Bus 188 in London: North Greenwich Station to Tottenham Court Road
The number 188 runs between North Greenwich Station and central London, passing Greenwich, Deptford, Surrey Quays and Bermondsey. It then heads through Elephant and Castle and Waterloo to the West End, ending at Tottenham Court Road Station in one direction and at New Oxford Street in the other.
Both directions have 48 to 49 stops, and the bus journey takes between 68 and 85 minutes depending on the day, so allow plenty of time for the full run.
Where the route goes
From North Greenwich Station the bus runs past Boord Street and Tunnel Avenue, then through Greenwich Church Street and the National Maritime Museum before reaching Deptford High Street. It continues via Deptford Park School and Surrey Quays Station, then past Canada Water Bus Station and Southwark Park.
The central section passes Bermondsey Station and Dockhead, then Elephant and Castle, The Old Vic and Waterloo, before reaching Aldwych, Holborn Station and Drury Lane. A trip from North Greenwich to Tottenham Court Road takes 85 minutes on weekdays and 68 minutes at weekends, while the return takes 80 minutes on weekdays.
Stops: North Greenwich Station - Tottenham Court Road Station
- North Greenwich Station
- Boord Street
- Tunnel Avenue
- Christ Church Primary School
- Tyler Street
- Trafalgar Road / Maze Hill
- Trafalgar Estate
- National Maritime Museum
- Greenwich Church Street
- Creek Road / Norman Road
- Creekside
- MacMillan Students Village
- Deptford High Street
- Abinger Grove
- Deptford Fire Station
- Deptford Park School
- Bestwood Street
- Bush Road (SE8)
- Surrey Quays Station
- Surrey Quays Shopping Centre
- Surrey Quays Leisure Park
- Canada Street
- Canada Water Bus Station
- Neptune St / St Olaves Estate
- Southwark Park
- Drummond Road
- Bermondsey Station
- St James's Road
- Jamaica Road / Abbey Street
- Dockhead
- Tanner Street
- Druid Street
- Abbey Street
- Grange Road /Caledonian Market
- Twr Bridge Rd/Bricklayers Arms
- Bricklayers Arms / New Kent Rd
- Rodney Place
- Elephant & Castle / New Kent Road
- Elephant & Castle / London Road
- St George's Circus
- The Old Vic
- Waterloo Station / Tenison Way
- Waterloo Bridge / South Bank
- Lancaster Place
- Aldwych / Kingsway
- Holborn Station
- Drury Lane
- Tottenham Court Road Station
Stops: New Oxford Street - North Greenwich Station
- New Oxford Street
- Museum Street
- Kingsway / Holborn Station
- Aldwych / Drury Lane
- Waterloo Bridge / South Bank
- Waterloo Station / Waterloo Road
- The Old Vic
- St George's Circus
- Elephant & Castle / London Road
- Elephant & Castle / New Kent Road
- Rodney Place
- Bricklayers Arms / New Kent Rd
- Twr Bridge Rd/Bricklayers Arms
- Grange Road /Caledonian Market
- Abbey Street
- Druid Street
- Boss Street
- Dockhead
- Jamaica Road / Abbey Street
- Bermondsey Station
- Drummond Road
- Southwark Park
- Neptune St / St Olaves Estate
- Surrey Quays Road
- Canada Water Bus Station
- Canada Street
- Surrey Quays Leisure Park
- Surrey Quays Station
- Lower Road / Surrey Quays Stn
- Bestwood Street
- Deptford Park School
- Deptford Fire Station
- Abinger Grove
- Sayes Court
- Deptford High Street
- MacMillan Students Village
- Creekside
- Creek Road / Norman Road
- Cutty Sark for Maritime Greenwich
- Greenwich Town Cen/ Cutty Sark
- National Maritime Museum
- Trafalgar Estate
- Trafalgar Road / Maze Hill
- King William Lane
- Tyler Street
- Pelton Road
- Tunnel Avenue
- Boord Street
- North Greenwich Station
When it runs
On weekdays buses leave North Greenwich Station from 00:06 until 23:54, with 126 journeys in that direction. From New Oxford Street the first bus is at 00:06 and the last at 23:54, with 122 weekday journeys. Both ends share the same first and last departure times on weekdays and at weekends.
A bus comes about every 11 minutes from North Greenwich on weekdays and about every 12 minutes from New Oxford Street. At weekends the gap is 13 and 14 minutes, with 109 and 105 journeys respectively.
Timetable at a glance
| Direction | Days | First | Last | Journeys | Every | Journey time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Greenwich Station - Tottenham Court Road Station | weekdays | 00:06 | 23:54 | 126 | ~11 min | 85 min |
| North Greenwich Station - Tottenham Court Road Station | weekends | 00:06 | 23:54 | 109 | ~13 min | 68 min |
| New Oxford Street - North Greenwich Station | weekdays | 00:06 | 23:54 | 122 | ~12 min | 80 min |
| New Oxford Street - North Greenwich Station | weekends | 00:06 | 23:54 | 105 | ~14 min | 69 min |
Tips for passengers
Plan around the longer weekday journey, which can run well over an hour. Check the stop name at Greenwich: Greenwich Town Cen / Cutty Sark and Cutty Sark for Maritime Greenwich are both listed in the direction from New Oxford Street. At the Tottenham Court Road end, Holborn Station and Drury Lane are useful points nearby.