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). The major operators in the London area are Go-Ahead London and Arriva London. Other operators in London are Metroline, East London, London United, Abellio London, First Centrewest, Metrobus, First Capital, Selkent, Arriva Shires & Essex, Arriva Southern Counties, London Sovereign, Quality Line, Abellio Surrey, CT Plus, First Berkshire & The Thames Valley, Uno, London United, Carousel Buses, Bear Buses, TWH Bus & Coach, Blue Triangle, Green Line Coaches, Edward Thomas, Red Rose Travel, and Imperial Buses.
There are also several operators based outside of London who either run services wholly within the area or services which start outside the area. This includes parts of Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Berkshire, Kent, Surrey, and Sussex.
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Throughout Victorian times, passengers could only recognise the buses of different fleets and routes by the coaches distinctive livery colours and line name; with the two end termini sign-painted on the sides to indicate the route, as can be seen in many of Victorian photographs. Then in 1906, George Samuel Dicks of the London Motor Omnibus Co. reasoned: that as the line name 'Vanguard' proved to be very popular, he should name all lines 'Vanguard' and number the company's five different routes 1 through to 5. Other operators soon saw the advantage in that a unique route number was also easier for the travelling public to remember and so the practice of adopting route numbers soon spread.[1]
Historically, bus routes run by London Transport were grouped by the type of service that they provided.
The 1924 London Traffic Act imposed a numbering scheme known as the Bassom Scheme, named after Chief Constable A.E. Bassom of the Metropolitan Police who devised it. Variant and short workings used letter suffixes. The numbers reflected the company that operated the route.
The numbering was revised in 1934 after London Transport was formed:[2]
Route Number | 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 |
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 | Not used for local bus services - numbers reserved for regional and national coach services. |
900–999 | Mobility Services, normally operating one returning journey per week. |
N-prefixed routes | Night buses. |
X-prefixed routes | Express routes. |
Other letter-prefixed routes | Local day routes, including 24-hour services, with the letter(s) denoting the town the bus travels through. |
24-hour bus services | Route has variable final destinations or starting points |
† | Transport for London services that cross the Greater London boundary. Standard ticketing applies throughout. |
Route | Start | End | Operator | Performance |
507 | Victoria | Waterloo | Go-Ahead London | [440] |
521 | Waterloo | London Bridge | Go-Ahead London | [441] |
541 (To be discontinued from May 2012) | Keir Hardie Estate | Canning Town | Stagecoach London | [442] |
549 | South Woodford | Loughton † | Go-Ahead London | [443] |
Many of these routes are run for schools to reduce overcrowding on regular bus services. Their timetables are subject to short notice alteration and re-routing in accordance with school requirements. A notable exception is route 607, which is a limited stop service operating in West London, whose number is "inherited" from the period (15 November 1936 – 8 November 1960), when this route was served by trolleybuses.[3]
Route | Start | End | Educational Establishment | Operator |
601 | Thamesmead | Dartford Heath † | Wilmington Hall School | Stagecoach London |
602 | Thamesmead | Bexleyheath | Townley Grammar School for Girls | Stagecoach London |
603 | Swiss Cottage Station | Muswell Hill | Metroline | |
605 | Edgware Station | Mill Hill | Mill Hill County High School | Metroline (London Sovereign from 1 September 2012) |
606 | Queensbury | Barnet | Ravenscroft School | Metroline |
607 | White City | Uxbridge | First Centrewest | |
608 | Gallows Corner | Shenfield High School † | Shenfield High School | First Capital |
609 | Hammersmith | Mortlake | Harrodian School | Metroline |
611 | Stonebridge Park | East Finchley | Metroline | |
612 | Selsdon | Wallington | Wallington County Grammar School, Riddlesdown High School | Metrobus |
613 | Worcester Park | Sutton Common | Glenthorne High School | London United |
616 | Winchmore Hill | Edmonton Green Shopping Centre | The Latymer School | First Capital |
617 | Turnpike Lane Station | Turkey Street | St Ignatius' College | Arriva London |
621 | Lewisham | Eltham | Crown Woods School | Go-Ahead London (Stagecoach London from 1 September 2012) |
624 | Woolwich | Grove Park | Crown Woods School | Go-Ahead London |
625 | Plumstead Common | Chislehurst | Go-Ahead London | |
626 | Finchley | Potters Bar † | Dame Alice Owen's School | Metroline |
627 | Woodcote Green | Cheam | Wallington High School | Arriva London |
628 | Southgate | Kingsbury JFS | JFS | Arriva London (Sullivan Buses from 1 September 2012) |
629 | Wood Green | Turkey Street | St Ignatius' College | Arriva London |
632 | Colindale Station | Kilburn Park | Metroline | |
634 | Muswell Hill | Barnet | Arriva London | |
635 | Brentford | Sunbury Cross † | St. Paul's School | Metroline |
636 | Sidcup | Bromley South Station | Kemnal College,Eltham College | Stagecoach London |
637 | Sidcup | Bromley South Station | Eltham College, Kemnal College, | Stagecoach London |
638 | Sidcup | Coney Hall | Beaverwood School, Kemnal College, Coopers Technology College, Eltham College | Stagecoach London |
639 | Clapham Junction | Putney | John Paul II School | Go-Ahead London |
640 | South Harrow Station | Harrow Weald | Whitmore High School, Salvatorian College, Sacred Heart College, Bentley Wood School | Arriva Shires & Essex |
641 | Teddington School | West Molesey † | Teddington School | Quality Line |
642 | West Hendon | Stanmore | London Academy | Arriva Shires & Essex |
643 | Brent Cross | East Finchley | Christ's College Finchley | Metroline |
646 | Noak Hill | Cranham | First Capital | |
647 | Romford | Harold Hill | Harold Hill Community School | Stagecoach London (Arriva London North from 31 March 2012) |
648 | Romford | Cranham | First Capital | |
649 | Romford | Emerson Park | Campion School | Go-Ahead London |
650 | Romford | Emerson Park | Emerson Park School | Go-Ahead London |
651 | Romford | North Romford | Bower Park School | Go-Ahead London |
652 | Rainham | Upminster | Sanders Drapers School Havering Sixth Form College |
First Capital |
653 | Kingsbury JFS | Muswell Hill | JFS | Arriva London (Sullivan Buses from 1 September 2012) |
654 | Selsdon | Ramsden | The Priory School,Ravens Wood School | Metrobus |
655 | Mitcham | Raynes Park | Raynes Park High School | Go-Ahead London |
656 | Gallows Corner | Emerson Park | Emerson Park School | First Capital |
657 | South Chingford | Woodford Wells | Trinity Catholic High School, Bancroft's School |
Arriva London |
658 | Woolwich | Crown Woods School | Crown Woods School | Go-Ahead London |
660 | Bellingham | Eltham | Crown Woods School | Stagecoach London |
661 | Mottingham | Petts Wood | Eltham College & Cooper School | Go-Ahead London |
664 | New Addington | Biggin Hill | Charles Darwin School Ravens Wood School |
Stagecoach London |
665 | Surbiton | New Malden | Holy Cross School | London United |
667 | Ilford | Chigwell † | West Hatch School | Arriva London (First Capital from 10 March 2012) |
669 | Erith | Albany Park | Cleeve Park School | Go-Ahead London |
670 | Clapham Junction | Putney | John Paul II School | Go-Ahead London |
671 | Chessington S. Sta. | Kingston | Tiffin Girls' School | London United |
672 | Woolwich | Thamesmead | Woolwich Polytechnic School | Stagecoach London |
673 | Beckton | Becontree | Warren School | Go-Ahead London |
674 | Romford | Harold Hill | Go-Ahead London | |
675 | St James Station | Woodford | Woodbridge High School | CT Plus |
678 | Beckton | Stratford | St Angela's Ursuline School St. Bonaventure's Comprehensive School |
Stagecoach London (Arriva London from 31 March 2012) |
679 | Goodmayes | Chingford | Woodford County High, Trinity Catholic High School |
First Capital |
681 | Hounslow | Teddington | Teddington School | London United |
683 | Friern Barnet | Kingsbury JFS | JFS | Arriva London (Sullivan Buses from 3 September 2012) |
685 | Selsdon | Hamsey Green † | Warlingham Secondary School | Arriva London |
686 | Romford | Harold Hill | St. Edward's School | First Capital |
687 | Dagenham Park Secondary School | Barking Station | Dagenham Park Secondary School | Stagecoach London |
688 | Southgate | Kingsbury JFS | JFS | Arriva London (Sullivan Buses from 1 September 2012) |
690 | Clapham Common | West Norwood | Burntwood School | Arriva London |
691 | Ham | Surbiton | Hollyfield School | London United |
692 | Winchmore Hill | Potters Bar | Dame Alice Owen's School | First Capital |
696 | Hayes | Bishop Ramsey School | Bishop Ramsey School | London United |
697 | Ickenham | Kinghill Avenue | The Douay Martyrs School | London United |
698 | Ickenham | West Drayton | The Douay Martyrs School | London United |
699 | Winchmore Hill | Potters Bar † | Dame Alice Owen's School | First Capital |
These are Mobility Bus Routes. These routes provide a once a week return journey to a local shopping centre where there is no alternative route in the main bus network. The prevalence of low-floor buses across London has reduced somewhat the number of Mobility Bus services.
Route | Start | End | Day of Operation | Operator |
931 | Crystal Palace | Lewisham | Fridays only | Abellio London |
941 | Bedfont Green | Hampton Hill | Wednesdays only | Abellio London |
953 | Scrattons Farm | Chase Cross | Wednesdays only | First Capital |
965 | Tolworth | Kingston | Mondays and Fridays only | London United |
969 | Whitton | Roehampton Vale | Tuesdays and Fridays only | Abellio London |
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, in a few cases, services have a route number that has no relation to its daytime equivalent, such as the N5, which operates in a different part of London to day route 5.
There are also 24-hour routes, which are listed in the day routes above, shaded blue. 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.
These bus routes are operated with a London Service Permit issued by Transport for London, and are generally routes from towns just outside the Greater London boundary to destinations within. The exceptions are the 812, MB1 and 938, which run entirely within the boundary. Another exception is the 724, which although run by a coach company, it is a bus route.
Coach services are not included in this list.
This list shows some old routes that used to operate but do not exist anymore.
This list is incomplete. Please help by expanding it.
Route | Start | End | Date of launch | Date of withdrawal | Operator | Replaced by |
182 | Woolwich | Cannon Street | 6 July 1952 | 31 December 1966 | ||
222 (1950) | Uxbridge | Hounslow Central | 1 January 1950 | 15 March 1961 | London Buses | 223 |
223 | Uxbridge | Heathrow Central | 21 June 1990 | 22 May 1993 | London Buses | U5 |
239 | Clapham Junction | Victoria | 12 May 1990 | 15 February 2008 | Go-Ahead London | 170 |
279A | Waltham Cross | Liverpool Street Station | 1991? | London Buses | 279 | |
282 (1962) | Kingston | The Dittons Winters Bridge | 9 May 1962 | 31 December 1966 | 602 | |
351 | Bromley North Station | Penge | 15 July 2002 | Metrobus | 354 | |
359 | Waltham Cross | Finsbury Park Station | 1991? | Thamesway | 259 279 |
|
395 | Limehouse | Surrey Quays | 9 October 1999 | 29 April 2006 | First Capital | |
435 | Southall Town Hall | Heathrow Airport Cargo Area | June 2005 | 22 March 2008 | First Centrewest | 482 |
494 | West Croydon Bus Station | Shirley Monks Orchard | 10 June 2000 | 11 June 2005 | Metrobus | 367 |
604 | West Norwood | Stanley Technical High School | Arriva London | |||
689 | Clapham Common | West Norwood | 2 September 2011 | Arriva London | ||
726 | Bromley South Station | Heathrow Airport | 5 April 2005 | Tellings Golden Miller | X26 | |
729 | Sutton | Bluewater | London General | |||
805 | Heathrow Airport | Northolt | June 2005 | Bharat Travel | 435 | |
917 | South Croydon | West Croydon | 2011 | Abellio London | 64, T33 | |
919 | Wandsworth | Springfield Hospital | ||||
934 | Crystal Palace | Bromley South | ||||
938 | Belvedere | Bexleyheath | Metrobus | |||
950 | West Side Common | Wimbledon | Metrobus | |||
962 | Cuddington | Sutton | ||||
972 | Neasden Birchen Grove | Edgware (before 2005) Colindale ASDA (after 2005) |
22 October 2010 | First Centrewest | 324 | |
980 | Colindale | Brent Cross | 31 July 1991 | |||
E4 (1984) | Chiswick | Park Royal | 2 May 1984 | 8 November 1991 | H40 | |
E4 (1993) | Windmill Park | Perivale | 27 March 1993 | 24 May 1997 | Ealing Buses Line | E10 |
H15 | Harrow Weald Oxhey Lane | Northwick Park Hospital | 4 September 1999 | Metroline | 182 H18 |
|
H23 | Heathrow Airport Cargo Area | Hounslow Bus Station | 22 March 2008 | London United | 423 | |
H40 | Chiswick Grove Park | Park Royal Asda | 9 November 1991 | 26 May 2002 | London United | 272 440 |
87 | Barking Town Centre | Romford Market | 25 March 2006 | Stagecoach London | 5 | |
H50 | Hayes & Harlington Station | West Drayton | 3 February 2001 | 22 March 2008 | Travel London | 350 |
PR1 | Ealing Broadway | Willesden Junction | 24 March 2007 | First Centrewest | 226 PR2 |
|
PR2 | Wembley Park The Paddocks | Willesden Junction Station | 15 October 2011 | First Centrewest | 206 224 |
|
S2 | Stratford | Clapton Nightingale Road | 5 July 2008 | First Capital | 425 488 |
|
958 | Ilford Hainualt Street | Woodford King's Avenue | 23 July 2011 | First Capital | ||
N213 | West Croydon | Kingston | 4 July 2009 | Go-Ahead London | 213 | |
369 | Ilford | Thames View Estate | 20 March 1993 | 20 February 2010 | Stagecoach London | EL1 EL2 |
N159 | New Addington | Marble Arch | 28 August 2010 | Arriva London | 159 N64 N109 |
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