Bus 253 in London links Hackney Central Station and Mornington Crescent. The route is 0.0 km long with 43 stops, and the official schedule from Transport for London puts the full trip at about 56 minutes. On a weekday it runs 135 trips in one direction, and 129 on a weekend day.
Route at a glance
| Mode | Bus |
|---|---|
| Route number | 253 |
| City | London |
| Operator | Transport for London (TfL) |
| Start → end | Hackney Central Station → Mornington Crescent |
| End → start | Mornington Crescent → Hackney Central Station |
| Route length | 0.0 km / 0.0 km in the opposite direction |
| Number of stops | 43 / 38 in the opposite direction |
| Travel time | about 56 minutes |
| Trips per day | 135 on weekdays, 129 on weekends one way |
| Frequency | peak 4–9 · midday 7–8 · weekend 7–11 |
| First / last trip from «Hackney Central Station» | 00:01 / 23:51 |
| First / last trip from «Mornington Crescent» | 00:00 / 23:50 |
| Fare | 1.75 £ (fare in effect since 5 July 2026) |
| Updated | August 22, 2026 |
Route of Bus 253
Outbound: Hackney Central Station → Mornington Crescent
This direction has 43 stops. The route passes Amhurst Road / Hackney Downs, Cazenove Road (E5), Woodberry Grove (N4), Caledonian Road. The full list of stops in order is below.
| No. | Stop | From start | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hackney Central Station | 0.0 km | Terminus |
| 2 | Amhurst Road / Hackney Downs | 0.0 km | |
| 3 | Mare Street / Narrow Way | 0.0 km | |
| 4 | Hackney Baths | 0.0 km | |
| 5 | Glenarm Road | 0.0 km | |
| 6 | Clapton Girls’ Tech College | 0.0 km | |
| 7 | Clapton Pond | 0.0 km | |
| 8 | Lea Bridge Roundabout | 0.0 km | |
| 9 | Upper Clapton Road / Brooke Road | 0.0 km | |
| 10 | Clapton Station | 0.0 km | |
| 11 | Rossington Street | 0.0 km | |
| 12 | Cazenove Road (E5) | 0.0 km | |
| 13 | Jessam Avenue | 0.0 km | |
| 14 | Forburg Road | 0.0 km | |
| 15 | Clapton Common | 0.0 km | |
| 16 | Stamford Hill Broadway | 0.0 km | |
| 17 | Amhurst Park / Stamford Lodge | 0.0 km | |
| 18 | Stamford Hill Station | 0.0 km | |
| 19 | Cranwich Road | 0.0 km | |
| 20 | Bethune Road Stamford Hill | 0.0 km | |
| 21 | Seven Sisters Road /Amhurst Pk | 0.0 km | |
| 22 | Woodberry Grove (N4) | 0.0 km | |
| 23 | Manor House Station | 0.0 km | |
| 24 | Portland Rise | 0.0 km | |
| 25 | Alexandra Grove | 0.0 km | |
| 26 | Finsbury Park /Blackstock Road | 0.0 km | |
| 27 | Finsbury Park Station | 0.0 km | |
| 28 | Isledon Road | 0.0 km | |
| 29 | Berriman Road | 0.0 km | |
| 30 | Sobell Centre | 0.0 km | |
| 31 | Holloway Road | 0.0 km | |
| 32 | Caledonian Road | 0.0 km | |
| 33 | Hillmarton Road / Camden Road | 0.0 km | |
| 34 | Hilldrop Road | 0.0 km | |
| 35 | Brecknock Road | 0.0 km | |
| 36 | Camden Park Road | 0.0 km | |
| 37 | Sandall Road | 0.0 km | |
| 38 | Murray Street | 0.0 km | |
| 39 | Camden Road Station | 0.0 km | |
| 40 | Camden Town Station / Camden Street | 0.0 km | |
| 41 | Camden Town Station / Bayham Street | 0.0 km | |
| 42 | Pratt Street | 0.0 km | |
| 43 | Mornington Crescent | 0.0 km | Terminus |
Inbound: Mornington Crescent → Hackney Central Station
This direction has 38 stops. The route passes Camden Road Station, Holloway Nags Head, Woodberry Grove (N4), Rossington Street. The full list of stops in order is below.
| No. | Stop | From start | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Camden Town / Camden Road | 0.0 km | Terminus |
| 2 | Camden Road Station | 0.0 km | |
| 3 | St Pancras Way | 0.0 km | |
| 4 | Murray Street | 0.0 km | |
| 5 | Sandall Road | 0.0 km | |
| 6 | Torriano Avenue | 0.0 km | |
| 7 | Brecknock Road | 0.0 km | |
| 8 | Hilldrop Road | 0.0 km | |
| 9 | Hillmarton Road / Camden Road | 0.0 km | |
| 10 | Chambers Road | 0.0 km | |
| 11 | Holloway Nags Head | 0.0 km | |
| 12 | Seven Sisters Road / Nags Head | 0.0 km | |
| 13 | Hornsey Road (N7) | 0.0 km | |
| 14 | Durham Road (N7) | 0.0 km | |
| 15 | Fonthill Road | 0.0 km | |
| 16 | Finsbury Park Station | 0.0 km | |
| 17 | Finsbury Park /Blackstock Road | 0.0 km | |
| 18 | Alexandra Grove | 0.0 km | |
| 19 | Manor House Station | 0.0 km | |
| 20 | Woodberry Grove (N4) | 0.0 km | |
| 21 | Bethune Road Stamford Hill | 0.0 km | |
| 22 | Cranwich Road | 0.0 km | |
| 23 | Stamford Hill Station | 0.0 km | |
| 24 | Stamford Hill | 0.0 km | |
| 25 | Stamford Hill Broadway | 0.0 km | |
| 26 | Clapton Common | 0.0 km | |
| 27 | Osbaldeston Road | 0.0 km | |
| 28 | Jessam Avenue | 0.0 km | |
| 29 | Rossington Street | 0.0 km | |
| 30 | Clapton Station | 0.0 km | |
| 31 | Lea Bridge Roundabout | 0.0 km | |
| 32 | Clapton Pond | 0.0 km | |
| 33 | Millfields Road Lower Clapton | 0.0 km | |
| 34 | Clapton Girls’ Tech College | 0.0 km | |
| 35 | Hackney Baths | 0.0 km | |
| 36 | Clapton Square | 0.0 km | |
| 37 | Pembury Circus | 0.0 km | |
| 38 | Hackney Central Station | 0.0 km | Terminus |
Schedule and frequency
According to the official schedule from Transport for London, the route runs 135 trips in one direction on a weekday, and 129 on a weekend day.
| Direction | Weekdays | Weekends and holidays |
|---|---|---|
| From «Hackney Central Station» | 00:01 — 23:51 | 00:01 — 23:51 |
| From «Mornington Crescent» | 00:00 — 23:50 | 00:00 — 23:50 |
Frequency calculated from the departure table: in the morning peak buses run every 4–9 minutes, most often every 8; midday every 7–8 minutes; in the afternoon peak every 8–9; on weekends every 7–11 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 253 cost?
1.75 £ for a single ride — fare in effect since 5 July 2026.
When do the first and last trips run?
From Hackney Central Station the first is at 00:01 and the last at 23:51. From Mornington Crescent they are 00:00 and 23:50.
How long does the trip from Hackney Central Station to Mornington Crescent take?
About 56 minutes end to end — the median of full trips in the official schedule.
How many stops does the route have?
43 outbound and 38 inbound according to the official GTFS feed. The two lists do not match exactly.
Does bus 253 run on weekends?
Yes. On weekends and holidays there are 129 trips in one direction, running from Hackney Central Station between 00:01 and 23:51.
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).