Night buses in London
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.
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.[15][16][17]
- Route
Route N1 operates via these primary locations:[18]
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:[19]
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[20] which in turn was sold to Abellio London in May 2009.[21][22] New Routemasters commenced operating route N3 on 8 February 2016.
- Route
Route N3 operates via these primary locations:[23]
- Bromley North station
- Bromley South station
- Beckenham War Memorial
- Clock House station
- Beckenham Road tram stop
- Kent House station
- Penge Pawleyne Arms
- Anerley station
- Crystal Palace station
- Herne Hill station
- Brixton station
- Kennington
- Lambeth Palace
- Westminster station
- Trafalgar Square
- Piccadilly Circus station
- Oxford Circus station
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][24]
- Route
Route N5 operates via these primary locations:[25]
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[26][27] who commenced a further contract on 21 June 2014.[28] In October 2014 it was withdrawn between Oxford Circus station and Russell Square.
- Route
Route N7 operates via these primary locations:[29]
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][30]
Route N8 has been operated by Stagecoach London since its inception. On 28 June 2014, a further contract commenced with New Routemasters.[31][32][33]
- Route
Route N8 operates via these primary locations:[34]
- Hainault
- Hainault station
- Barkingside
- Gants Hill station
- Redbridge station
- Wanstead station
- Leytonstone bus station
- Leytonstone High Road station
- Maryland station
- Stratford bus station
- Old Ford
- Bethnal Green station
- Shoreditch High Street station
- Liverpool Street station
- Bank station
- St Paul's station
- City Thameslink station
- Chancery Lane station
- Holborn station
- Tottenham Court Road station
- Oxford Circus station
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.[35] Route N9 has been operated by London United since its inception.[7]
- Route
Route N9 operates via these primary locations:[36]
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][37]
- 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][38]
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.[39][40]
- Route
Route N11 operates via these primary locations:[41]
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.[42]
- Route
Route N13 operated via these primary locations:[43]
N15 edit
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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.[44] In May 2013 the route was withdrawn between Trafalgar Square and Regent Street.[45]
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.[46]
- Route
Route N15 operates via these primary locations:[47]
- Romford Market
- Romford station
- Becontree Heath bus station
- Barking station
- Canning Town bus station
- Limehouse station
- Aldgate East station
- Aldgate station
- Monument station
- Cannon Street station
- Mansion House station
- St Paul's Cathedral
- City Thameslink station
- Charing Cross station
- Trafalgar Square
- Piccadilly Circus station
- Oxford Circus station
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.[39][40]
- Route
Route N16 operated via these primary locations:[48]
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.[49][50] In November 2017 operation of the route passed to London United.[51]
- Route
Route N18 operates via these primary locations:[52]
- Harrow Weald bus garage
- Harrow & Wealdstone station
- Harrow-on-the-Hill station
- Northwick Park Hospital
- Sudbury & Harrow Road station
- Wembley Central station
- Stonebridge Park station
- Harlesden Jubilee Clock
- Kensal Green station
- Royal Oak station
- Edgware Road station
- Baker Street station
- Great Portland Street station
- Oxford Circus station
- Piccadilly Circus station
- Trafalgar Square
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,[53] before it returned to Arriva operation in April 2017.[7][54][55]
- Route
Route N19 operates via these primary locations:[56]
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:[57]
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.[58]
- Route
Route N21 operates via these primary locations:[59]
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.[60]
- Route
Route N22 operates via these primary locations:[61]
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.[62] Upon being re-tendered, it was taken over by East London on 23 May 2020.[63]
- Route
Route N25 operates via these primary locations:[64]
- Ilford
- Little Ilford
- Manor Park
- Woodgrange Park station
- Forest Gate
- Stratford bus station
- Bow Church station
- Bow Road station
- Mile End station
- Stepney Green station
- Whitechapel station
- Aldgate East station
- Aldgate station
- Bank station
- St Paul's station
- City Thameslink station
- Holborn Circus
- Chancery Lane station
- Holborn station
- Tottenham Court Road station
- Oxford Circus station
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.[39][40]
- Route
Route N26 operates via these primary locations:[65]
- Chingford station
- Chingford Mount
- Walthamstow bus station
- Leyton Midland Road station
- Hackney Wick
- Hackney Central
- Cambridge Heath station
- Shoreditch High Street
- Liverpool Street station
- Bank station
- Mansion House station
- St Paul's Cathedral
- City Thameslink station
- Trafalgar Square
- Whitehall
- Victoria station
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.[66] On 9 November 2019, it was taken over by Abellio London.[67]
- Route
Route N27 operates via these primary locations:[68]
N28 edit
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.[69] 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.[70]
- Route
Route N28 operates via these primary locations:[71]
- Camden Town station
- Mornington Crescent station
- Camden Town station
- Chalk Farm station
- Swiss Cottage station
- South Hampstead station
- Kilburn High Road station
- Kilburn Park station
- Westbourne Park station
- Notting Hill Gate station
- High Street Kensington station
- Kensington (Olympia) station
- West Kensington station
- Fulham Broadway station
- Wandsworth Bridge
- Wandsworth Town station
- Southside Wandsworth
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:[72]
N31 edit
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.[73][74] Upon being re-tendered, on 28 April 2018 the route passed to Metroline.[75][76]
- Route
Route N31 operates via these primary locations:[77]
N32 edit
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.[39][40]
- Route
Route N32 operates via these primary locations:[78]
N33 edit
Route N33 commenced operating on 18 May 2019 between Fulwell station and Hammersmith bus station with the curtailment of route 33 due to the closure of Hammersmith Bridge.[79]
- Route
Route N33 operates via these primary locations:[80]
N35 edit
Route N35 commenced on 26 April 1997 between Clapham Junction station and Trafalgar Square. In April 2000, the route was withdrawn between Holborn and Trafalgar Square and diverted to Tottenham Court Road station. Having been operated by London Central since its inception, upon being re-tendered in 2009 it was taken over by Travel London.[81] It was included in the May 2009 sale of Travel London to Abellio London.[7][21][22] It ceased on 30 April 2016 when route 35 was converted to 24-hour operation.[82]
- Route
Route N35 operated via these primary locations:[83]
N38 edit
Route N38 commenced operating on 14 July 1995 as a half hourly service between Trafalgar Square and Chingford Mount with hourly bifurcation to Chingford station and Chingford Hatch, replacing most of Route N96. Initially operated by East London, upon being tendered it passed to Arriva London from 19 April 1997, being diverted to Victoria bus station on the same date. On 28 April 2001, the route was curtailed from Chingford to Walthamstow.[7]
- Route
Route N38 operates via these primary locations:[84]
N41 edit
Route N41 commenced operation on 9 December 2000 between Tottenham Hale bus station and Archway. On 5 February 2005 it extended from Archway to Trafalgar Square. It has always been operated by Arriva London.[7]
- Route
Route N41 operates via these primary locations:[85]