Londoners planning to celebrate the arrival of 2026 are being urged to plan their journeys carefully, as significant changes to bus services across the capital are set to cause disruption on New Year's Eve. Transport for London (TfL) has confirmed that while services will run through the night, they will operate on a Saturday schedule, potentially leading to longer waiting times for revellers trying to get home after the bells.
Major Road Closures Trigger Widespread Diversions
The annual fireworks display on the banks of the Thames is the catalyst for the travel upheaval. Large-scale road closures will be in effect from mid-afternoon on Tuesday 31st December until the morning of Thursday 1st January. These necessary safety measures mean numerous key bus routes through Central London will be diverted, curtailed, or will not serve their usual stops for large portions of the evening and overnight period.
Passengers are strongly advised to double-check their specific route on the TfL website or app before setting out to avoid confusion and lengthy delays. The transport body has published a detailed list of the most affected services, highlighting exact times and diversion points.
Key Bus Routes Facing Disruption
The impact will be felt on many of London's most frequent and well-used bus corridors. The changes are timed and will escalate as the evening progresses and road closures come into force.
Some of the most significant alterations include:
- Route 1: Diverted between Aldwych and St George's Circus from 1.30pm, with a split service from 6.30pm.
- Route 11: Will not operate between Victoria and Waterloo after 4.30pm.
- Route 12: Will terminate at Lambeth North from 1pm and at Elephant & Castle from 4pm.
- Route 15: Will not run between Aldgate bus station and Trafalgar Square after 6.30pm.
- Routes 17, 19, and 38: Face major curtailments around Holborn and Victoria from 6.30pm and 7.30pm respectively.
- Route 185: Will not operate between Vauxhall and Victoria station after 10.30pm.
- Superloop SL6: Will operate a special service.
Overnight Services and Return to Normality
To help people get home in the early hours, TfL has confirmed that additional night services will run on some routes. These include extra journeys on route 12 between 1am and 2am, on route 22 from midnight to 2am, and on route 188 from 12.30am until 5.30am.
The good news for New Year's Day is that roads are scheduled to reopen and all diversions will be lifted from 6am on Thursday 1st January. However, bus services will then switch to a Sunday schedule for the public holiday. Travellers are reminded that the full and latest New Year's Eve travel advice is available on the official TfL website.
