Night buses in London

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First London Alexander Dennis Enviro400 on route N26 in July 2011
London General Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B7TL on route N11 in July 2014
Arriva London Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 bodied Volvo B5LH on route N29 in June 2014

The London Night Bus network is a series of night bus routes that serve Greater London. Services broadly operate between the hours of 23:00 and 06:00.

Many services commence from or operate via Trafalgar Square and are extensions or variations of daytime routes and hence derive their number from these; for example, route N73 from Oxford Circus to Walthamstow Central follows that of route 73 as far as Stoke Newington, before continuing further north.[1][2][3]

History[edit]

The first night bus was introduced in 1913.[4] By 1920 there were two 'All Night Bus Services' in operation named the 94 and 94a running from 23:30 to 05:30.[5] A few more services were introduced over the following decades, but all ceased during World War II. Services resumed after the war, increasing as trams and trolleybuses were replaced in the late 1950s and 1960s. In 1978 London Transport listed 21 all-night bus routes. On many of these routes, "all-night" service meant a departure frequency of no more than one bus an hour.[6] In April 1984, the number of routes was increased from 21 to 32. At this point the peak service required 80 buses; by August 2013 this had grown to 890.[7]

Originally the night bus network had its own fare structure, but with the introduction of the Oyster card in 2003, it was incorporated into the Transport for London fare structure. Until the mid-2000s, all routes had N prefixes. However, as some routes merely mirrored their day time equivalents, the N prefixes were dropped and these routes became 24-hour services; for example, route N14 was no longer differentiated from route 14.[7]

Services are operated by private operators under contract to London Buses. The Night Bus contracts are often bundled with those of the equivalent daytime routes and awarded for a five-year period, with an optional two-year extension based on performance standards being met. Some however are tendered individually.[7][8][9]

With some London Underground lines operating a 24-hour service at weekends from August 2016, a further eight routes commenced 24-hour operation on Friday and Saturday nights.[10] Further changes were made as the Night Tube network expanded.

In May 2015, the Night Bus network was the subject of The Night Bus, a Channel 4 documentary.[11][12]

Operation[edit]

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. Also, the N550 and N551 (which provide night service on parts of the DLR network), and the N271 (whose daytime service was withdrawn on 4 February 2023) 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. With the introduction of the Night Tube, some day routes have been extended to run during Friday and Saturday nights to serve the stations.

Route Start End Operator
N1 Thamesmead Tottenham Court Road station London Central
N2 Crystal Palace bus station Marylebone station Arriva London
N3 Bromley North railway station Oxford Circus Transport UK London Bus
N5 Edgware bus station Trafalgar Square London Sovereign
N7 Northolt tube station Oxford Circus Metroline
N8 Hainault Oxford Circus Stagecoach London
N9 Heathrow Terminal 5 Aldwych Metroline
N11 Ealing Broadway station Whitehall London General
N15 Romford Market Oxford Circus Blue Triangle
London Central
N18 Harrow Weald bus garage Trafalgar Square London United
N19 Clapham Junction railway station Finsbury Park bus station Arriva London
N20 Barnet Hospital Trafalgar Square Metroline
N21 Bexleyheath Shopping Centre Trafalgar Square London Central
N22 Fulwell Oxford Circus London General
N25 Ilford Oxford Circus Stagecoach London
N26 Chingford railway station London Victoria station Stagecoach London
N27 Hammersmith bus station Chalk Farm Transport UK London Bus
N28 Camden Town Southside Wandsworth London Transit
N29 Enfield Town Trafalgar Square Arriva London
N31 Camden Town Clapham Junction railway station Metroline
N32 Edgware bus station London Victoria station Metroline
N33[13] Fulwell railway station Hammersmith bus station London United
N38 Walthamstow bus station Victoria bus station Arriva London
N41 Tottenham Hale bus station Trafalgar Square Arriva London
N44 Sutton railway station Aldwych London General
N53 Plumstead railway station Whitehall Stagecoach London
N55 Woodford Wells Oxford Circus Stagecoach London
N63 Crystal Palace bus station London King's Cross railway station Transport UK London Bus
N65 Chessington World of Adventures Ealing Broadway station London United
N68 Old Coulsdon Tottenham Court Road station Transport UK London Bus
N72[13] East Acton Roehampton London United
N73 Walthamstow bus station Oxford Circus Arriva London
N74 Roehampton Baker Street tube station London General
N83 Ealing Hospital Golders Green tube station Metroline
N86 Harold Hill Stratford bus station Stagecoach London
N87 Fairfield bus station Aldwych London General
N89 Erith Trafalgar Square London Central
N91 Cockfosters tube station Trafalgar Square London General
N97 Hammersmith bus station Trafalgar Square London General
N98 Stanmore tube station Red Lion Square Metroline
N109 Croydon Oxford Circus Transport UK London Bus
N113 Edgware bus station Trafalgar Square Metroline
N133 Morden tube station Liverpool Street bus station Transport UK London Bus
N136 Chislehurst Oxford Circus London Central
N137 Crystal Palace bus station Oxford Circus Arriva London
N140 Harrow Weald bus garage Heathrow Central bus station Metroline
N155 Morden tube station Aldwych London General
N171 Hither Green railway station Tottenham Court Road station London Central
N199 St Mary Cray railway station Trafalgar Square Stagecoach London
N205 Leyton Paddington Stagecoach London
N207 Uxbridge tube station Bloomsbury Square Transport UK London Bus
N242 Homerton University Hospital Tottenham Court Road station Stagecoach London
N250 Brixton Fairfield Halls Arriva London
N253 Aldgate bus station Tottenham Court Road station Arriva London
N266 Brent Cross bus station Hammersmith bus station London United
N271 Finsbury Square Tally Ho Corner Metroline
N277 Cubitt Town Islington Stagecoach London
N279 Waltham Cross Trafalgar Square Arriva London
N343 New Cross Gate Trafalgar Square London Central
N381 Peckham Whitehall Transport UK London Bus
N550 Canning Town bus station Trafalgar Square Stagecoach London
N551 Gallions Reach Shopping Park Trafalgar Square Stagecoach London

N1[edit]

Route N1 commenced operating on 28 June 1995 between Plumstead garage and Trafalgar Square. It was originally operated by London Central, being taken over by First London on 14 November 1998. On 8 January 2000 it was extended beyond Plumstead to Thamesmead, and in April 2000 withdrawn between Trafalgar Square and Aldwych being diverted to Tottenham Court Road station. Upon being re-tendered, the route was taken over by East Thames Buses on 15 October 2005.[7]

In October 2009, East Thames Buses was sold to London General, which included a five-year contract to operate route N1.[14][15][16]

Route

Route N1 operates via these primary locations:[17]

N2[edit]

Route N2 commenced operating on 13 April 1984 between West Norwood station and Trafalgar Square. In October 1984, it was extended north from Trafalgar Square to Friern Barnet and south from West Norwood station to Crystal Palace bus station. In June 1995, it was withdrawn between Camden Town and Friern Barnet, and rerouted to Hampstead Heath. In November 1999, the Trafalgar Square to Hampstead Heath section was withdrawn and replaced by route N24. Upon being re-tendered, it passed from Metroline to Arriva London in April 2000.[7]

Route

Route N2 operates via these primary locations:[18]

N3[edit]

Route N3 began operating on 27 October 1989 between Beckenham Junction station and Victoria bus station via Oxford Circus. In October 1993, it was extended to start back at Chislehurst. In May 2000, it was altered to operate between Bromley North station and Oxford Circus. Its operation passed from London Central to Connex on the same date.[7]

Route N3 was included in the sale of Connex to Travel London in February 2004[19] which in turn was sold to Abellio London in May 2009.[20][21] New Routemasters commenced operating route N3 on 8 February 2016.

Route

Route N3 operates via these primary locations:[22]

N5[edit]

Route N5 commenced operating on 28 October 1989 between Edgware station and Victoria bus station. In June 1995, it was withdrawn between Trafalgar Square and Victoria. It was operated by Metroline since its inception until July 2020 when it passed to London Sovereign.[7][23]

Route

Route N5 operates via these primary locations:[24]

N7[edit]

Route N7 commenced operating on 30 August 2003 between Northolt and Russell Square partly replacing route N23. It was initially operated by First London. Upon being re-tendered it passed to Metroline on 23 June 2007[25][26] who commenced a further contract on 21 June 2014.[27] In October 2014 it was withdrawn between Oxford Circus station and Russell Square.

Route

Route N7 operates via these primary locations:[28]

N8[edit]

Route N8 commenced operating on 13 August 1988 between Bow Church and Queensbury station. In July 1992, the Marble Arch to Queensbury section was withdrawn, with the route redirected to Victoria bus station. In July 1995, it was altered to operate from Woodford Wells to Trafalgar Square. In June 1999, it once again began operating to Victoria, albeit via Piccadilly Circus. This was altered in April 2000 with it now routed via Berkeley Square. In June 2004, its eastern terminus was altered to Hainault. In June 2009, it was again withdrawn between Oxford Circus and Victoria being replaced by route C2.[7][29]

Route N8 has been operated by Stagecoach London since its inception. On 28 June 2014, a further contract commenced with New Routemasters.[30][31][32]

Route

Route N8 operates via these primary locations:[33]

N9[edit]

Route N9 commenced operating on 25 February 1994 between Kingston and Trafalgar Square replacing parts of routes N65 and N97. In March 1997 it was extended from Trafalgar Square to Aldwych. On 29 September 2001, the Hammersmith bus station to Kingston section was withdrawn and the route diverted to Heathrow Central bus station, as well as the new Heathrow Terminal 5 from 2008.[34] Route N9 has been operated by London United since its inception. On 27 January 2024, this route was transferred to Metroline from their Brentford garage.[7]

Route

Route N9 operates via these primary locations:[35]

N10[edit]

Route N10 commenced operating on 29 September 2001 between Richmond and Archway station replacing route N9 between Richmond and Hammersmith bus station. Initially operated by London United on 3 September 2004, the route passed to First London. At the same time, the route was withdrawn between King's Cross station and Archway, being replaced by route N390. On 29 January 2010 route N10 was withdrawn and replaced by routes 10 and 33.[7][36]

Route

Route N10 operated via these primary locations:

N11[edit]

Route N11 commenced operating on 13 April 1984 between Shepherd's Bush Green and Liverpool Street station. In April 1985 it was extended at both ends, westward to Acton Town and east to Hackney Central. It was extended east again in November 1985 to Hackney Wick. In August 1986 it was diverted at the western end from Shepherd's Bush to Turnham Green, this was reversed in February 1994.[7]

Having been replaced between Trafalgar Square and Hackney Wick in October 1989 by route N6, it resumed operating to Liverpool Street in February 1994. In March 2001 it was diverted at Hammersmith to Wembley Stadium. Having been operated by London United since its inception, on 29 June 2003 it was taken over by London General. On 7 June 2008, route N11 was diverted at West Ealing to Ealing Broadway station being replaced by route 297.[7][37]

On 23 November 2022, it was announced that route N11 would be rerouted to run to Whitehall instead of Liverpool Street following a successful consultation. The withdrawn section of the route will continue to be covered by an extended route N26. This change was implemented on 29 April 2023.[38][39]

Route

Route N11 operates via these primary locations:[40]

N13[edit]

Route N13 commenced operating on 13 April 1984 between North Finchley and Trafalgar Square, being extended on 27 October 1984 from North Finchley to Chipping Barnet and on 8 July 1992 from Trafalgar Square to Victoria bus station, the latter being reversed on 23 June 1995. Upon being re-tendered, on 1 September 2001, the route passed from Metroline to London Sovereign being extended from Trafalgar Square to Aldwych on the same day.[7] It ceased on 1 April 2017 when route 13 was converted to 24-hour operation.[41]

Route

Route N13 operated via these primary locations:[42]

N15[edit]

Route 15 corridor
Legend
 N15 
•
•
•
 Piccadilly Circus
•
•
 Trafalgar Square
•
•
 Aldwych
•
•
 Ludgate Circus
•
•
 Tower Hill
•
•
 Aldgate
•
•
 Limehouse
•
•
 Blackwall
•
•
 Canning Town
•
•
 East Ham
•
•
•
 Barking
•
•
•
 Becontree Heath
•
•
•
 Romford Market
 N15 
This diagram:

Route N15 commenced operating on 15 July 1995 between Becontree Heath and Paddington station to replace a section of withdrawn route N95 between Becontree Heath and Aldgate. In August 1998 the route was extended from Becontree Heath to Romford Market and withdrawn between Marble Arch and Paddington. The latter was reverted in May 2001.[7] In October 2007 the route was extended from Paddington to Paddington Basin. In August 2010 the route was withdrawn between Regent Street and Paddington Basin, this section replaced by route 159.[43] In May 2013 the route was withdrawn between Trafalgar Square and Regent Street.[44]

Having been operated by East London since its inception, it was taken over by Blue Triangle on 26 August 2017 from their Henley Road bus garage, having part of the allocation run from River Road bus garage and additional services run from London Central's Camberwell bus garage.[45]

Route

Route N15 operates via these primary locations:[46]

N16[edit]

Route N16 commenced operating on 19 January 1991 between Edgware bus station and Victoria bus station via Trafalgar Square. In October 2002 it was rerouted away from Trafalgar Square to run direct from Marble Arch via Park Lane to Victoria. It has been operated by Metroline since the start of service.[7]

On 23 November 2022, it was announced that route N16 would be renumbered as N32 following a successful consultation, due to the re-routing of the daytime route 16. This change was implemented on 29 April 2023.[38][39]

Route

Route N16 operated via these primary locations:[47]

N18[edit]

Route N18 commenced operating on 13 April 1984 between Sudbury and Liverpool Street station. In April 1985 it was extended from Sudbury to Harrow Weald via Edgware at its outer end and curtailed from Liverpool Street to Aldwych at its inner end.[7] Having been operated by First London since privatisation, it was included in the sale of Willesden Junction garage to Metroline in June 2013.[48][49] In November 2017 operation of the route passed to London United.[50]

Route

Route N18 operates via these primary locations:[51]

N19[edit]

Route N19 commenced operating on 28 October 1989 between Clapham Junction station and Finsbury Park station. London General operated it until April 2000 when it was taken over by Arriva London. London General won the route back when re-tendered from March 2012,[52] before it returned to Arriva operation in April 2017.[7][53][54]

Route

Route N19 operates via these primary locations:[55]

N20[edit]

Route N20 commenced operating on 28 October 1989 from Chipping Barnet to Aldwych as route N1. It was curtailed from Aldwych to Trafalgar Square on 18 July 1992. It was renumbered as N20 on 24 June 1995. First London operated it from 15 July 1998 until it returned to Metroline on 25 August 2003.[7]

Route

Route N20 operates via these primary locations:[56]

N21[edit]

Night Bus Route N21 is the night service for route 21 between Bank and Lewisham, and – until 10 October 2009 – for route 233 between Eltham and Foots Cray, for route 51 between Blackfen and Foots Cray and for route 321 between New Cross Gate and Eltham and Sidcup (police station) and Foots Cray.

The N21 was introduced to provide a night service over the original route 21 between Central London and Sidcup (Foots Cray), but with a deviation via Avery Hill and Blackfen, to serve the University of Greenwich, which provides the route with steady patronage between there and Central London throughout the week. It originally operated from Victoria to Foots Cray on its current route, but on Friday and Saturday nights some journeys ran via New Eltham and Mottingham, terminating at Sidcup. In 1999 the route was restructured again: the extra weekend journeys via New Eltham were revised to operate from Eltham to Chislehurst via Mottingham and was extended to run every night (not just at weekends). The original service to Foots Cray via Blackfen and Sidcup remained unchanged. Changes to the frequency meant buses running every 30 minutes between Victoria and Eltham then every 60 minutes to Chislehurst and Foots Cray respectively.

In 2002, the Chislehurst journeys were withdrawn and run through to Foots Cray instead, providing a 30-minute service over the whole route. The route was also shortened to start and terminate at Trafalgar Square as opposed to Victoria. On Friday and Saturday nights, demand was such that extras were introduced between Eltham High Street and Trafalgar Square, combined with the Foots Cray buses providing a 15-minute service over that section of route. With the withdrawal of the Chislehurst services, Mottingham and Chislehurst were without a night bus route until February 2008 when the N136 was introduced (replacing parts of the N36).

The route was further amended on 10 October 2009, and withdrawn between Blackfen and Sidcup, instead running to Bexleyheath via Blendon, Bridgen and Old Bexley along the established day route 132. The night service to Sidcup was simultaneously replaced by a 24-hour service on route 321, restoring a night service to New Eltham after an absence of 10 years. On 27 May 2017, the route was transferred to London Central.[57]

Route

Route N21 operates via these primary locations:[58]

N22[edit]

Route N22 commenced operating on 24 November 2000 between Richmond and Piccadilly Circus replace the withdrawn section of route N9 between Richmond and Putney Bridge. On 29 September 2001, the route was extended from Richmond to Kingston. On 3 June 2006, it was withdrawn curtailed from Kingston to Fulwell. It has always been operated by London General.[7] On 16 July 2017, the route was withdrawn between Green Park and Piccadilly Circus and diverted to Oxford Circus via Berkeley Square, partly replacing route C2.[59]

Route

Route N22 operates via these primary locations:[60]

N25[edit]

Route N25 commenced operation on 15 July 1995 between Romford station and Trafalgar Square. Initially operated by East London, upon being re-tendered it passed to First London on 26 July 1999. It ceased on 26 June 2004, when route 25 was converted to 24-hour operation.[7] Route N25 was reintroduced on 1 December 2018 when route 25 ceased to be a 24-hour route with Tower Transit operating it.[61] Upon being re-tendered, it was taken over by East London on 23 May 2020.[62]

Route

Route N25 operates via these primary locations:[63]

N26[edit]

Route N26 commenced operation on 18 July 1992 between Walthamstow Central station and Victoria bus station. It was introduced to replace the withdrawn sections of route N6 between Trafalgar Square and Walthamstow. In 1995 it was curtailed from Victoria to Trafalgar Square but extended at the other end to Walthamstow Fulbourne Road. In 2001 it was rerouted from Walthamstow Central to Chingford station, instead of Fulbourne Road, partly replacing route N38.[7]

On 23 November 2022, it was announced that a proposed extension of route N26 to Victoria, in line with a revised (daytime) route 26, would be going ahead following a consultation; it was implemented on 29 April 2023.[38][39]

Route

Route N26 operates via these primary locations:[64]

N27[edit]

Route N27 was introduced on 3 February 2001 between Turnham Green and Chalk Farm. It was operated by First London. It ceased on 19 March 2004 when route 27 was converted to 24-hour operation.[7] It resumed on 9 March 2019 when route 27 ceased to be a 24-hour route, this time being operated by London United.[65] On 9 November 2019, it was taken over by Abellio London.[66]

Route

Route N27 operates via these primary locations:[67]

N28[edit]

Routes N28 and N31 corridor
Legend
 N28   N31   31 
 Camden Town station London Underground
Chalk Farm station London Underground
Swiss Cottage station London Underground
South Hampstead station London Overground
Golders Green station London Underground Bus interchange  328 
West Hampstead
West End Green
 West Hampstead Thameslink station National Rail
West Hampstead stations London Underground London Overground
Kilburn High Road station London Overground
Kilburn Park station London Underground
Maida Hill
The Chippenham
 Kensal Rise station London Overground  28 
Harrow Road
Prince of Wales Hotel
Westbourne Park station London Underground
Notting Hill Gate station London Underground
Holland Park station London Underground
Shepherd's Bush stations London Underground London Overground National Rail
White City bus station London Buses London Underground  31 
High Street Kensington station London Underground
Earl's Court station London Underground
World's End  328 
Earl's Court station London Underground
Battersea
Clapham Junction station London Overground National Rail  N31 
Kensington (Olympia) station London Overground London Underground National Rail
West Kensington station London Underground
Fulham Broadway station London Underground
Imperial Wharf station London Overground National Rail
Wandsworth Bridge
Wandsworth Town station National Rail
Southside Wandsworth
 N28   28 
This diagram:

Route N28 commenced operating on 29 May 1999 between Camden Town and Southside Wandsworth.[7] On 24 July 2023, the route was diverted via King's Road and Battersea Bridge and terminating at Clapham Junction station from 24 July until 29 July due to Wandsworth Bridge being closed.[68] On 30 July 2023, the route was reinstated to Southside Wandsworth, but diverted via King's Road and Battersea Bridge from 30 July until 2 October, missing stops between New Kings Road and Bridgend Road in both directions due to the closure of Wandsworth Bridge. The route returned to normal running via Wandsworth Bridge when it reopened on 2 October 2023.[69]

Route

Route N28 operates via these primary locations:[70]

N29[edit]

Route N29 commenced operating on 27 February 1980 between Enfield Town and Trafalgar Square. On 14 January 2006 it was curtailed from Enfield Town to Ponders End with Mercedes-Benz O530G articulated buses introduced. On 26 November 2011 it was converted back to double deck operation.[7]

Route

Route N29 operates via these primary locations:[71]

N31[edit]

Routes N28 and N31 corridor
Legend
 N28   N31   31 
 Camden Town station London Underground
Chalk Farm station London Underground
Swiss Cottage station London Underground
South Hampstead station London Overground
Golders Green station London Underground Bus interchange  328 
West Hampstead
West End Green
 West Hampstead Thameslink station National Rail
West Hampstead stations London Underground London Overground
Kilburn High Road station London Overground
Kilburn Park station London Underground
Maida Hill
The Chippenham
 Kensal Rise station London Overground  28 
Harrow Road
Prince of Wales Hotel
Westbourne Park station London Underground
Notting Hill Gate station London Underground
Holland Park station London Underground
Shepherd's Bush stations London Underground London Overground National Rail
White City bus station London Buses London Underground  31 
High Street Kensington station London Underground
Earl's Court station London Underground
World's End  328 
Earl's Court station London Underground
Battersea
Clapham Junction station London Overground National Rail  N31 
Kensington (Olympia) station London Overground London Underground National Rail
West Kensington station London Underground
Fulham Broadway station London Underground
Imperial Wharf station London Overground National Rail
Wandsworth Bridge
Wandsworth Town station National Rail
Southside Wandsworth
 N28   28 
This diagram:

Route N31 commenced operation on 11 November 1989 between Camden Town and Notting Hill Gate. It initially operated on Friday and Saturday nights only until it became a seven days a week service on 18 July 1992 with the Alexander bodied Mercedes-Benz 811Ds were replaced by Wright Handybus bodied Dennis Darts that in turn were replaced by Marshall Capital bodied Dennis Darts in 1999.[7]

On 29 May 1999, the route was diverted to terminate at Clapham Junction station. It was converted back to double decker operation in June 2004 with Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B7TLs.[7] It was included in the June 2013 sale of First London's Westbourne Park to Tower Transit.[72][73] Upon being re-tendered, on 28 April 2018 the route passed to Metroline.[74][75]

Route

Route N31 operates via these primary locations:[76]

N32[edit]

Route N32 corridor
Legend
 N32   32 
 Edgware bus station London Buses London Underground
Burnt Oak
Broadway
 Colindale
West Hendon
Broadway
 Staples Corner
Brent Cross West station National Rail  316 
Brent Park
Superstores  16 
Cricklewood
bus garage
 Cricklewood
Broadway
 Kilburn station London Underground
Brondesbury station London Overground
Kilburn High Road station London Overground
Kilburn Park station London Underground  32 
Queen's Park station London Underground London Overground
Ladbroke Grove
Sainsbury's
 Latimer Road station London Underground
Shepherd's Bush stations London Underground London Overground National Rail
White City bus station London Buses London Underground  316 
Maida Vale station London Underground
Edgware Road station London Underground
Paddington station London Underground Elizabeth Line National Rail  16 
Marble Arch station London Underground
Hyde Park Corner station London Underground
Victoria station London Buses London Underground National Rail
 N32 
This diagram:

Route N32 commenced operating on 29 April 2023 between Edgware bus station and Victoria station when route N16 was renumbered to route N32 as part of the Central London bus changes.[38][39]

Route

Route N32 operates via these primary locations:[77]