The 188 bus route towards North Greenwich runs from New Oxford Street to North Greenwich Station, serving major parts of central, south-east and east London including Holborn, Waterloo, Elephant & Castle, Bermondsey, Canada Water, Deptford and Greenwich. The direction covered in this guide has 49 listed stopping points, ending at North Greenwich Station, with a 24-hour Monday-to-Thursday service pattern that becomes most frequent between 06:00 and 23:00.
188 Bus Route Overview
The 188 bus route is an important London bus service operating as part of Transport for London’s public transport network.
In the direction covered in this guide, it provides a direct connection between New Oxford Street and North Greenwich Station, serving major Central and South-East London areas including Holborn, Aldwych, Waterloo, Elephant & Castle, Bermondsey, Canada Water, Surrey Quays, Deptford and Greenwich.
This route is useful for daily commuters, local residents, students, workers, shoppers and visitors who need a direct bus connection between Central London and North Greenwich without changing services.
Key Details of the 188 Bus Route:
| Detail | Information |
| Starting Point | New Oxford Street |
| Ending Point | North Greenwich Station |
| Total Stops | 49 stops towards North Greenwich |
| Major Locations Covered | Holborn, Aldwych, Waterloo, Elephant & Castle, Bermondsey, Canada Water, Surrey Quays, Deptford and Greenwich |
| Total Distance | About 10 miles (16 km) |
| Total Journey Time | Approximately 45 to 100 minutes, depending heavily on traffic, time of day and congestion |
| Operating Days | Runs daily |
| Main Daytime Frequency | Approximately every 8–12 minutes between 06:00 and 23:00 from Monday to Thursday, based on the timetable covered in this guide |
| Overnight Service | Available, with reduced frequency during the early hours |
| Starting Stop | New Oxford Street, Stop Z |
| Final Stop | North Greenwich Station, Stop E |
| Fare | Standard London bus fare, payable using accepted TfL payment methods and eligible travel passes |
What Are All the 188 Bus Stops Towards North Greenwich?
The complete stop sequence supplied for the 188 bus towards North Greenwich is listed below in travel order. Passengers should remember that temporary diversions, roadworks or operational changes can occasionally affect individual stops.
Complete List of 188 Bus Stops Towards North Greenwich
| No. | Bus stop | Stop code |
| 1 | New Oxford Street | Z |
| 2 | Museum Street | E |
| 3 | Kingsway / Holborn Station | M |
| 4 | Aldwych / Drury Lane | S |
| 5 | Waterloo Bridge / South Bank | N |
| 6 | Waterloo Station / Waterloo Road | E |
| 7 | The Old Vic | S |
| 8 | St George’s Circus | T |
| 9 | Elephant & Castle / London Road | E |
| 10 | Elephant & Castle / New Kent Road | K |
| 11 | Rodney Place | BA |
| 12 | Bricklayer’s Arms / New Kent Road | BC |
| 13 | Bricklayer’s Arms / Tower Bridge Road | BH |
| 14 | Grange Road / Caledonian Market | L |
| 15 | Abbey Street | M |
| 16 | Druid Street | E |
| 17 | Boss Street | S |
| 18 | Dockhead | H |
| 19 | Jamaica Road / Abbey Street | J |
| 20 | Bermondsey Station | D |
| 21 | Drummond Road | E |
| 22 | Southwark Park | F |
| 23 | Neptune Street / St Olaves Estate | S |
| 24 | Surrey Quays Road | Y |
| 25 | Canada Water Bus Station | B2 |
| 26 | Canada Street | W |
| 27 | Surrey Quays Leisure Park | G |
| 28 | Surrey Quays Station | L |
| 29 | Lower Road / Surrey Quays Station | M |
| 30 | Bestwood Street | S |
| 31 | Deptford Park School | T |
| 32 | Deptford Fire Station | V |
| 33 | Abinger Grove | W |
| 34 | Sayes Court Estate | E |
| 35 | Deptford High Street | C |
| 36 | Macmillan Students Village | D |
| 37 | Creekside | Z |
| 38 | Creek Road / Norman Road | Y |
| 39 | Greenwich Town Ctr / Cutty Sark Stn | A |
| 40 | Greenwich Town Centre / Cutty Sark | C |
| 41 | National Maritime Museum | F |
| 42 | Trafalgar Estate | S |
| 43 | Trafalgar Road / Maze Hill | H |
| 44 | King William Lane | K |
| 45 | Tyler Street | J |
| 46 | Pelton Road | C |
| 47 | Tunnel Avenue | MQ |
| 48 | Boord Street | MW |
| 49 | North Greenwich Station | E |
Which Major Transport Connections Are Available?
Several stops provide useful connections with other parts of London’s transport network.
Waterloo Station / Waterloo Road connects passengers with the Bakerloo, Jubilee, Northern and Waterloo & City Underground lines, as well as National Rail services.
Elephant & Castle provides connections with the Bakerloo and Northern lines and National Rail services.
Canada Water Bus Station connects with the Jubilee line and London Overground.
North Greenwich Station, the final stop in this direction, connects with the Jubilee line. Passengers should check current station information when planning an onward journey.
What Is the 188 Bus Timetable from New Oxford Street to North Greenwich?
The Monday-to-Thursday timetable supplied for New Oxford Street shows a 24-hour operating pattern, with individually listed overnight departures and a more frequent service during most of the day.
The official 188 bus timetable towards North Greenwich should be checked for the latest scheduled information before travelling, particularly when journey timing is important.
How Should Passengers Read the Monday-to-Thursday Timetable?
Where exact departure times are shown below, those are the scheduled departures supplied for New Oxford Street. Between 06:00 and 23:00, the timetable is presented as a frequency range rather than a minute-by-minute list.
| Time period | Scheduled departures from New Oxford Street |
| 00:00–01:00 | 00:06, 00:18, 00:30, 00:45 |
| 01:00–02:00 | 01:15, 01:45 |
| 02:00–03:00 | 02:15, 02:45 |
| 03:00–04:00 | 03:15, 03:45 |
| 04:00–05:00 | 04:15, 04:45 |
| 05:00–06:00 | 05:00, 05:15, 05:29, 05:41, 05:53 |
| 06:00–23:00 | Approximately every 8–12 minutes |
| 23:00–00:00 | 23:06, 23:18, 23:30, 23:42, 23:54 |
This timetable applies to the Monday-to-Thursday information supplied for New Oxford Street. It should not be assumed to represent Friday, Saturday, Sunday or public-holiday schedules.
Does the 188 Bus Run During the Night?
Yes. The supplied Monday-to-Thursday timetable contains departures throughout the night, including services after midnight and during the early hours.
After the four departures between midnight and 01:00, the service becomes less frequent. Buses are then listed at 01:15 and 01:45, followed by half-hourly-style departures at 15 and 45 minutes past the hour between 02:00 and 05:00.
Frequency begins to increase from 05:00. By the main daytime period between 06:00 and 23:00, the supplied schedule indicates a bus approximately every 8–12 minutes.
This distinction is important for passengers planning early-morning journeys. A service may operate throughout the night, but the waiting time at 03:00 can be significantly longer than during the daytime.
How Often Does the 188 Bus Run?
Based on the Monday-to-Thursday timetable supplied, route 188 towards North Greenwich is most frequent between 06:00 and 23:00, when services are scheduled approximately every 8–12 minutes.
The overnight service is less frequent:
- Four listed departures operate between 00:00 and 01:00.
- Two departures per hour are listed between 01:00 and 05:00.
- Five departures are listed between 05:00 and 06:00.
- The main daytime and evening period operates approximately every 8–12 minutes.
- Five late-evening departures are listed between 23:00 and midnight.
Actual waiting times can differ from the scheduled pattern because buses operate in real road conditions. Traffic congestion, incidents, road closures and temporary diversions can affect the time a bus reaches an individual stop.
Which Important Places Can Passengers Reach on the 188 Bus?
The route serves several areas that are useful for commuting, sightseeing, education and onward travel.
Passengers can use the route for Waterloo and the South Bank, with stops at Waterloo Bridge / South Bank and Waterloo Station / Waterloo Road.
The route also serves Elephant & Castle, before continuing towards Bermondsey and Canada Water, where passengers can connect with the Jubilee line and London Overground.
Further east, the bus serves Deptford and Greenwich, including stops near Cutty Sark and the National Maritime Museum, before continuing towards North Greenwich.
Because it crosses several transport hubs, the 188 can also form one part of a longer journey rather than being used from beginning to end.
How Can Passengers Check Live 188 Bus Arrivals?
Live arrivals should be treated differently from a published timetable. A timetable shows the planned service, while a live-arrival display estimates when buses are expected at a particular stop.
The information supplied included a live snapshot at New Oxford Street showing buses towards North Greenwich due in approximately 1, 10, 20 and 30 minutes. Another snapshot associated with North Greenwich showed estimated times of approximately 10, 15 and 27 minutes.
These figures should not be published as permanent expected waiting times. They were live snapshots captured at specific moments and will change continuously.
For an immediate journey, passengers should check current live arrivals shortly before leaving or while waiting at the stop.
How Long Does the Full 188 Bus Journey Take?
There is no single journey time that can be guaranteed for every 188 bus journey. The route crosses busy parts of central and south-east London, so the total travel time can vary according to traffic, time of day, roadworks, diversions and passenger demand.
A passenger travelling only between two neighbouring areas may need the bus for a relatively short journey, while someone travelling from New Oxford Street to North Greenwich will remain on the route for much longer.
For time-sensitive journeys, passengers should allow additional time and use current journey-planning information rather than relying only on a fixed estimate.
Are the 188 Bus Stops the Same in Both Directions?
Not necessarily. London bus routes can use different roads, bus stops or terminus arrangements depending on the direction of travel.
This article specifically covers route 188 towards North Greenwich, from New Oxford Street to North Greenwich Station. The reverse direction should be checked separately because its stop sequence and central London terminus information may differ.
This distinction helps prevent a common travel mistake: finding a stop served by route 188 but waiting on the wrong side of the road or at a stop used only by the opposite direction.
Have Any Changes to the 188 Bus Route Been Confirmed?
A previous proposal considered changes to the route in the North Greenwich area, but the latest published consultation update stated on 27 November 2025 that the proposed changes would not proceed at that time. The route-change consultation update also stated that any future bus-network change arising from those plans would be subject to further consultation.
Passengers should therefore distinguish between the current route, temporary diversions and historic proposals. A proposal is not the same as a confirmed permanent route change.
What Should Passengers Check Before Travelling?
Before starting a journey on the 188, passengers should confirm the direction of travel and the correct stop. Someone travelling towards North Greenwich should look for a destination display showing North Greenwich rather than assuming that every 188 bus at a nearby stop is travelling in the required direction.
It is also sensible to check:
- The current live arrival time.
- Any temporary diversion or disruption.
- The correct interchange stop for an onward journey.
- Whether a time-sensitive connection allows enough additional travel time.
- The current timetable when travelling late at night or early in the morning.
What Is a Typical Journey on the 188 Bus Like?
Consider a passenger travelling from New Oxford Street to Canada Water.
The passenger boards the 188 at stop Z on New Oxford Street. The bus then travels through central London, serving Museum Street, Holborn, Aldwych and Waterloo before continuing through Elephant & Castle and Bermondsey.
At Canada Water Bus Station, the passenger can leave the bus and connect with the Jubilee line or London Overground.
For another passenger continuing towards Greenwich, the same bus travels through Surrey Quays and Deptford before reaching stops around Greenwich town centre, the Cutty Sark area and the National Maritime Museum. It then continues via Trafalgar Road, Tunnel Avenue and Boord Street before terminating at North Greenwich Station.
This example shows why the route can be useful both for local journeys between neighbouring districts and for longer trips across several parts of London.
What Are the Most Important Things to Remember About the 188 Bus Route?
The 188 bus route towards North Greenwich begins at New Oxford Street and serves 49 listed stopping points before reaching North Greenwich Station.
Its route provides connections with several important transport hubs, including Waterloo, Elephant & Castle, Canada Water and North Greenwich. It also serves areas including Bermondsey, Surrey Quays, Deptford and Greenwich.
For Monday to Thursday, the timetable information supplied shows overnight departures as well as a frequent service of approximately every 8–12 minutes between 06:00 and 23:00.
Passengers should use the timetable for planning but check live information for the actual journey. Live arrival estimates can change, and temporary road conditions may affect the service.
Conclusion
The 188 bus route provides a useful direct connection between New Oxford Street and North Greenwich, serving major areas including Waterloo, Elephant & Castle, Bermondsey, Canada Water, Deptford and Greenwich. With 49 stops towards North Greenwich, regular daytime services and overnight journeys, it supports commuters, residents and visitors travelling across Central and South-East London.
Journey times can vary because of traffic, roadworks and other disruptions, so passengers should check live arrivals and current service updates before travelling, especially when making connections or planning a time-sensitive journey across the city safely.
FAQs About 188 Bus Route
Where does the 188 bus towards North Greenwich start?
It starts at New Oxford Street, stop Z, before travelling through central and south-east London towards North Greenwich.
Where does the 188 bus finish in this direction?
The final stop is North Greenwich Station, stop E.
Does the 188 bus go to Waterloo?
Yes. The route serves Waterloo Bridge / South Bank and Waterloo Station / Waterloo Road.
Does the 188 bus stop at Canada Water?
Yes. It serves Canada Water Bus Station, where passengers can connect with the Jubilee line and London Overground.
Can passengers use the 188 bus to reach Greenwich?
Yes. The route serves several Greenwich stops, including stops around Cutty Sark, the National Maritime Museum and Trafalgar Road.
Does the 188 bus run during the night?
The Monday-to-Thursday timetable supplied includes departures throughout the overnight period. The service is less frequent during the early hours than during the main daytime period.
How often does the 188 bus run during the day?
Between 06:00 and 23:00, the supplied Monday-to-Thursday timetable indicates a service approximately every 8–12 minutes.
Editorial Note
This article is intended as a practical public-transport guide and does not guarantee real-time bus operation. Timetables, stops, diversions and live arrival estimates can change. Passengers should confirm current travel information before making a time-sensitive journey.
How We Checked
The route direction, stop sequence, interchange information and timetable structure were checked against official route information. Proposed route changes were reviewed separately so they were not presented as confirmed updates. Live-arrival examples were treated as temporary snapshots rather than permanent timetable information.
