List of bus routes in London facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

London's bus network is a huge system of bus routes that help people travel all around the city and even into nearby areas. These buses are a key part of how Londoners get around every day.

Most of these bus services are managed by Transport for London (TfL). They work with different bus companies to run more than 500 routes. Some of the main companies you might see are Arriva London, Go-Ahead London, Metroline, First Bus London, Stagecoach London, Transport UK London Bus, and Uno.

Besides the TfL buses, there are also other bus services that come into London from outside the city. These buses are run by different companies like Arriva Herts & Essex or Reading Buses. They usually have different colors than the famous red London buses and don't accept Oyster Cards.

Two double-decker buses on routes 8 and 205 at Bishopsgate in June 2020

A modern electric bus on route E7 at Ealing Broadway in July 2025

An electric bus on route D8 at Stratford bus station in July 2025

How Bus Routes Got Their Numbers

Long ago, in Victorian times, buses didn't have numbers. People knew which bus to take by its color and a special name, like 'Vanguard'. They also looked at signs on the side that showed where the bus started and ended.

In 1906, a smart person named George Samuel Dicks decided to give numbers to his company's bus routes. This made it much easier for people to remember which bus to catch. Soon, other bus companies started using numbers too, and that's how the numbering system began!

Old Bus Number System

An old London tram from before 1933, showing where its route number would have been.

For many years, London's bus routes were grouped by numbers based on where they operated and what type of service they offered. This system was set up in 1934 by London Transport.

Here's a quick look at how the numbers were used:

From 1934
Numbers	Service Type
1–199	Red double-decker buses in the central London area.
200–289	Red single-decker buses in the central London area.
290–299	Special night buses for central London.
300–399	Buses in the "Country Area" north of the River Thames.
400–499	Buses in the "Country Area" south of the River Thames.
500–699	Trolleybuses (electric buses that got power from overhead wires).
701–799	Green Line Coaches (longer-distance coach services).
800–899	Buses connecting to new towns around London.

Today's Bus Number System

The way bus routes are numbered has changed over time. Here's how they are generally classified now:

Route numbers	Type of service
1–599	These are most of the regular daily bus routes. Some of them run 24 hours a day.
600–699	These numbers are used for school bus services. Most of these only run once in the morning and once in the afternoon on school days.
700–799	These are for regional and national coach services, including Green Line Coaches. They are also used for temporary TfL routes.
800–899	More regional and national coach services.
900–999	These are special "mobility buses" that help people get to local shopping centers, especially in areas where there aren't many other bus options.
EL-prefixed routes	These are part of the East London Transit system, which uses special buses and routes in East London.
N-prefixed routes	These are Night Bus routes that run mostly at night. They often follow similar paths to day routes but might go further.
SL- prefixed routes	These are the new Superloop routes, which are express buses designed for faster travel around outer London.
Other letter-prefixed routes	These are local day routes, including 24-hour services, where the letter usually tells you which main area the route serves (like 'E' for Ealing or 'H' for Harrow).

London Bus Routes: A Look at the Network

London has a huge number of bus routes, connecting almost every part of the city. Here's a glimpse into some of the routes you might find in different number ranges. All routes usually operate in both directions.

Routes 1–99

This group includes many of the well-known and busy routes in central London and surrounding areas.

Route	Start	End	Operator	Notes
1	Canada Water bus station	Hampstead Heath	Go-Ahead London
6	London Victoria station	Willesden bus garage	Metroline	Runs 24 hours a day.
24	Hampstead Heath	Pimlico	Transport UK London Bus	Runs 24 hours a day.
46	London Paddington station	St Bartholomew's Hospital	Metroline	Uses electric buses since October 2018.
88	Parliament Hill Fields	Clapham Common	Go-Ahead London	Runs 24 hours a day.

Routes 100–199

These routes cover a wide range of areas, often connecting different parts of London.

Route	Start	End	Operator	Notes
100	St Paul's tube station	Shadwell railway station	Go-Ahead London	Uses electric buses since January 2020.
108	Lewisham Shopping Centre	Stratford International station	Go-Ahead London	Runs 24 hours a day.
107	Edgware bus station	New Barnet railway station	Metroline	Crosses into Hertfordshire near Elstree & Borehamwood railway station.
149	Edmonton Green bus station	London Bridge bus station	Arriva London	Runs 24 hours a day.
159	Oxford Circus	Streatham railway station	Transport UK London Bus	Runs 24 hours a day.

Routes 200–299

This section includes routes that serve many different neighborhoods, often connecting them to larger transport hubs.

Route	Start	End	Operator	Notes
205	Bow Church DLR station	Marble Arch tube station	Stagecoach London
207	Hayes Bypass	White City bus station	Transport UK London Bus
213	Fairfield bus station	Sutton bus garage	Go-Ahead London	Runs 24 hours a day.
222	Uxbridge tube station	Hounslow bus station	Metroline	Runs 24 hours a day.
275	Barkingside	St. James Street railway station	Stagecoach London	Crosses into Essex in Chigwell.

Routes 300–399

These routes often connect outer London areas and sometimes cross into neighboring counties.

Route	Start	End	Operator	Notes
301	Bexleyheath Shopping Centre	Beresford Square	Arriva London	Started in July 2019.
310	Golders Green tube station	Stamford Hill	Stagecoach London	Started in September 2024 to help local Jewish communities.
331	Uxbridge tube station	Ruislip tube station	Metroline	Goes through Harefield and crosses into Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire.
341	London Waterloo station	Meridian Water railway station	Arriva London	Runs 24 hours a day.
365	Beam Park	Havering Country Park	Stagecoach London	Runs 24 hours a day.

Routes 400–499

This group of routes serves many areas, especially in South and West London, and some extend beyond the Greater London border.

Route	Start	End	Operator	Notes
405	Croydon	Redhill	Arriva London
406	Epsom	Cromwell Road bus station	First Bus London	School day journeys also serve Epsom Hospital.
428	Erith	Bluewater Shopping Centre	Arriva London
453	Marylebone station	Deptford Bridge DLR station	Go-Ahead London	Runs 24 hours a day.
465	Cromwell Road bus station	Dorking	Transport UK London Bus

Routes 500–599

This category is smaller and includes some temporary or special routes.

Route	Start	End	Operator	Notes
533	Hammersmith bus station	Castelnau	Go-Ahead London	This is a temporary route. It helps replace other routes that were affected by the closure of Hammersmith Bridge.

School Services (600–699)

These routes are mainly for students traveling to and from school. They usually run only during school hours on weekdays.

Route	Start	End	Schools Served	Operator
601	Thamesmead	Wilmington Academy	Wilmington Academy	Go-Ahead London
618	Ivybridge	Osterley	Bolder Academy	Transport UK London Bus
640	South Harrow tube station	Bentley Wood High School	Whitmore High School, Salvatorian College, Sacred Heart Language College, Bentley Wood High School	Metroline

Mobility Buses (900–999)

These routes are designed to help people with mobility needs. They often run less frequently, sometimes just once a week, to connect quieter neighborhoods with shopping centers.

Route	Start	End	Operator	Notes
969	Whitton	Roehampton Vale	Transport UK London Bus	Runs only on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Letter-Prefixed Routes

These routes use a letter before their number, which often indicates the main area they serve.

Route	Start	End	Operator	Area Code	Notes
A10	Uxbridge tube station	Heathrow Central bus station	Metroline	Heathrow Airport
B12	Erith	Joyden's Wood	Go-Ahead London	Bexleyheath	Runs in a loop in Joyden's Wood.
C1	London Victoria station	White City bus station	First Bus London	Central London
D8	Cubitt Town	Stratford bus station	Stagecoach London	London Docklands
E7	Ealing Broadway station	Ruislip tube station	Transport UK London Bus	Ealing	Goes via Wood Lane in Ruislip during shopping hours.
H11	Harrow bus station	Mount Vernon Hospital	First Bus London	Harrow
K1	Cromwell Road bus station	New Malden railway station	First Bus London	Kingston upon Thames
P4	Lewisham station	Brixton tube station	Go-Ahead London	Dulwich
R1	Green Street Green	St Paul's Cray	Go-Ahead London	Orpington
S1	Lavender Fields	Banstead	Go-Ahead London	Sutton
U1	Ruislip tube station	West Drayton railway station	Metroline	Uxbridge
W7	Finsbury Park bus station	Muswell Hill	Metroline	Crouch End

East London Transit Routes (EL-prefixed)

These are special routes in East London, designed to improve public transport in that area.

Route	Start	End	Operator	Notes
EL1	Barking Riverside	Ilford	Go-Ahead London	Runs 24 hours a day. It was originally route 369 until 2010.
EL3	Barking Riverside	Little Heath	Go-Ahead London	It was originally route 387 until 2017.

Superloop Routes (SL-prefixed)

The Superloop is a new network of express bus routes that connect key transport hubs in outer London, making journeys faster.

	Start	End	Operator	Notes
SL1	North Finchley bus station	Walthamstow bus station	Arriva London
SL2	Walthamstow bus station	North Woolwich	Arriva London
SL3	Thamesmead	Bromley North railway station	Stagecoach London
SL8	Uxbridge tube station	White City bus station	Metroline	This route was previously numbered 607 until July 2023.

Night Only Routes (N-prefixed)

Night buses are super helpful for getting around London after the trains and tubes stop running. They often follow similar paths to day routes but might extend further to cover areas served by underground or train lines during the day.

Route	Start	End	Operator
N1	Thamesmead	Tottenham Court Road station	Go-Ahead London
N9	Heathrow Terminal 5	Aldwych	Metroline
N25	Ilford	Oxford Circus	Stagecoach London
N86	Harold Hill	Stratford bus station	Stagecoach London
N137	Crystal Palace bus station	Oxford Circus	Arriva London

Bus Routes Not Managed by TfL

Some bus routes in Greater London are not part of the TfL network. These buses are usually run by companies that operate from towns and villages outside London. They don't have the famous red color of London buses and you can't use an Oyster Card on them. However, they still have a special permit from TfL, so you might see them on TfL bus stops and maps.

Here are a few examples:

Route	Start	End	Operator
3	Slough	Uxbridge tube station	First Beeline
409	East Grinstead	Selsdon	Metrobus
702	Legoland Windsor Resort	Green Line Coach Station	Reading Buses

Bus Routes That Are No Longer Running

Bus routes sometimes change or are removed for various reasons, like new routes being introduced, changes in demand, or other transport options becoming available. Here are a few examples of routes that have been withdrawn or renumbered.

Route	Start	End	Withdrawal date(s)	Notes
9H	Kensington High Street	Trafalgar Square	July 25, 2014	This was a special heritage route that used old AEC Routemaster buses.
10	Hammersmith bus station	London King's Cross railway station	November 24, 2018	Parts of this route were replaced by route 23.
15H	Tower Hill tube station	Trafalgar Square	November 14, 2020	Another heritage route that used AEC Routemaster buses.
48	London Bridge bus station	Walthamstow bus station	October 12, 2019	This route was replaced by routes 26, 55, and 388.
507	London Waterloo station	Victoria bus station	April 29, 2023	This route was replaced by routes 3, 11, and C10.
X26	West Croydon bus station	Heathrow Central bus station	August 19, 2023	This route was renumbered to SL7 as part of the Superloop network.

Future Bus Routes

The London bus network is always changing to meet the city's needs. New routes are planned to improve connections and make travel easier.

Route		Start	End	Operator	Notes
	BL1	Lewisham Shopping Centre	London Waterloo station	Go-Ahead London	This route is planned to be introduced in Autumn 2025 as part of the Superloop network.

Temporary Bus Routes

Sometimes, special temporary bus routes are set up to help people get around when there are road closures, events, or other disruptions. These routes only run for a short time.

Route	Start	End	Operator	Notes
700	Colliers Wood tube station	Mitcham	Go-Ahead London	This route started on July 14, 2025, because of road closures in Mitcham.
7X	East Acton	London Paddington station	Metroline	This route runs every year during the Notting Hill Carnival weekend.

Images for kids

Two double-decker buses on routes 8 and 205 at Bishopsgate in June 2020
A modern electric bus on route E7 at Ealing Broadway in July 2025
An electric bus on route D8 at Stratford bus station in July 2025
An old London tram from before 1933, showing where its route number would have been.

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List of bus routes in London Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.