First Bus London

First Bus London is a bus company that runs services in Greater London and some parts of Surrey. It is part of a bigger company called FirstGroup. First Bus London operates its buses with permission from Transport for London.

The company started in 2025 when it bought another bus company called RATP Dev Transit London from the RATP Group. Since then, it has been helping people travel around the city and nearby areas by bus.

History

Main articles: RATP Dev Transit London, London Sovereign, and London United Busways

FirstGroup used to run bus services in London under contract to Transport for London. In 2013, it sold these services to other bus companies such as Metroline, Go-Ahead London, and Tower Transit.

In December 2024, FirstGroup bought RATP Dev Transit London from the RATP Group for £90 million. This purchase included companies like London Sovereign and London United, giving FirstGroup a share of London’s bus services, ten garages, and many buses and workers. The purchase was finished on 28 February 2025, and FirstGroup created a new company called First Bus London.

Garages

First Bus London operates from 9 garages: Edgware, Fulwell, Harrow, Hounslow, Hounslow Heath, Shepherd's Bush, Stamford Brook, Tolworth, and Westbourne Park.

London Sovereign

Edgware (BT)

Edgware garage operates many routes and was first opened in 1925. A new building was added in 1939, and in 1984, a large new garage was built. Plans for a new garage were approved in 2025.

Harrow (SO)

Harrow garage operates several routes and opened in 1994. It is the smallest garage, holding only 42 buses.

London United

Fulwell (FW)

Main article: Fulwell bus garage

Fulwell garage operates many routes. It opened as a main depot in 1931 and has two sections.

Hounslow (AV)

Hounslow garage operates many routes and opened in 1913. It was rebuilt in the 1950s and had a high number of buses for many years.

Hounslow Heath (WK)

Hounslow Heath garage operates several routes.

Shepherd's Bush (S)

Shepherd's Bush garage operates many routes and opened in 1906.

Stamford Brook (V)

Stamford Brook garage operates several routes and opened as a bus garage in 1980.

Tolworth (TV)

Tolworth garage operates many routes and was built on the site of a former coal yard.

London Transit

Westbourne Park (X)

Westbourne Park garage operates many routes. It opened in 1981 and was built beneath a major road.

Fleet

First Bus London started with 982 buses, which they got from RATP Dev Transit London. By March 2025, the number of buses they had grew to 1,007.