London Night Buses Since 1984

London’s traditional Night Bus network was once small, infrequent and little used. That changed from April 1984 when London Transport expanded the network to serve more districts and increased service frequencies. Subsequent social changes increased demand for Night Bus travel, causing the network to grow exponentially.

The introduction of weekend Night Tube services reduced demand for some routes and the 2020 pandemic caused passenger numbers to fall, but Transport for London’s Night Bus network still remains extensive. The development of London’s Night Bus network, from around sixty buses a night in early 1984 to nearly 800 buses on weekend nights in 2021, is recounted in this book.

Themed picture galleries, using previously unpublished images, illustrate routes, operators and most bus types used over a thirty-five-year period. Philip Wallis is the foremost authority on the development of London’s Night Buses, having spent over twenty years studying, riding and photographing Night Buses in the capital.