Bus 198 in London links Shrublands / Bramble Close and Talbot Road Thornton Heath. The route is 0.0 km long with 41 stops, and the official schedule from Transport for London puts the full trip at about 51 minutes. On a weekday it runs 176 trips in one direction, and 106 on a weekend day.
Route at a glance
| Mode | Bus |
|---|---|
| Route number | 198 |
| City | London |
| Operator | Transport for London (TfL) |
| Start → end | Shrublands / Bramble Close → Talbot Road Thornton Heath |
| End → start | Talbot Road Thornton Heath → Shrublands / Bramble Close |
| Route length | 0.0 km / 0.0 km in the opposite direction |
| Number of stops | 41 / 38 in the opposite direction |
| Travel time | about 51 minutes |
| Trips per day | 176 on weekdays, 106 on weekends one way |
| Frequency | peak 1–11 · midday 1–11 · weekend 5–25 |
| First / last trip from «Shrublands / Bramble Close» | 00:02 / 23:55 |
| First / last trip from «Talbot Road Thornton Heath» | 00:01 / 23:59 |
| Fare | 1.75 £ (fare in effect since 5 July 2026) |
| Updated | August 22, 2026 |
Route of Bus 198
Outbound: Shrublands / Bramble Close → Talbot Road Thornton Heath
This direction has 41 stops. The route passes Gorse Road, Cheston Avenue, Canning Road Addiscombe, Broad Green Avenue. The full list of stops in order is below.
| No. | Stop | From start | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shrublands / Bramble Close | 0.0 km | Terminus |
| 2 | Gorse Road | 0.0 km | |
| 3 | Broom Road | 0.0 km | |
| 4 | Shirley Youth and Community Centre | 0.0 km | |
| 5 | Links View Road | 0.0 km | |
| 6 | Worcester Close | 0.0 km | |
| 7 | Devonshire Way | 0.0 km | |
| 8 | Monks Orchard Road | 0.0 km | |
| 9 | Wickham Road / Monks Orchard | 0.0 km | |
| 10 | Langland Gardens (CR0) | 0.0 km | |
| 11 | Cheston Avenue | 0.0 km | |
| 12 | Shirley Library Wickham Road | 0.0 km | |
| 13 | Shirley Oaks Road | 0.0 km | |
| 14 | Upper Shirley Road | 0.0 km | |
| 15 | Trinity School Shirley | 0.0 km | |
| 16 | Birch Tree Way | 0.0 km | |
| 17 | Mapledale Avenue | 0.0 km | |
| 18 | Ashburton Road Addiscombe | 0.0 km | |
| 19 | Sandilands Tram Stop | 0.0 km | |
| 20 | Canning Road Addiscombe | 0.0 km | |
| 21 | Lebanon Road Tram Stop | 0.0 km | |
| 22 | East Croydon Rail Station | 0.0 km | |
| 23 | Electric House | 0.0 km | |
| 24 | Whitgift Centre | 0.0 km | |
| 25 | West Croydon Bus Station | 0.0 km | |
| 26 | West Croydon Station | 0.0 km | |
| 27 | Montague Road | 0.0 km | |
| 28 | Sumner Road Croydon | 0.0 km | |
| 29 | Broad Green Avenue | 0.0 km | |
| 30 | Canterbury Road (CR0) | 0.0 km | |
| 31 | Croydon University Hospital | 0.0 km | |
| 32 | Thornton Heath Pond | 0.0 km | |
| 33 | Brigstock Road / London Road | 0.0 km | |
| 34 | Whitehorse Manor Brigstock Site | 0.0 km | |
| 35 | Nutfield Road | 0.0 km | |
| 36 | Thornton Heath Library | 0.0 km | |
| 37 | Brook Road (CR7) | 0.0 km | |
| 38 | Thornton Heath Station | 0.0 km | |
| 39 | Thornton Heath Clock Tower | 0.0 km | |
| 40 | High Street / Whitehorse Lane | 0.0 km | |
| 41 | Talbot Road Thornton Heath | 0.0 km | Terminus |
Inbound: Talbot Road Thornton Heath → Shrublands / Bramble Close
This direction has 38 stops. The route passes Thornton Heath Clock Tower, Broad Green Avenue, Lebanon Road Tram Stop, Shirley Library Wickham Road. The full list of stops in order is below.
| No. | Stop | From start | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nursery Road | 0.0 km | Terminus |
| 2 | Thornton Heath Clock Tower | 0.0 km | |
| 3 | Thornton Heath Station | 0.0 km | |
| 4 | Brook Road (CR7) | 0.0 km | |
| 5 | Bensham Lane | 0.0 km | |
| 6 | Whitehorse Manor Brigstock Site | 0.0 km | |
| 7 | Brigstock Road / London Road | 0.0 km | |
| 8 | Thornton Heath Pond | 0.0 km | |
| 9 | Dunheved Road North | 0.0 km | |
| 10 | Croydon University Hospital | 0.0 km | |
| 11 | Broad Green Avenue | 0.0 km | |
| 12 | Sumner Road Croydon | 0.0 km | |
| 13 | Montague Road | 0.0 km | |
| 14 | West Croydon Station | 0.0 km | |
| 15 | Poplar Walk | 0.0 km | |
| 16 | Lunar House | 0.0 km | |
| 17 | Whitgift Centre | 0.0 km | |
| 18 | Dingwall Road / East Croydon Station | 0.0 km | |
| 19 | East Croydon Rail Station | 0.0 km | |
| 20 | Lebanon Road Tram Stop | 0.0 km | |
| 21 | Sandilands Tram Stop | 0.0 km | |
| 22 | Ashburton Road Addiscombe | 0.0 km | |
| 23 | Mapledale Avenue | 0.0 km | |
| 24 | Birch Tree Way | 0.0 km | |
| 25 | Trinity School Shirley | 0.0 km | |
| 26 | Valley Walk | 0.0 km | |
| 27 | Upper Shirley Road | 0.0 km | |
| 28 | Verdayne Avenue | 0.0 km | |
| 29 | Shirley Library Wickham Road | 0.0 km | |
| 30 | Cheston Avenue | 0.0 km | |
| 31 | Langland Gardens (CR0) | 0.0 km | |
| 32 | Monks Orchard Road | 0.0 km | |
| 33 | Ash Road (CR0) | 0.0 km | |
| 34 | Links View Road | 0.0 km | |
| 35 | Forest Academy | 0.0 km | |
| 36 | Laurel Crescent | 0.0 km | |
| 37 | Fir Tree Gardens | 0.0 km | |
| 38 | Shrublands / Bramble Close | 0.0 km | Terminus |
Schedule and frequency
According to the official schedule from Transport for London, the route runs 176 trips in one direction on a weekday, and 106 on a weekend day.
| Direction | Weekdays | Weekends and holidays |
|---|---|---|
| From «Shrublands / Bramble Close» | 00:02 — 23:55 | 00:02 — 23:55 |
| From «Talbot Road Thornton Heath» | 00:01 — 23:59 | 00:01 — 23:59 |
Frequency calculated from the departure table: in the morning peak buses run every 1–11 minutes, most often every 8; midday every 1–11 minutes; in the afternoon peak every 5–10; on weekends every 5–25 minutes.
Fare and payment
A single ride costs 1.75 £ — fare in effect since 5 July 2026. The same fare applies to buses in London.
A single bus or tram journey costs £1.75. The Hopper fare lets you make unlimited bus and tram journeys within one hour of your first tap at no extra charge. Daily spending is capped at £5.25; a 7 Day Bus & Tram Pass costs £24.70. London buses do not accept cash — pay by contactless or Oyster. Transfers within 60 minutes are free. Within the Hopper hour the transfers are free; you must tap the same card or device.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a ride on bus 198 cost?
1.75 £ for a single ride — fare in effect since 5 July 2026.
When do the first and last trips run?
From Shrublands / Bramble Close the first is at 00:02 and the last at 23:55. From Talbot Road Thornton Heath they are 00:01 and 23:59.
How long does the trip from Shrublands / Bramble Close to Talbot Road Thornton Heath take?
About 51 minutes end to end — the median of full trips in the official schedule.
How many stops does the route have?
41 outbound and 38 inbound according to the official GTFS feed. The two lists do not match exactly.
Does bus 198 run on weekends?
Yes. On weekends and holidays there are 106 trips in one direction, running from Shrublands / Bramble Close between 00:02 and 23:55.
Every route number with its termini, operating hours and travel time is collected in the London buses overview.
Data current as of August 22, 2026. Schedule and termini — Transport for London (TfL). Fares — Mayor of London, MD3517 July 2026 fare changes (Direction to TfL). Stop list, schedule and route geometry come from the official GTFS feed (Bus Open Data Service (BODS), version 20260822_025337).