London Bus Route 21

at 03.10.34	Q	5ST	5ST	--
	SP	24ST	21ST	15ST
	TL	15ST	24ST	12ST
	WG	--	--	8ST

TURNPIKE LANE STATION - Green Lanes - Manor House - Newington Green - Hoxton - Old Street Stn - Moorgate - Bank - London Bridge - Borough - Great Dover Street - Bricklayers Arms - Old Kent Road - New Cross - Lewisham - Lee - Eltham - Sidcup - Foots Cray - Birchwood Corner - Swanley - FARNINGHAM Bull


Click here for Central London section
Taken from 1934 map drawn by Mike Harris busmap.co.uk

05.06.35	P	--	--	6ST
	Q	5ST	5ST	--
	SP	24LT	23LT	12LT
	TL	15ST	22ST	27ST
	WG	--	--	9ST

TURNPIKE LANE - FARNINGHAM
Sunday Old Kent Road (P) added

11.08.35	Q	5ST	5ST	--
	SP	24LT	23LT	15LT
	TL	15ST	22ST	27ST
	WG	--	--	9ST

TURNPIKE LANE - FARNINGHAM
Sunday only Old Kent Road (P) withdrawn

11.09.35	Q	--	5ST	--
	SP	25LT	23LT	6LT
	TL	15ST	22ST	27ST
	WG	--	--	9ST

TURNPIKE LANE - FARNINGHAM
Mon-Fri Camberwell (Q) withdrawn

02.10.35	P	--	5ST	--
	SP	25LT	23LT	6LT
	TL	15ST	22ST	27ST
	WG	--	--	9ST

TURNPIKE LANE - FARNINGHAM
Saturday only Camberwell (Q) allocation moved to Old Kent Road (P)

29.04.36	P	--	5ST	--
	SP	21LT 18ST	21LT 20ST	9LT
	TL	--	--	20ST
	WG	--	4ST	14ST

TURNPIKE LANE - FARNINGHAM
Mon-Sat Catford (TL) withdrawn - Sidcup (SP) increased to compensate
Saturday West Green (WG) added

09.12.36	P	--	5ST	--
	SP	39LT	44LT	16LT
	TL	--	--	15STL
	WG	3ST	4ST	11ST

TURNPIKE LANE - FARNINGHAM
Mon-Fri West Green (WG) added

08.09.37	P	--	5ST	--
	SP	39LT	44LT	21LT
	TL	--	--	22STL
	WG	--	4ST	22ST

TURNPIKE LANE - FARNINGHAM
Mon-Fri West Green (WG) withdrawn

06.10.37	SP	43LT	44LT	15LT
	TL	--	--	21STL
	WG	--	4ST	21ST

TURNPIKE LANE - FARNINGHAM
Saturday only Old Kent Road (P) withdrawn

22.11.39	SP	17LT	17LT	11LT
	WG	14LT	14LT	11LT

TURNPIKE LANE STN ( except evenings ) - WELL HALL STATION ( evenings ) - FARNINGHAM
Withdrawn evenings between Eltham and Turnpike Lane
Mon-Fri West Green (WG) reintroduced
Sunday only Catford (TL) withdrawn

03.01.40	P	--	8LT	--
	SP	19LT	20LT	11LT
	TL	8ST	--	--
	WG	14LT	14LT	11LT

TURNPIKE LANE STN ( except evenings ) - WELL HALL STATION ( evenings ) - FARNINGHAM
Mon-Fri Catford (TL) reintroduced
Saturday Old Kent Road (P) reintroduced

20.03.40	P	--	8LT	--
	SP	19LT	20LT	7LT
	TL	8ST	--	8STL
	WG	14LT	14LT	14LT

TURNPIKE LANE STN ( Mon-Sat except evenings / Sunday ) - WELL HALL STATION (Mon-Sat evenings ) - FARNINGHAM
Sunday evening service reinstated between Eltham and Turnpike Lane
Sunday Catford (TL) allocation introduced

The Saturday times plus full Farningham service can be obtained from the March 1940 Red Book obained from my store

15.05.40	P	8LT+	15LT	--
		2LT/53A
	SP	22LT	20LT	7LT
	TL	--	--	8STL
	WG	12LT	12LT	14LT

TURNPIKE LANE STATION - FARNINGHAM
Mon-Sat evening service reinstated between Eltham and Turnpike Lane
Mon-Fri Catford (TL) allocation replaced by Old Kent Road (P)

07.11.40	P	8LT	14LT	7LT
	SP	14LT 7PROV	19LT	9LT
Express	SP	12LT	5LT/ 7PROV	--
	WG	11LT	12LT	9LT

TURNPIKE LANE STATION - FARNINGHAM
Express section introduced using provincial buses between Well Hall and London Bridge Mon-Sat peaks
Sunday Old Kent Road (P) allocation introduced

20.11.40	P	8LT	14LT	7LT
	SP	14LT 7PROV	19LT	9LT
Express	SP	12LT	5LT/ 7PROV	--
	WG	11LT	12LT	9LT

TURNPIKE LANE STN ( except evenings ) - WELL HALL STATION ( evenings ) - FARNINGHAM
Withdrawn evenings between Eltham and Turnpike Lane

19.03.41	P	8LT	14LT	7LT
	SP	14LT 7PROV	19LT	9LT
	WG	11LT	12LT	9LT

TURNPIKE LANE STN ( except evenings ) - WELL HALL STATION ( evenings ) - FARNINGHAM
Express service withdrawn

02.04.41	P	9LT	14LT	7LT
	SP	23LT 6ST	17LT 6ST	14LT
Mon-Sat SP allocation joint with 21A
	WG	11LT	12LT	7LT

TURNPIKE LANE STN ( except evenings ) - WELL HALL STATION ( evenings ) - FARNINGHAM
Mon-Sat SP allocation now joint with 21A

14.05.41	P	9LT	14LT	7LT
	SP	23LT 6ST	17LT 6ST	14LT
Mon-Sat SP allocation joint with 21A
	WG	11LT	12LT	7LT

TURNPIKE LANE STATION - FARNINGHAM
Evening service reinstated between Eltham and Turnpike Lane

29.10.41	P	13LT	16LT	7LT
	SP	26LT	22LT	9LT
Mon-Sat SP allocation joint with 21A
	WG	8LT	9LT	7LT

TURNPIKE LANE STN ( except evenings ) - WELL HALL STATION ( evenings ) - FARNINGHAM
Withdrawn evenings between Eltham and Turnpike Lane

25.03.42	P	11LT+	16LT	8LT
		1LT/53A
	SP	26LT	22LT	13LT
Mon-Sat SP allocation joint with 21A
	WG	8LT	9LT	6LT

TURNPIKE LANE STN ( Mon-Sat except evenings / Sunday ) - WELL HALL STATION (Mon-Sat evenings ) - FARNINGHAM
Sunday evening service reinstated between Eltham and Turnpike Lane

22.04.42	P	14LT	18LT	8LT
	SP	16LT	24LT	13LT
Mon-Sat SP allocation joint with 21A
	WG	--	--	6LT

TURNPIKE LANE STN (Sunday ) -FINSBURY SQUARE (Mon-Sat ) - FARNINGHAM
Mon-Sat withdrawn between Finsbury Square and Turnpike Lane
Mon-Sat West Green (WG) withdrawn

28.10.42	P	15LT	18LT	5LT
	SP	25LT	24LT	10LT
Mon-Sat SP allocation joint with 21A

MOORGATE Finsbury Square ( Mon-Sat ) - LEWISHAM ( Sunday except evenings ) - WELL HALL STATION ( Sun evgs ) - FARNINGHAM
Sunday withdrawn between Lewisham and Turnpike Lane and further withdrawn between Well Hall and Lewisham Sunday evgs
Sunday only West Green (WG) withdrawn

21.04.43	P	17LT	18LT	5LT
	SP	21LT	24LT	10LT
Mon-Sat SP allocation joint with 21A

FINSBURY SQUARE (Mon-Sat ) -LEWISHAM (Sunday) - FARNINGHAM
Sunday evenings reinstated between Eltham and Lewisham

27.10.43	P	13LT	14LT	--
	SP	21LT	19LT	11LT
Mon-Sat SP allocation joint with 21A

FINSBURY SQUARE (Mon-Sat ) -WELL HALL STATION (Sunday) - SIDCUP GARAGE ( Sun am ) - FARNINGHAM ( Mon-Sat / Sun pm )
Sunday withdrawn between Eltham and Lewisham and also withdrawn Sun am between Sidcup Garage ad Farningham
Sunday Old Kent Road (P) withdrawn


Taken from March 1944 Red Book

15.07.45	P	18LT	17LT	--
	SP	17LT	17LT	11LT
Mon-Sat SP allocation joint with 21A

FINSBURY SQUARE (Mon-Sat ) -WELL HALL STATION (Sunday) - FARNINGHAM
Sunday reinstated Sun am between Sidcup Garage and Farningham

13.04.49	P	18RT	17RT	--
	SP	7RTL	17RTL	16RTL

FINSBURY SQUARE (Mon-Sat ) -WELL HALL STATION (Sunday) - FARNINGHAM
RT and RTL type introduced

RTL5 (SP) at Well Hall ready for a jouney into the Kent countryside complete with
war restricted blind layout and offiside Route plate

Part of Jeff Lloyd collection

06.07.52	NX(PM)	--	8RT	16RT
	P	18RT	19RT	--
	SP	9RTL	9RTL	14RTL

TRAM REPLACEMENT PROGRAM
MOORGATE - LONDON BRIDGE (Suns) - FARNINGHAM Bull
Sunday Route extended from Eltham to London Bridge
New Cross allocation introduced at weekends although buses were stabled at Peckham.

22.10.52	NX(PM)	--	8RT	--
	P	18RT	19RT	10RT
	SP	9RTL	9RTL	9RTL

MOORGATE - LONDON BRIDGE (Suns) - FARNINGHAM Bull
Sunday New Cross allocation transferred to Old Kent Road (P)

06.05.53	NX	--	8RT	--
	P	18RT	19RT	10RT
	SP	9RTL	9RTL	14RTL

MOORGATE - LONDON BRIDGE (Suns) - FARNINGHAM Bull
New Cross buses now stabled at home.

RT3479 at the Finsbury Square stand waiting for a journey deep into the SE suburbs - a journey only possible now with a change at New Cross

04.05.55	NX	--	8RT	--
	P	18RT	19RT	12RT
	SP	9RT	9RT	17RT

MOORGATE - LONDON BRIDGE (Suns) - FARNINGHAM Bull
RTL type replaced by RT at Sidcup Garage (SP)

Journeys were extended from Farningham to Brands Hatch on race days only - RT3013 is a rare shot of one such journey

27.06.56	NX	17RT	25RT	16RT
	SP	9RT	11RT	14RT

MOORGATE - LONDON BRIDGE (Suns) - FARNINGHAM Bull
Old Kent Road (P) allocation withdrawn in favour of increased New Cross (NX).

17.10.56	NX	17RT	23RT	10RT
	SP	6RT	9RT	9RT

MOORGATE (Mon-Sat) - LONDON BRIDGE (Suns) - SIDCUP GARAGE (Mon-Sat) - FARNINGHAM Bull (Suns)
Mon-Sat withdrawn between Sidcup and Farningham - replaced by 21A.


Scanned from April 1958 Red Book - the complete book is available from the Sales List

10.10.62	NX	17RT	13RT	--
	SP	8RT	17RT	15RT

MOORGATE (Mon-Sat) - LONDON BRIDGE (Suns) - SIDCUP GARAGE (Mon-Fri) - FARNINGHAM Bull (Sat/Sun)
Sat re-introduced between Sidcup and Farningham
Sunday New Cross allocation withdrawn.

18.11.64	NX	20RT	11RT	--
	SP	8RT	15RT	15RT

MOORGATE (Mon-Sat am) - LONDON BRIDGE (Sat pm/Suns) - SIDCUP GARAGE (Mon-Fri) - FARNINGHAM Bull (Sat/Sun)
Sat pm withdrawn between London Bridge and Moorgate.

15.06.68	NX	22RT	15RT	--
	SP	15RT	13RT	8RT

MOORGATE (Mon-Sat am) - LONDON BRIDGE (Sat pm/Suns) - SIDCUP GARAGE
Withdrawn between Sidcup and Farningham.

30.01.71	NX	17RT	7RT	--
	SP	16RT	8RT	6RT

MOORGATE (Mon-Fri) - LONDON BRIDGE (Sats) - NEW CROSS GARAGE (Suns) - SIDCUP GARAGE
Sat withdrawn between London Bridge and Moorgate and Sunday withdrawn between New Cross and London Bridge.

28.05.72	NX	17RT	10RT	--
	SP	13RT+	6RT	6RT
		1RT/51 1RT/229

MOORGATE (Mon-Fri) - LONDON BRIDGE (Sats) - NEW CROSS GARAGE (Suns) - SIDCUP GARAGE
Diverted at Eltham to run via Southend Crescent instead of Foots Cray Road

RT4619 Well Hall

busmap.co.uk

01.03.75	NX	18RM	10RM	--
	SP51+	13RM	6RM	6RM

MOORGATE (Mon-Fri) - LONDON BRIDGE (Sats) - NEW CROSS GARAGE (Suns) - SIDCUP GARAGE
Routemaster operation introduced.

RM311 Sidcup Garage

busmap.co.uk

28.10.78	NX201+	12RM	6RM	--
	SP51+	19RM	10RM	6RM

MOORGATE (Mon-Sat) - NEW CROSS GARAGE (Suns) - SIDCUP GARAGE
Sat re-introduced between London Bridge and Moorgate.

27.09.80	NX201+	12RM	6RM	--
	SP51+	19RM	10RM	8RM

MOORGATE (Mon-Sat) - LONDON BRIDGE (Suns) - SIDCUP GARAGE
Suns extended from New Cross to London Bridge.

04.09.82	NX201+	5RM	--	--
	SP51+	24RM	13RM	8RM

MOORGATE (Mon-Sat) - LONDON BRIDGE (Suns) - SIDCUP GARAGE
Part Mon-Fri and all Sat New Cross allocation transferred to Sidcup Garage.

04.02.84	NX201+	5RM	--	--
	SP51+	24RM	13RM	8RM

MOORGATE (Mon-Sat) - LONDON BRIDGE (Suns) - SIDCUP GARAGE - SWANLEY GARAGE (Mon-Fri early am journeys)
Mon-Fri journeys projected from Sidcup to Swanley

03.06.84	NX201+	5RM	--	--
	SP51+	24RM	13RM	8Tc

MOORGATE (Mon-Sat) - LONDON BRIDGE (Suns) - SIDCUP GARAGE - SWANLEY GARAGE (Mon-Fri early am journeys)
Sunday converted to Titan crew operation.

27.04.85	NX201+	9RM	--	--
	SP51+	16RM	14RM	8Tc

MOORGATE (Mon-Fri) - LONDON BRIDGE (Sat/Sun) - SIDCUP GARAGE - SWANLEY GARAGE ( Mon-Fri am journeys from Swanley only )
Sat withdrawn between Moorgate and London Bridge.
Sun converted to Titan crew operation.

01.02.86	NX201+	11T	7T	--
	SP51+	16T	11T	13T

MOORGATE (Mon-Fri) - LONDON BRIDGE (Sat/Sun) - SIDCUP GARAGE - SWANLEY GARAGE ( Mon-Fri am journeys from Swanley only )
Converted to One Person Operation.

16.01..88

NX201+

23L/T

15L/T

7L/T

MOORGATE (Mon-Fri) - LONDON BRIDGE (Sat/Sun) - FOOTS CRAY - SWANLEY GARAGE (Mon-Fri am journey)
Sidcup garage closure - all buses now allocated at New Cross.

23.07.88

NX201+

23L/T

15L/T

7L/T

MOORGATE (Mon-Fri) - LONDON BRIDGE (Sat/Sun) - FOOTS CRAY - FOOTS CRAY Tesco (Sat shopping hours) - SWANLEY GARAGE (Mon-Fri am journey)
Sat shopping hours extended from Foots Cray to Sidcup Tesco

08.08.88

NX201+

23L/T

15L/T

7L/T

MOORGATE (Mon-Fri) - LONDON BRIDGE (Sat/Sun) - FOOTS CRAY - FOOTS CRAY Tesco(Mon-Sat shopping hours) - SWANLEY GARAGE (Mon-Fri am journey)
Mon-Fri shopping hours extended from Foots Cray to Sidcup Tesco

T923 Eltham High Street almost opposite Foots Cray Road

19.01.89

NX191+

23L/T

15L/T

7L/T

MOORGATE (Mon-Fri) - LONDON BRIDGE (Sat/Sun) - FOOTS CRAY - FOOTS CRAY Tesco(Mon-Sat shopping hours) - SWANLEY GARAGE (Mon-Fri am journey) - WEST KINGSDOWN (Mon-Fri am journey towards Moorgate)
Mon-Fri West Kingsdown journey introduced.

18.07.92

NX191+

24L/T

15L/T

7L/T

MOORGATE (Mon-Fri) - LONDON BRIDGE (Sat/Sun) - FOOTS CRAY - FOOTS CRAY Tesco (Daily shopping hours) - SWANLEY GARAGE (Mon-Fri am journeys) - WEST KINGSDOWN (Mon-Fri am journey towards Moorgate)
Sunday shopping Route introduced to SIDCUP Tesco

L41 Finsbury Square

02.01.93

NX191+

24L/T

15L/T

7L/T

MOORGATE (Mon-Fri) - LONDON BRIDGE (Sat/Sun) - AVERY HILL Crown Woods School (SDO journey) - FOOTS CRAY - FOOTS CRAY Tesco(Daily shopping hours) - SWANLEY GARAGE (Mon-Fri am journeys) - WEST KINGSDOWN (Mon-Fri am journey towards Moorgate)
Avery Hill SDO journey added.

22.09.94

NX191+

24L/T

15L/T

7L/T

	London Central purchased by Go-Ahead

08.11.97

NX191+

14dd

8dd

7dd

LEWISHAM Riverdale Centre - LONDON BRIDGE STATION (Sat/Sun) - FINSBURY SQUARE (Mon-Fri)
Withdrawn between Lewisham and Swanley/West Kingsdown.
Withdrawn section covered by new low floor single deck Route 321.

27.02.98

NX191+

14NV

8NV

7NV

LEWISHAM Riverdale Centre - LONDON BRIDGE STATION (Sat/Sun) - FINSBURY SQUARE (Mon-Fri)
Converted to all NV


Lewisham section
Taken from 1999 map drawn by Mike Harris busmap.co.uk

	NV75 Lewisham Centre

12.10.02

NX191+

17NV

15NV

10NV

LEWISHAM Riverdale Centre -FINSBURY SQUARE
Saturday and Sunday extended from London Bridge to Moorgate

NV58 was one of the buses painted gold to celebrate the Queens Jubilee - seen here at Finsbury Square

22.02.03

NX191+

17PVL

15PVL

10PVL

LEWISHAM Riverdale Centre -FINSBURY SQUARE
Fully converted to low floor operation

PVL183 one of a group nicknamed the Letter Box PVL because of the blind aperture

14.01.06

NX191+

20PVL

18PVL

12PVL

LEWISHAM Riverdale Centre - NEWINGTON GREEN
Extended via Route 141 from Moorgate to Newington Green.

PVL208 waits to leave the Baring Street stop in Hoxton

August 2008

NX191+

21PVL

18PVL

12PVL

	Go-Ahead's London bus operations all adopted the Go-Ahead London trading name - although the individual company names are still applied beneath the logo.

10.10.09

NX191+

25WVL

22WVL

12WVL

LEWISHAM Riverdale Centre - NEWINGTON GREEN
Contract renewal

WVL294 Newington Green

11.10.14

NX191+

26WVL

22WVL

12WVL

LEWISHAM Riverdale Centre - NEWINGTON GREEN
Contract extended for two years

	WVL281 London Bridge

08.10.16

NX191+

27WVL

24WVL

13WVL

LEWISHAM Centre - NEWINGTON GREEN
Contract renewal

	WVL293 fitted with the new black & white blinds

05.12.16

NX191+

27LT

24LT

13LT

LEWISHAM Centre - NEWINGTON GREEN
Start of gradual conversion to LT type

09.10.21

NX191+

27LT

24LT

13LT

LEWISHAM Centre - NEWINGTON GREEN
Contract extended for two years

Srange visitor WHV42

27.11.21

NX191+

21LT

20LT

14LT

LEWISHAM Centre - NEWINGTON GREEN
Mon-Sat reduced PVR

04.02.23

NX191+

24LT

23LT

16LT

LEWISHAM Centre - HOLLOWAY Nags Head
Route 21 rerouted at New North Road via the current route 271 to Holloway Nags Head then left onto Camden Road to stand on the route 254 bus stand located outside City and Islington College. Buses will then depart via Camden Road, right Hilmarton Road, right Parkhurst Road, right Holloway Road then via current route 271 back to New North Road then onto current 21 back to Lewisham. Buses will set down at bus stop X (stop 33325) on Caledonian Road and pick up at bus stop L (stop 1289) on Parkhurst Road.

LT852 Old Kent Road, November 2023

07.10.23

NX191+

24LT

23LT

16LT

LEWISHAM Centre - HOLLOWAY Nags Head
Contract renewal

LT857 Old Kent Road, November 2023

======================================================================================================================================================

Operating Garages

NX New Cross
Changeover point outside garage.

SP Sidcup
Changeover point at garage

P Old Kent Road
Changeover point at garage

Q Camberwell
Changeover point not known

WG West Green
Changeover point at Turnpike Lane

TL Catford
Changeover point at Lewisham

Q Camberwell
Changeover point not known

Live visual

Route History

Operating Garages

Live visual