Many of us rely hugely on London buses to get from A to B.
Whether you use them to get to work, take children to school or just for leisure activities like going shopping, they're so useful.
While you may get to know certain routes really well, it's important to be aware that they can change.
Transport for London (TfL) changes bus routes regularly, sometimes because they feel there's a more efficient alternative and sometimes because things going on in the area leave them no choice.
In this article, we share all the latest changes coming to London buses in the near future.
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South West London
South West London bus routes are seeing quite a few changes from Saturday December 12.
The routes affected are 10, 117, 235, 306, 391, 490, 493, H22, H37 and R70
Route 110
Route 110 which currently runs between Hounslow and West Middlesex Hospital will be diverted at Powder Mill Lane to run to Hammersmith Bus Station via Percy Road, Whitton, Warren Road, Twickenham Stadium, St Margarets Station and Richmond Bridge to Richmond Town Centre then via the current 391 to Hammersmith Bus Station. Buses will run non-stop between Twickenham Stadium and St Margarets Station in both directions while we await the installation of bus stops along Chertsey Road. Route 391 will be withdrawn from this date. Route H22 will be restructured to serve West Middlesex Hospital.
On Monday to Fridays the 110 will be increased in frequency to run every 15 minutes during the AM peak, midday and PM peak periods and every 20 minutes in the evening. The Saturday service will be every 15 minutes during the day and every 20 minutes in the evening. Sundays will see buses running every 30 minutes in the early morning and then every 20 minutes for the rest of the day.
First bus towards Hammersmith will depart Hounslow Bus Station at 5am (5.30am Sundays) and 5.26am (5.56am Sundays) at Richmond Station
First bus towards Hounslow will depart Hammersmith Bus Station at 5.25am (5.47am at Richmond Station) on all days of the week
Last bus towards Hammersmith will depart Hounslow Bus Station at 1am (1.26am at Richmond Station) on all days of the week
Last bus towards Hounslow will depart Hammersmith Bus Station at 12.25am (12.50am at Richmond Station) on all days of the week
Route 117
The temporary timetable on route 117 will be removed with the frequency of the service restored to run every 20 minutes during the AM peak, midday and PM peak periods on Monday to Fridays and during the daytime on Saturdays and to every 30 minutes during the daytime on Sundays.
Route 235
The temporary timetable on route 235 will be removed with the frequency of the service restored to run every 8 minutes during the AM peak, midday and PM peak periods on Monday to Fridays and during the daytime on Saturdays and to every 12 minutes during the daytime on Sundays.
Route 306
Route 306 will be operated by Metroline from this date with changes to times during the evening on all days of the week.
Route 391
Route 391 will be withdrawn and directly replaced by revised route 110 providing additional links to Twickenham Stadium, Whitton and Hounslow from Hammersmith, Kew and Richmond. Route 110 will provide the same frequency of service as route 391 between Richmond and Hammersmith but with earlier and later buses in both directions on all days of the week.
Route 490
Route 490 will continue to run between Heathrow Terminal 5 and Richmond, Pools-in-the-Park. A new timetable will be in operation on all days of the week with extra journeys added in the AM and PM peak periods on Monday to Fridays.
Route 493
Route 493 will be shortened to provide a more reliable daily service between St George's Hospital and Richmond Bus Station over its existing route. Route 493 runs via Wimbledon, Southfields, Putney Heath, Roehampton and East Sheen to Richmond Bus Station.
Route 371 will continue to provide the service between Richmond Bus Station, Richmond Station and the retail area around Richmond, Manor Circus. There will be no change to the frequency of route 493.
First bus will depart St George's Hospital at 0525 (0625 Sundays)
First bus will depart Richmond Bus Station at 0520 (0613 Sundays)
Last bus will depart St George's Hospital at 0105
Last bus will depart Richmond Bus Station at 0045
Route H22
Route H22 which currently runs between Hounslow and Richmond will be diverted in Twickenham Town Centre to West Middlesex Hospital via London Road, Isleworth and Twickenham Road replacing route 110 over this section. Route H22 will provide more buses per hour than the current route 110 between Twickenham, Isleworth and West Middlesex Hospital. Routes 33, 490, R68 and R70 will continue to provide services between Twickenham and Richmond.
On Monday to Fridays the H22 will run every 12 minutes during the AM peak, midday and PM peak period and every 20 minutes in the evening. The Saturday service will be every 12 minutes during the day and 20 minutes in the evening. Sundays will see buses running every 30 minutes in the early morning then every 20 minutes during the daytime and evening.
First bus will depart Hounslow, Bell Corner at 5.05am (6.25am Sundays)
First bus will depart West Middlesex Hospital at 5.35am (6.30am Sundays)
Last bus will depart Hounslow, Bell Corner at 12.25am
Last bus will depart West Middlesex Hospital at 12.50am
Route H37
Route H37 will continue to run between Hounslow, Blenheim Centre and Richmond, Manor Circus with a new timetable in operation on all days of the week.
On Monday to Friday the H37 will run every seven to eight minutes during the AM peak, midday and PM peak period and every 12 minutes in the evening. The Saturday service will be every seven to eight minutes during the day and 12 minutes in the evening. Sundays will see buses running every 20-30 minutes in the early morning then every ten minutes during the daytime and 12 minutes in the evening.
Route R70
The temporary timetable on route R70 will be removed with the frequency of the service in the PM peak on Monday to Fridays restored to run every ten minutes.
Christmas and New Year Bus Service
Bus routes may change over the Christmas holiday season so it's worth checking your route over the coming weeks.
Christmas Eve - a normal Saturday service will be in operation on the day bus network, but no night buses will run. Routes that normally run 24 hours a day will finish around Midnight.
Christmas Day - no buses will run on this day
Boxing Day - a Sunday service will be in operation on both the day and night bus network
Sunday 27 December - a Sunday service will be in operation on both the day and night bus network
Monday 28 December - a Sunday service will be in operation on both the day and night bus network
Tuesday 29 December - a special Saturday service will be in operation on the day bus network with special timetables in operation on the 521 and X68. Night bus services will be running a Tuesday night service.
Wednesday 30 December - a special Saturday service will be in operation on the day bus network with special timetables in operation on the 521 and X68. Night bus services will be running a Wednesday night service.
New Year's Eve - a special Saturday service will be in operation on the day bus network with special timetables in operation on the 521 and X68. A normal Saturday night service will be in operation across the night bus network with no extra services provided.
New Year's Day - a Sunday service will be in operation on both the day and night bus network
Normal service resumes from Saturday 2 January.
School service prioritisation and extra buses
School priority services and all extra buses will continue to run until Friday December 18.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic and the desire to keep schools open, TfL added 200 extra buses to the network and started prioritising certain buses for school travel.
Government guidance allows for all seats to be occupied on these 'school services', doubling their capacity, which is currently limited due to necessary social distancing.
The school services are clearly signed and operate on a number of key routes between 7.30am and 9am, with some routes running until 9.30am and 2.30pm and 4.30pm on weekdays.
On designated routes 'school services' will operate on an every other bus basis. TfL asks that schoolchildren travelling without adults use the designated 'school services' where these are provided, to help ensure space for customers on other services.
Routes with extra buses being provided:
20, 33, 50, 57, 60, 89, 97, 108, 110, 116, 117, 119, 122, 130, 138, 142, 152, 153, 162, 166, 167, 170, 181, 186, 187, 195, 201, 203, 206, 215, 216, 223, 225, 226, 228, 232, 233, 234, 251, 255, 256, 265, 269, 272, 273, 275, 280, 282, 287, 289, 290, 293, 294, 300, 309, 313, 315, 317, 322, 323, 324, 325, 331, 339, 346, 352, 353, 354, 355, 356, 358, 359, 360, 362, 367, 370, 372, 376, 377, 380, 382, 383, 386, 393, 394, 395, 396, 397, 398, 401, 405, 406, 407, 411, 412, 413, 418, 428, 434, 444, 455, 462, 463, 465, 470, 474, 481, 484, 487, 491, 492, 493, 496, 498, 499, A10, B11, B12, B13, B14, B15, B16, E5, E7, E10, E11, G1, H17, H18, H20, H25, H26, H28, K1, K3, K4, K5, P5, P12, P13, R1, R2, R3, R4, R6, R8, R68, S3, S4, U3, W5, W9, W16 and X26.
Plus school routes 601, 602, 603, 606, 608, 612, 613, 616, 617, 624, 626, 627, 628, 629, 631, 632, 635, 638, 639, 640, 642, 643, 646, 652, 653, 655, 656, 657, 661, 662, 663, 664, 665, 667, 669, 671, 674, 675, 677, 678, 679, 683, 684, 685, 686, 687, 688, 689, 690, 692, 696, 697, 698, 699
Routes with school priority buses running between 7.30am and 9.00am (* denotes until 9.30am):
1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 18, 21, 25, 33, 34*, 35, 36, 39, 41, 44, 46, 47, 51, 53, 54, 55, 57, 58, 60, 61, 63, 64*, 65, 66, 68, 70, 71, 80, 81, 83, 85, 86, 87, 92, 93, 95, 96*, 97*, 99, 102, 103, 108, 109, 111*, 112, 113, 114, 115, 118, 120, 121, 123*, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 131, 132, 133, 134, 136, 137, 140*, 143, 144, 145, 147, 150, 151, 154, 155*, 157, 159, 160, 161, 162, 163, 164. 165, 170, 172, 174, 176, 177, 180, 184, 185, 188, 190, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195, 197, 198, 199, 200, 202, 204, 207, 212, 213, 217, 219, 220, 221*, 222, 226, 227, 229*, 231, 235, 236, 237, 244, 247, 248, 249*, 250, 251, 256, 257, 258, 262, 263*, 267, 270, 271, 276, 279*, 283, 284, 285, 288, 296, 299, 301, 307, 312, 316, 319, 320, 321, 326, 329, 330, 332, 333, 337, 343, 344, 357, 358, 363, 364, 366, 371, 379, 380, 381, 391, 393, 410, 417, 419, 422, 425, 427, 428, 430, 432, 433, 440, 450, 452, 453, 466, 468, 469, 472, 473, 483, 484, 486, 490, 493, 607, B12, C10, C11, D6, E1, E2, E6, E8, E9, EL1, EL2, EL3, H10, H12, H19, H22, H37, H91, H98, K2, K3, P4, R11, R70, S1, U1, U2, U4, U5, W3, W4, W6, W7, W8, W11, W13, W15 and W19.
Routes with school priority buses running between 2.30pm and 4.30pm:
25, 33, 39, 41, 46, 51, 54, 58, 61, 65, 80, 81, 92, 93, 95, 96, 110, 111, 112, 114, 120, 123, 124, 125, 126, 131, 132, 140, 143, 144, 147, 152, 154, 157, 162, 163, 164, 165, 170, 184, 190, 192, 193, 200, 208, 213, 217, 221, 227, 229, 234, 235, 237, 238, 244, 248, 256, 261, 267, 270, 276, 279, 281, 284, 296, 307, 316, 320, 326, 358, 364, 366, 371, 410, 419, 427, 433, 440, 444, 450, 469, 472, 490, 493, 607, C11, D6, E6, EL1, EL2, EL3, H10, H12, H19, H22, H37, H98, K2, K3, P4, R11, R70, S1, U1, U2, W3, W4, W6, W8, W13, W16 and W19.
Timetable changes - December 5 2020
While these changes have already happened, we wanted to remind you as they've only just taken place.
The following routes have been affected : 63, 120, 185, 192, 226, 245, 260, 360, 363, 460, 507, P5, P12, R7 and S4
Route 63 has a new timetable on all days with revised journey times to better reflect traffic conditions along the route.
A temporary timetable has been introduced on route 120 until further notice due to various roadworks in the Southall area. The frequency has been widened to ten minutes during the AM and PM peak on Monday to Fridays, every 11 minutes during the daytime on Monday to Saturdays, every 13 minutes during the daytime on Sundays and every 16 minutes during the evening on all days of the week.
The temporary timetable on route 185 has been removed with the frequency of the service restored to run every eight minutes during the AM peak, midday and PM peak periods on Monday to Fridays and during the daytime on Saturdays and to every 12 minutes during the daytime on Sundays.
Route 192 has a new timetable on all days with revised journey times to better reflect traffic conditions along the route.
A temporary timetable has been introduced on route 226 until March 2021 due to roadworks in Cricklewood. The frequency has been widened to every 13 minutes during the AM peak, midday and PM peak periods on Monday to Fridays and during the daytime on Saturdays and to every 21 minutes during the daytime on Sundays and the evening on all days of the week.
A temporary timetable has been introduced on route 245 until March 2021 due to roadworks in Cricklewood. The frequency has been widened to nine minutes during the AM peak, midday and PM peak periods on Monday to Fridays and during the daytime on Saturdays and to every 13 minutes during the daytime on Sundays and the evening on all days of the week.
A temporary timetable has been introduced on route 260 until March 2021 due to roadworks in Cricklewood. The frequency has been widened to 13 minutes during the AM peak, midday and PM peak periods on Monday to Fridays and during the daytime on Saturdays and to every 16 minutes during the daytime on Sundays and the evening on all days of the week.
The temporary timetable on route 360 has been removed with the frequency of the service restored to run every 12 minutes during the AM peak, midday and PM peak periods on Monday to Fridays and during the daytime on Saturdays and to every 15 minutes during the daytime on Sundays.
Route 363 has a new timetable on all days with revised journey times to better reflect traffic conditions along the route.
A temporary timetable has been introduced on route 460 until March 2021 due to roadworks in Cricklewood. The frequency has been widened to 13 minutes during the AM peak, midday and PM peak periods on Monday to Fridays and during the daytime on Saturdays and to every 16 minutes during the daytime on Sundays and the evening on all days of the week.
The temporary timetable on route 507 has been removed with the frequency of the service restored to run every 4 minutes during the AM peak and PM peak periods on Monday to Fridays, every 6 minutes during the daytime on Monday to Fridays and to every 12 minutes during the daytime on Saturdays and Sundays.
A temporary timetable has been introduced on route P5 to help with reliability due to the impact of various social distancing schemes that have been introduced at various locations along the route. The frequency has been widened to 16 minutes during the AM peak, midday and PM peak periods on Monday to Fridays and during the afternoons only on Saturdays.
Route P12 has a new timetable on all days with revised journey times to better reflect traffic conditions along the route.
Route R7 is now operated by Go Ahead London from this date with no change to the timetable.
Route S4 has a new timetable on Monday to Saturdays with revised journey times to better reflect traffic conditions along the route.
Route 153 extended to Liverpool Street
Routes Affected : 153
From Saturday December 5 route 153 will be extended from Moorgate, Finsbury Square to Liverpool Street Bus Station.
It will be extended from Moorgate, Finsbury Square via Moorgate, South Place, Eldon Street, Blomfield Street, London Wall and Old Broad Street terminating at Liverpool Street Bus Station. Buses will return to Finsbury Park via Old Broad Street, London Wall and Moorgate to current route.
Route 153 will continue to run every 12 minutes during the daytime on all days of the week and every 20 minutes during the evening.
Timetable changes - December 12 2020
The following routes have been affected: 7, 18, 28, 49, 56, 70, 96, 345, 422, 533, N7, N18 and N28
Route 7 will have a new timetable on all days with revised journey times to better reflect traffic conditions along the route.
The temporary timetable on route 18 will be removed with the frequency of the service restored to run every five minutes during the AM peak, midday and PM peak periods on Monday to Fridays and during the daytime on Saturdays, every six to seven minutes during the daytime on Sundays and every eight minutes during the evening on all days of the week.
The curtailment of route 28 to Westbourne Park Bus Garage will finish following completion of safety improvement works on Harrow Road with buses returning to running between Kensal Rise Station and Wandsworth Town Centre.
The temporary timetable on route 49 will be removed with the frequency of the service restored to run every seven to eight minutes during the PM peak period on Monday to Fridays and during the afternoon on Saturdays.
The temporary timetable on route 56 will be removed with the frequency of the service restored to run every six to seven minutes during the AM peak, midday and PM peak periods on Monday to Fridays and during the daytime on Saturdays.
The temporary timetable on route 70 will be removed with the frequency of the service restored to run every ten minutes during the AM peak, midday and PM peak periods on Monday to Fridays and during the daytime on Saturdays and to every 15 minutes during the daytime on Sundays and the evening on all days of the week.
A temporary timetable will be introduced on route 96 until April 2021 due to roadworks on Wickham Lane. The frequency will be widened to eight to nine minutes during the AM peak, midday and PM peak periods on Monday to Fridays and during the daytime on Saturdays and to every 12-13 minutes during the daytime on Sundays.
The temporary timetable on route 345 will be removed with the frequency of the service restored to run every eight to nine minutes during the PM peak period on Monday to Fridays and during the afternoon on Saturdays.
A temporary timetable will be introduced on route 422 until April 2021 due to roadworks on Wickham Lane. The frequency will be widened to 11 minutes during the AM peak, midday and PM peak periods on Monday to Fridays and during the daytime on Saturdays and to every 13 minutes during the daytime on Sundays.
Route 533 will be increased in frequency to a bus every ten minutes in the AM and PM peak on Monday to Fridays and to every 12 minutes during the daytime on all days of the week. The evening frequency on all days of the week will remain at every 15 minutes.
Route N7 will have a new timetable on all nights of the week with revised journey times to better reflect traffic conditions along the route.
Route N18 will have a new timetable on all nights of the week with revised journey times to better reflect traffic conditions along the route.
Route N28 will have a new timetable on all nights of the week with revised journey times to better reflect traffic conditions along the route.
Stop change at Staines Bus Station
Route Affected: 216
From Saturday December 12 route 216 will pick up from bus stop 4 in Staines Bus Station. There will be no change to the timetable of route 216.
Route change at Tottenham Court Road
Routes Affected: 19, 38, N19, N38 and N41
From Saturday December 12 routes 19, 38, N19, N38 and N41 will be rerouted southbound only via New Oxford Street and Charing Cross Road instead of via St Giles High Street.
Buses on routes 19, 38, N19, N38 and N41 will serve stop X on New Oxford Street providing better interchange with other bus services in the area and to Tottenham Court Road Station.
There will be no change to the frequency of routes 19, 38, N19, N38 and N41.
Timetable changes - December 19 2020
Routes Affected: 272, 440, E3 and H91
The temporary timetable on route 272 will be removed with the frequency of the service restored to run every 15 minutes during the AM, Daytime and PM peak periods on Monday to Fridays and during the daytime on Saturdays.
The temporary timetable on route 440 will be removed with the frequency of the service restored to run every 15 minutes during the AM, Daytime and PM peak periods on Monday to Fridays and during the daytime on Saturdays.
The temporary timetable on route E3 will be removed with the frequency of the service restored to run every eight to nine minutes during the AM, Daytime and PM peak periods on Monday to Fridays and during the daytime on Saturdays.
The temporary timetable on route H91 will be removed with the frequency of the service restored to run every ten minutes during the AM, Daytime and PM peak periods on Monday to Fridays and during the daytime on Saturdays.
New set down stop at London Bridge Bus Station
Route Affected : 17
From Saturday December 19 route 17 will be extended at London Bridge to set down at bus stop D at London Bridge Bus Station. There will be no change to the timetable.
Hammersmith Bridge closure
Routes Affected: 33, 72, 209, 378, 419, 485, 533, N33 and N72
Hammersmith Bridge is currently closed to all users, including people walking and cycling, for safety reasons.
Routes 33, 209 and 485 continue to terminate at the junction of Castelnau and Lonsdale Road to the south of Hammersmith Bridge. Route 72 continues to terminate on the north side of Hammersmith Bridge.
To help provide additional journeys to and from Hammersmith Station from the south side of the bridge route 533 will be increased in frequency from Saturday December 12 with a bus every 10 minutes in the AM and PM peak on Monday to Fridays and every 12 minutes during the daytime on all days of the week. The evening frequency on all days of the week will remain at a bus every 15 minutes.
Route 378 has already been increased to run every seven to eight minutes on Monday to Saturdays and every ten minutes during the evening and all day on Sundays between Mortlake, Barnes and Putney Bridge Station. Route 209 continues to operate between Mortlake, Barnes and Hammersmith Bridge south side every 15 minutes on Monday to Saturdays and every 20 minutes during the evening and all day on Sundays.
Route 419 continues to operate between Richmond, Mortlake, Hammersmith Bridge south side, Barnes and Roehampton every 12 minutes on Monday to Saturdays and every 20 minutes during the evening and all day on Sundays.
Route N33 will continue to be diverted between Barnes, Red Lion and Hammersmith Bus Station via Lower Richmond Road, Putney Bridge and Fulham Palace Road.
Route N72 will continue to be diverted between Barnes Station and Hammersmith Bus Station via Lower Richmond Road, Putney Bridge and Fulham Palace Road.
Social distancing closures
Routes Affected: 8, 11, 12, 15, 17, 25, 26, 37, 44, 60, 63, 65, 71, 78, 85, 109, 119, 133, 166, 197, 281, 312, 343, 363, 405, 406, 407, 412, 418, 433, 455, 465, 466, 468, 521, 671, C1, C10, K4, P12, P13, N8, N11, N15, N25, N26, N63, N65, N68, N109, N133, N199, N242, N250, N343 and N551.
Threadneedle Street is closed eastbound with routes 8, 11, 26, N8, N11, N26 and N242 diverted between Bank and Liverpool Street via Lombard Street, King William Street, Gracechurch Street and Bishopsgate until further notice. Routes 133 and N133 is diverted in both directions between Monument and Liverpool Street via Gracechurch Street, Bishopsgate and Wormwood Street. Route N551 towards Trafalgar Square is diverted from Camomile Street via Bishopsgate and Threadneedle Street to Bank and towards Gallions Reach buses are diverted from Bank via Princes Street, Moorgate, South Place, Eldon Street and Blomfield Street to London Wall.
Cheapside is closed in both directions between Bank and St Paul's with routes 8, 25, N8, N25 and N242 diverted via Queen Victoria Street, Cannon Street and New Change until further notice.
Rye Lane in Peckham is closed in both directions with routes 12, 37, 63, 78, 197, 343, 363, P12, N63 and N343 diverted via Copeland Road, Consort Road and Clayton Road until further notice. Route P13 is diverted via Lyndhurst Way, Peckham Road and Peckham High Street.
Cannon Street is closed westbound with routes 15, 17, 521, N15 and N199 diverted between Monument and Mansion House via King William Street, Lombard Street and Queen Victoria Street until further notice.
Routes 44, C1 and C10 are currently starting from stop JA on Victoria Street at Victoria Station and will not serve bus stop R on Buckingham Palace Road.
Park Street in Croydon is closed eastbound with routes 60, 109, 433, 455, 468, N68, N109 and N250 towards West or East Croydon diverted via Katharine Street and Park Lane. Buses will not serve stop KE on Park Street and will use stop KC on Park Lane instead.
Katharine Street in Croydon is part closed westbound with routes 60, 119, 166, 312, 405, 407, 412, 455, 466, 468 and N68 diverted via Fell Road, Park Lane Roundabout and Edridge Road.
Eden Street in Kingston is closed southbound with routes 65, 71, 85, 281, 406, 418, 465, 671, K4 and N65 diverted via Wheatfield Way and Ashdown Road.
Newgate Street closure
Routes Affected: 8, 25, 56, 521, N8, N25, N242
Newgate Street is closed between Old Bailey and King Edward Street in both directions. Routes 8, 25, N8, N25 and N242 are diverted between Bank and Holborn Circus via Queen Victoria Street, Cannon Street, Mansion House Station, St Paul's Cathedral, Ludgate Hill, Ludgate Circus, Farringdon Street and Charterhouse Street to Holborn Circus.
Route 521 is diverted between Mansion House Station and Holborn Circus via St Paul's Cathedral, Ludgate Hill, Ludgate Circus, Farringdon Street and Charterhouse Street to Holborn Circus.
Route 56 is currently curtailed to run between Whipps Cross and St Paul's Station only.
Newgate Street is due to reopen on January 16, 2021.
Northwick Park Hospital - Bus stop changes
Routes Affected: 186, H9, H10
Due to roadworks within the grounds of Northwick Park Hospital route 186 will now start and finish at bus stop HV at the Accident & Emergency department. Bus stop HU opposite the Hospital Social Club will be served towards Brent Cross only.
Routes H9 & H10 will use bus stop HU opposite the Hospital Social Club and no longer serve bus stop HV at the Accident & Emergency department.
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