London Bus 496

Bus 496 in London links Harold Wood Station and Queens Hospital. The route is 0.0 km long with 41 stops, and the official schedule from Transport for London puts the full trip at about 44 minutes. On a weekday it runs 68 trips in one direction, and 52 on a weekend day.

Route at a glance

Route of Bus 496

Outbound: Harold Wood Station → Queens Hospital

This direction has 41 stops. The route passes Harold Wood Library, Wickford Drive, Faringdon Avenue / Chatteris Avenue, Gidea Park Station. The full list of stops in order is below.

Inbound: Queens Hospital → Harold Wood Station

This direction has 41 stops. The route passes The Brewery, Fairholme Avenue, Gallows Corner, The Petersfield Centre. The full list of stops in order is below.

Schedule and frequency

According to the official schedule from Transport for London, the route runs 68 trips in one direction on a weekday, and 52 on a weekend day.

Frequency calculated from the departure table: in the morning peak buses run every 15–16 minutes, most often every 16; midday every 13–16 minutes; in the afternoon peak every 16–17; on weekends every 19–21 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 496 cost?

1.75 £ for a single ride — fare in effect since 5 July 2026.

When do the first and last trips run?

From Harold Wood Station the first is at 05:30 and the last at 23:55. From Queens Hospital they are 05:30 and 23:55.

How long does the trip from Harold Wood Station to Queens Hospital take?

About 44 minutes end to end — the median of full trips in the official schedule.

How many stops does the route have?

41 outbound and 41 inbound according to the official GTFS feed. The two lists do not match exactly.

Does bus 496 run on weekends?

Yes. On weekends and holidays there are 52 trips in one direction, running from Harold Wood Station between 06:30 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).