boroughs of Bexley, Barking and Dagenham and Hackney (extending into Islington).
Classification of route numbers
In Victorian times, passengers could only recognise an omnibus (Latin: for everyone) of an owner and route by the coach's distinctive livery (colour) and line name, with painted signs on the sides showing the two termini to indicate the route. Then, in 1906, George Samuel Dicks of the London Motor Omnibus Company decided that, as the line name 'Vanguard' had proved to be very popular, he would name all lines 'Vanguard' and number the company's five routes 1 through to 5. Other operators soon saw the advantage, in that a unique route number was easier for the travelling public to remember, and so the practice of using route numbers soon spread.[1]
Historic classification
Bus routes run by London Transport were grouped as follows.
The 1924 London Traffic Act imposed numbering known as the Bassom Scheme named after Chief Constable A. E. Bassom of the Metropolitan Police who devised it. Variant and short workings for many decades used letter suffixes. The numbers reflected the company that operated the route.
The numbering was revised in 1934 after London Transport was formed:
| Route Number | Former type of Service |
|---|---|
| 1–199 | "Central Area" red double-decker services |
| 200–289 | "Central Area" red single-decker services |
| 290–299 | "Central Area" night routes |
| 300–399 | "Country Area" north of the River Thames (rural services were operated by London Country Bus Services after 1970) |
| 400–499 | "Country Area" south of the River Thames |
| 500–699 | Trolleybuses |
| 701–799 | Green Line Coaches |
| 800–899 | "Country Area" "New Towns" routes |
Current classification
| Route Number | Type of Service |
|---|---|
| 1–599 | Day routes, including 24-hour services. |
| 600–699 | Schoolday services, normally operating only one return journey per day.* |
| 700–899 | Regional and national coach services. |
| 900–999 | Three mobility services within TfL, detailed below |
| N-prefixed routes | Night routes. |
| X-prefixed routes | Express routes. |
| Other letter-prefixed routes | Local day routes, including 24-hour services, with the letter(s) denoting a key area the bus travels through. |
*Except 607, which is a normal day route.
Key
| † | Transport for London services that cross the Greater London boundary. Standard ticketing applies throughout. |
List of routes
All routes operate in both directions unless detailed.
1–100
101–200
201–299
300–399
400–499
500–599
| Route | Start | End | Operator |
|---|---|---|---|
| 507 | Victoria Station | Waterloo Station | London General |
| 521 | London Bridge | Waterloo Station | London General |
| 549 | Loughton † | South Woodford | Docklands Buses |
600–699
900–999
Route numbers from 900 to 999 represent Mobility Buses: these provide a once a week return journey to a local shopping centre from relatively low density neighbourhoods where there is no alternative route in the main bus network. The number of Mobility Buses routes have declined because low-floor and wheelchair accessible buses run on all London Buses routes except for the heritage route.
| Route | Start | End | Operator |
|---|---|---|---|
| 931 | Crystal Palace | Lewisham | Abellio London |
| 965 | Riverhill | Kingston Sainsbury's | London United |
| 969 | Whitton | Roehampton Vale | Abellio London |
Letter prefixes
Night only routes (N-prefixed)
Night bus routes are often related to the day numerical equivalent, normally running the same route but with an extension at either end of the service. This is normally to provide a night service to destinations served by tube or train during the day.
However, there are a few N-prefixed route numbers that have no relation to their daytime equivalents: the N5, N20 and N97 all operate in a different part of London to their respective day routes, and the N550 and N551 (which provide night service on parts of the DLR network) have no corresponding daytime routes.
There are also 24-hour routes, which run day and night but usually with a lower frequency during the night hours. The vast majority run the same route at all times. Route 65 is classed as a 24-hour service, but unusually has an extension to its night service, rather than the night service being designated N65.
Non-TfL bus routes in Greater London
These bus routes are not contracted to TfL and are therefore not 'London Buses'. All but three run from the villages and towns outside Greater London to destinations within (the exceptions are the 812, 938 and MB1, which run entirely within the boundary). They are painted in a colour chosen by the operator, so are not necessarily red like London Buses, and most of them do not accept Oyster cards. These routes are operated with a London Service Permit issued by TfL so they are recognised by TfL bus maps and appear on TfL bus stops.
Temporary routes
There are four special express routes that run during the Notting Hill Carnival: 2X, 36X, 205X and 436X.[31]
Former routes
This list shows some old routes that used to operate but do not exist anymore. Services withdrawn before 1994 are not listed.
| Route | Start | End | Date of launch | Date of withdrawal | Last operator | Replaced by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2A | Crystal Palace | Brixton Station | 19 May 1954 | 29 January 1994 | South London | 2 |
| 9A | Mortlake | Kensington | 18 July 1992 | 7 March 1997 | London United | 209 |
| 9H | Trafalgar Square | Kensington High Street | 14 November 2005 | 25 July 2014 | First London/Tower Transit | |
| 15B | East Ham | Aldgate | 4 March 1989 | 18 September 1999 | Stagecoach East London | 115 |
| 16A | Brent Cross | Marble Arch | 31 January 1976 | 10 October 1997 | Metroline | 189 |
| 22A | London Bridge | Clapton Park Estate | 28 October 1972 | 28 February 1998 | Kentish Bus | 149 242 |
| 22B | Tottenham Court Road Station | Homerton Hospital | 22 November 1987 | 28 February 1998 | Kentish Bus | 242 |
| 36B | Victoria Station | Grove Park | 26 November 1958 | 12 March 1994 | Selkent | 136 |
| 45A | South Kensington | Peckham Garage | 10 November 1990 | 2 September 1995 | London Central | 345 |
| 59 (1985) | Farringdon Street | Streatham Hill Brixton Garage | 2 February 1985 | 29 January 1994 | South London | |
| 68A | Elephant and Castle | South Croydon Garage | 12 March 1994 | 27 March 1999 | Arriva London | 468 |
| 77A | Wandsworth | Aldwych | 3 May 1950 | 3 June 2006 | London General | 87 |
| 84A | Turnpike Lane Station | Barnet Church | 24 April 1982 | 27 January 1996 | Cowie Leaside | 184 |
| 87 (1934) | Barking Town Centre | Romford Market | 3 October 1934 | 25 March 2006 | Stagecoach London | 5 |
| 97A | Chingford Station | Walthamstow Central Station | 31 January 1981 | 19 February 2000 | First Capital | 357 |
| 115 (1984) | Balham | Forest Hill | 24 April 1984 | 29 April 1995 | Cowie South London | 315 P13 |
| 129 (1939) | Becontree Heath | Claybury Broadway | 7 June 1939 | 26 June 2004 | East Thames Buses | 128 150 |
| 135 (1987) | Archway Station, Upper Holloway | Marble Arch | 21 November 1987 | 2 September 2000 | Metroline | 88 |
| 137A | Crystal Palace | Clapham Common | 2 February 1991 | 18 September 1999 | Arriva London | 417 |
| 161A | Petts Wood Station | Woolwich | 6 May 1953 | 12 March 1994 | Selkent | 162 |
| 171A | County Hall | Northumberland Park Tesco's | 1 February 1986 | 17 October 1998 | Arriva London | 341 |
| 184 (1951) | New Cross | Trafalgar Square | 7 October 1951 | 12 March 1994 | London Central | 343 484 |
| 207A | Uxbridge | Charville Lane Estate | 21 July 1990 | 13 November 1999 | First Centrewest | U7 |
| 228 (1934) | Chislehurst | Eltham | 3 October 1934 | 7 September 1996 | Kentish Bus | 160 321 |
| 235 (1968) | Leytonstone Station | Woodford Wells | 7 September 1968 | 26 July 1996 | Grey Green | W13 |
| 239 | Clapham Junction | Victoria | 12 May 1990 | 15 February 2008 | Go-Ahead London | 170 |
| 243A | Wood Green | Liverpool Street | 19 July 1961 | 19 August 2000 | Arriva London | 243 |
| 272 (1974) | Woolwich | Thamesmead | 30 November 1974 | 23 January 1999 | Kentish Bus | 244 472 |
| 306 | Crystal Palace | Blackheath | 20 June 1992 | 28 September 1996 | Stagecoach Selkent | 202 |
| 351 | Bromley North Station | Penge | 2 March 1991 | 24 June 2002 | Metrobus | 354 |
| 354 (1986) | Bromley North Station | Croydon | 16 August 1986 | 19 May 2000 | Metrobus | 314 T33 |
| 357 (1983) | Croydon | Orpington | 1983 | 1995 | Metrobus | 353 354 (1986) |
| 369 | Ilford | Thames View Estate | 20 March 1993 | 20 February 2010 | Stagecoach London | EL1 EL2 |
| 374 | Romford | Harold Hill | 20 March 1993 | 15 October 2005 | Stagecoach London | 174 |
| 393 (1989) | Hackbridge | Morden Station | 25 February 1989 | 23 November 1996 | London General | 80 151 |
| 395 (1999) | Limehouse | Surrey Quays | 9 October 1999 | 29 April 2006 | First Capital | |
| 435 | Southall Town Hall | Heathrow Airport Cargo Area | 25 June 2005 | 22 March 2008 | First Centrewest | 482 |
| 494 | West Croydon Bus Station | Shirley Monks Orchard | 10 June 2000 | 11 June 2005 | Metrobus | 367 |
| 501 | Waterloo | London Bridge | 9 September 1968 | 31 May 2002 | London General (Red Arrow) | 521 |
| 505 | Waterloo | Shoreditch | 4 March 1989 | 19 August 2000 | London General (Red Arrow) | 35 243 |
| 604 | West Norwood | Stanley Technical High School | 5 September 2005 | 20 July 2007 | Arriva London | |
| 620 | Biggin Hill Valley | Charles Darwin School | 5 January 2002 | 21 July 2006 | Metrobus | 664 |
| 630 | New Addington | All Saints Catholic School | 20 July 2007 | Stagecoach London | ||
| 689 | Clapham Common | West Norwood | 2 September 2011 | Arriva London | ||
| 726 | Bromley South Station | Heathrow Airport | 16 Apr 2005 | Tellings Golden Miller | X26 | |
| 729 | Bromley | Bluewater | January 2002 | March 2005 | London General | 96 162 B13 |
| 746 | Bromley | Tunbridge Wells | 1994 | 1995 | Metrobus | 402 |
| 805 | Heathrow Airport | Northolt | June 2001 | 25 June 2005 | Bharat Travel | 435 |
| 917 | South Croydon | West Croydon | 22 June 2011 | Abellio London | 64 T33 | |
| 941 | Bedfont Green | Hampton Hill | 29 February 2012 | Abellio London | ||
| 953 | Scrattons Farm | Chase Cross, Havering | 7 November 2012 | First Capital | ||
| 958 | Ilford Hainualt Street | Woodford King's Avenue | 26 July 2011 | First Capital | ||
| 972 | Neasden Birchen Grove | Colindale ASDA | 22 October 2010 | First Centrewest | 324 | |
| E4 | Windmill Park | Perivale | 27 March 1993 | 24 May 1997 | Centrewest | |
| ELW | Shoreditch | Wapping | 23 December 2007 (mid-term temporary rail replacement service for closure of East London Line) |
15 May 2010 | First London | None (re-opening of East London Line) |
| H1 | Golders Green | Henrietta Barnett School | 18 May 2013 | Arriva Shires & Essex | 631 | |
| H15 | Harrow Weald Oxhey Lane | Northwick Park Hospital | 14 November 1987 | 4 September 1999 | Metroline | 182 |
| H21 | Bedfont Green | Sunbury Tesco | 22 January 2000 | 2 December 2005 | Tellings Golden Miller | |
| H23 | Heathrow Airport Cargo Area | Hounslow Bus Station | 28 April 1990 | 22 March 2008 | London United | 423 |
| H30 | Hatton Cross Station | Heathrow Central Bus Station | 1 November 1998 | 1 May 2004 | Airlinks | |
| H40 | Chiswick Grove Park | Park Royal Asda | 9 November 1991 | 26 May 2002 | London United | 272 440 |
| H50 | Hayes & Harlington Station | West Drayton | 3 February 2001 | 22 March 2008 | Travel London | 350 |
| K6 | Kingston | Roehampton Vale ASDA | 2 December 1989 | 25 July 1998 | Westlink | 485 |
| P2 | Peckham, Bus Garage | Lewisham Shopping Centre | 1992 | 1994 | London Central | 484 P13 |
| PR1 | Ealing Broadway | Willesden Junction Station | 24 March 2007 | First Centrewest | 226 PR2 | |
| PR2 | Wembley Park The Paddocks | Willesden Junction Station | 15 October 2011 | First Centrewest | 206 224 | |
| R62 | Hampton Sainsbury's | West Middlesex Hospital | 1992 | 6 May 2006 | Tellings Golden Miller | 481 |
| R69 | Richmond | Hammersmith | 7 April 1990 | 11 November 2000 | London United | 419 |
| S2 | Stratford | Clapton Nightingale Road | 5 July 2008 | First Capital | 425 488 | |
| X29 | Bromley | Bluewater | January 2002 | Arriva Kent Thameside | 729 | |
| N10 | King's Cross | Richmond | 29 September 2001 | 30 January 2010 | First Centrewest | 10 33 |
| N25 | Oxford Circus | Harold Hill | 15 July 1995 | 26 June 2004 | First Capital | 25 N8 N86 |
| N47 | Trafalgar Square | St Mary Cray | 12 Sept 2015 | Stagecoach London | 47 N199[6] | |
| N50 | Gallions Reach | Trafalgar Square | 30 June 1995 | 30 August 2008 | Stagecoach London | N550 N551 |
| N52 | Victoria Station | Willesden | 3 December 1993 | 8 December 2012 | Metroline | 52 |
| N64 | Thornton Heath Pond | New Addington | 28 August 2010 | 24 October 2015 | Metrobus | 64[7] |
| N75 | Croydon | Lewisham | 19 May 2007 | Stagecoach London | ||
| N76 | Waterloo | Northumberland Park Station | 1 February 2003 | 15 November 2014 | Arriva London | 76 341[9] |
| N77 | Tolworth | Aldwych | 19 August 1995 | 3 June 2006 | London General | N87 281 |
| N81 | Victoria | Bexleyheath (some journeys extended to Gravesend and the Medway Towns) | 8 October 1993 | 28 June 2002 | London Central | N89 |
| N84 | Trafalgar Square | New Cross Gate | 8 October 1993 | 27 February 2001 | London Central | N343 |
| N159 | New Addington | Marble Arch | 28 August 2010 | Arriva London | 159 N109[32] | |
| N213 | West Croydon | Kingston | 4 July 2009 | London General | 213 | |
| T31 | New Addington | Forestdale | 11 May 2000 | 24 September 2015 | Arriva London | 64 & 353[7] |
| T32 | New Addington | Addington Village Interchange | 11 May 2000 | 24 October 2015 | Metrobus | 64 & 130[7] |
| T33 | West Croydon | Addington Village Interchange | 11 May 2000 | 24 October 2015 | Abellio London | 433[7] |
See also
- Category: London bus operators
References
- ↑ Charles Klapper (1984) The Golden Age of Buses. Page 64. Routledge, London ISBN 0-7102-0232-6, ISBN 978-0-7102-0232-1.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 Central London Bus Map Transport for London
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Night buses in West London Transport for London
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 South-West London Bus Map Transport for London 9 January 2016
- 1 2 3 South-East London Bus Map Transport for London 12 September 2015
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Changes to night buses from 12 September 2015 Transport for London
- 1 2 3 4 5 Proposed changes to bus services in New Addington and Forestdale Transport for London
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 East London Bus Map Transport for London
- 1 2 Bus service proposal: routes 76 and N76 Transport for London
- ↑ North London Bus Map Transport for London
- 1 2 Buses from Bromley North and Market Square Transport for London 12 September 2015
- 1 2 Buses from Sutton Transport for London 12 September 2015
- 1 2 Night buses in south London Transport for London 29 March 2014
- ↑ "New bus route to run from Purley to Thornton Heath". Croydon Advertiser.
- 1 2 Buses from Mount Vernon Hospital Transport for London
- 1 2 3 4 5 Buses from Uxbridge Transport for London 12 September 2015
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Buses from Heathrow Terminal 5 Transport for London
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Buses from Heathrow Terminals 1, 2 and 3 Transport for London
- ↑ Buses from New Barnet Transport for London
- ↑ Buses from Selsdon Transport for London
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Buses for Kingston Transport for London
- ↑ Buses from Orpington Transport for London 12 September 2015
- ↑ Buses from Chingford Transport for London
- ↑ Buses from Enfield Transport for London
- 1 2 Buses from Queensbury Transport for London
- ↑ Buses from Stanmore Transport for London
- ↑ Retrieved 2015-08-04
- ↑ Hackney Community Transport Retrieved 2014-02-20
- ↑ Bexley Community Transport Retrieved 2014-02-20
- ↑ MB1 Route consultation on Mecca Bingo Service, Dagenham Retrieved 2015-2-20
- ↑ Transport for London, Windsor House, 42-50 Victoria Street, London SW1H 0TL, enquire@tfl.gov.uk. "Check before you travel to Notting Hill Carnival and enjoy the event: Sunday 26 - Bank Holiday Monday 27 August 2012". tfl.gov.uk.
- ↑ Major changes to routes 15, N15, 159 & N159 Transport for London 24 August 2010
Bibliography
- Atkin, Michael. "THIS SCEPTRED ISLE", The Guardian
- Carr, Ken, The London Bus Guide. Boreham: Visions International Entertainment, 2011. ISBN 978-0-9570058-0-8.