Key Points
- The new N118 night bus route launches on Saturday, 17 January 2026, connecting Trafalgar Square in central London to Ruislip station in Hillingdon.
- It follows the existing N18 path up to Sudbury and Harrow Road station, then diverges via Whitton Avenue West, Sheridan Terrace, Pett’s Hill, Alexandra Avenue, Eastcote Lane, Victoria Road, and Pembroke Road to Ruislip.
- Provides direct overnight links from Ruislip to Sudbury Hill, Wembley, Harrow Road, Kensal Green, Harlesden, Maida Hill, Paddington, and central London.
- First night bus to Ruislip since route 114 suspended in March 2020.
- Operates seven days a week: every 15 minutes on Fridays and Saturdays, every 30 minutes Sunday to Thursday.
- N18 continues unchanged to Harrow Weald; shared section to Sudbury and Harrow Road offers combined frequency every 7-8 minutes Fridays/Saturdays, every 15 minutes Sunday-Thursday.
- Introduced due to growing demand for late-night travel in west and northwest London, supporting night-time economy, workers, and leisure.
- Bob Blitz, TfL Bus Planning Network Manager, stated: “These improvements mark a really positive step for night-time travel in northwest London. The introduction of route N118 will give customers in Ruislip and the surrounding areas new overnight connections, opening up easier access to jobs, leisure and essential travel across the capital. We will continue to monitor the network closely to ensure these changes deliver the best possible experience for our customers.”
- TfL notes over 120 night bus routes operate across London, covering more than 17 million kilometres last financial year.
- Follows public consultation where TfL decided to proceed as proposed, targeting January 2026 launch.
West London (west London), Transport for London, 15 January 2026 – Transport for London (TfL) announces the imminent launch of the N118 night bus route this weekend, enhancing late-night connectivity between central London and Ruislip for the first time since 2020. The service addresses rising demand in northwest London, offering direct access to employment and nightlife hubs. Combined with the existing N18, passengers will enjoy increased frequencies on key stretches.
What is the N118 Night Bus Route?
The N118 will operate from Trafalgar Square to Ruislip station, mirroring the N18 up to Sudbury and Harrow Road station before branching off through local roads in Hillingdon. Specific stops post-divergence include Whitton Avenue West, Sheridan Terrace, Pett’s Hill, Alexandra Avenue, Eastcote Lane, Victoria Road, and Pembroke Road, as detailed in coverage by Time Out London. This extension fills a gap left by the suspension of the 114 night bus in March 2020, restoring vital overnight transport to the Ruislip area.
As reported in Harrow Online, the route passes via brent/wembley/">Wembley, Sudbury Hill, Northolt Park, and South Ruislip, providing seamless links to these locales. The service replaces N18 journeys on the Trafalgar Square to Sudbury and Harrow Road section nightly, while the N18 persists to Harrow Weald. TfL’s official consultation page confirms this restructuring was proposed to create the new N118 and adjust the N18 accordingly.
When Does the N118 Launch and What Are the Frequencies?
The N118 commences service on Saturday, 17 January 2026, running seven nights a week without interruption. Frequencies stand at every 15 minutes on Fridays and Saturdays, escalating options for late-night travellers, and every 30 minutes from Sunday to Thursday.
On the overlapping segment to Sudbury and Harrow Road station, the N118 and N18 interline for a combined every 7-8 minutes on Friday/Saturday nights and every 15 minutes otherwise, as outlined across multiple reports. Yahoo UK News echoes this, noting the coordination enhances reliability. Time Out London specifies the N18 maintains its prior frequency, amplifying overall capacity.
Why Was the N118 Introduced?
TfL introduced the N118 amid growing demand for late-night options in west and northwest London, bolstering the night-time economy and aiding shift workers. It establishes direct overnight connections from Ruislip to Sudbury Hill, Wembley, Harrow Road, Kensal Green, Harlesden, Maida Hill, Paddington, and Trafalgar Square, per Harrow Online and Time Out.
The route responds to local needs unmet since the 114’s withdrawal, as highlighted in Time Out’s coverage targeting west London night owls and late workers. TfL’s outer London plans explicitly list the N118 as a January 2026 addition. Public feedback from the 2025 consultation supported proceeding unchanged, per TfL’s Have Your Say update dated post-June 2025.
What Did TfL Officials Say About the New Route?
Bob Blitz, TfL’s Bus Planning Network Manager, commented extensively on the benefits, as quoted identically across sources:
“These improvements mark a really positive step for night-time travel in northwest London. The introduction of route N118 will give customers in Ruislip and the surrounding areas new overnight connections, opening up easier access to jobs, leisure and essential travel across the capital. We will continue to monitor the network closely to ensure these changes deliver the best possible experience for our customers.”
Harrow Online attributes this directly to Blitz, emphasising support for late-night workers and businesses. Time Out London presents the full statement, underscoring monitoring commitments. Yahoo UK News reiterates Blitz’s remarks on facilitating employment and leisure access.
How Does the N118 Impact Existing Services Like the N18?
The N118 supplants N18 operations from Trafalgar Square to Sudbury and Harrow Road nightly, with the N18 truncated thereafter to Harrow Weald. This yields doubled service on the shared path: every 7-8 minutes Friday/Saturday nights, every 15 minutes Sunday-Thursday, as services synchronise.haveyoursay.
TfL’s consultation details the N18 restructure, replacing that leg entirely with N118 while preserving the Harrow Weald extension. BusTimes.org lists the full N118 path from Ruislip through South Ruislip, Northolt Park, Sudbury, Wembley, Harlesden, Westbourne Park, Baker Street, to Trafalgar Square, aligning with N18 overlaps. London Bus Routes notes N18 timetables remain standard for holidays, unaffected in structure.
What is the History Behind This Night Bus Proposal?
Proposals for N118 and 114 weekend changes emerged in TfL’s 2025 consultation, aiming for a new Trafalgar Square-Ruislip night route via Wembley and Sudbury Hill. By June 2025, feedback analysis closed, with TfL confirming implementation targeting January 2026. An earlier N518 proposal to replace N18 was scrapped due to resident opposition, per London Assembly records, paving way for this refined approach.
TfL’s outer London strategy incorporated N118 from late 2024 planning. The 114 suspension in March 2020 created the void now addressed.
Who Benefits from the N118 Night Bus?
Residents and workers in Ruislip, Hillingdon, and surrounding northwest areas gain premier overnight access to central London hubs. Late-night employees in Wembley, Harlesden, Paddington, and beyond secure reliable transport, boosting the night-time economy as TfL states.
Night owls in west London, as Time Out terms them, connect directly without transfers. Harrow Online stresses benefits for leisure, jobs, and essentials across the capital. With 120+ night routes covering 17.2 million km yearly, this expands a robust network.news.
Are There Any Changes to Broader TfL Night Network?
TfL operates over 120 night buses, traversing more than 17 million kilometres in the last financial year, with N118 integrating seamlessly. No wider alterations noted; focus remains on northwest enhancements. Monitoring ensures optimal performance, per Blitz.
This launch, covered uniformly by outlets like Harrow Online, Time Out London, and Yahoo UK News, signals TfL’s commitment to responsive public transport evolution in 2026. Passengers should verify real-time updates via TfL apps for precise timings post-launch
