London Buses route 23

London Buses route 23 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. Running between Westbourne Park station and Aldwych, it is operated by First Bus London.

23
First Bus London Optare MetroDecker EV at Charing Cross in March 2025
Overview
Operator	First Bus London
Garage	Westbourne Park
Vehicle	Optare MetroDecker EV
Peak vehicle requirement	Day: 14 Night: 4[1]
Predecessors	Route 10 Route 15
Night-time	24-hour service
Route
Start	Westbourne Park station
Via	Ladbroke Grove Paddington Marble Arch Hyde Park Corner Green Park Piccadilly Circus Trafalgar Square
End	Aldwych
Length	8 miles (13 km)
Service
Level	24-hour service
Frequency	About every 12-15 minutes
Journey time	46-95 minutes
Operates	24-hour service

History

First London AEC Routemaster on the Strand in January 2003

First London Alexander ALX400 bodied Dennis Trident 2 in May 2011

Tower Transit Alexander Dennis Enviro400 at Charing Cross station in February 2014

Route 23 was introduced on 18 July 1992 between Westbourne Park station and Liverpool Street bus station from First CentreWest's Westbourne Park garage. On 14 November 2003, Alexander ALX400 bodied Dennis Trident 2s replaced the AEC Routemasters that had operated it since its inception.^[2]

In January 2009, the route's peak frequency was reduced from twelve buses per hour to ten, as part of Transport for London's policy of reducing the number of buses using Oxford Street in order to reduce congestion and pollution by 10% in 2009 and a further 10% in 2010.^[3] The off-peak service already operated at this frequency.^[4] On 5 January 2009, a bus operating on the route crashed into a shop in Westbourne Grove after swerving to avoid a van, injuring ten people.^[5]

Later in 2009, Transport for London decided not to proceed with a possible change of the eastbound route in the Elgin Crescent area, following a consultation with residents and local interest groups. The proposal would have routed the eastbound 23 along Ladbroke Gardens instead of Elgin Crescent, while routes 52 and 452 would continue to run along Elgin Crescent in both directions. The most common benefit stated amongst supporters was fewer buses along the overcrowded Elgin Crescent; those opposing the change were concerned about safety at the junction of Ladbroke Grove and Ladbroke Gardens, and the suitability of Ladbroke Gardens to accommodate a bus service.^[6]

First London had successfully retained route 23 with a new contract starting on 13 November 2010 and was included in the sale of First London's Westbourne Park garage to Tower Transit on 22 June 2013.^{[7][8][9][10]}

Tower Transit successfully retained route 23 with a new contract starting on 14 November 2015.^[11] On 30 September 2017 route 23 was withdrawn between Aldwych and Liverpool Street bus station.^[12]

On 24 November 2018 as part of a programme to reduce the number of bus routes traversing Oxford Street, the section of route 23 between Marble Arch and Aldwych was diverted to Hammersmith, partly replacing route 10.^[13][14]

On 23 November 2022, it was announced that a proposed rerouting of route 23 at Hyde Park Corner to serve its previous terminus of Aldwych instead of Hammersmith, only now via Green Park, Piccadilly Circus and Trafalgar Square, would be going ahead following a consultation; it was implemented on 29 April 2023.^[15][16]

On 28 February 2025, the route passed from London Transit to First Bus London following the acquisition of RATP Dev Transit London by FirstGroup.^[17]

In popular culture

Radio presenter Geoff Lloyd featured the route in the show Boring? The number 23 bus? Never! at the Boring Conference in December 2010.^[18]

Current route

Route 23 operates via these primary locations:^[19]

• Westbourne Park station
• Ladbroke Grove Sainsbury's
• Ladbroke Grove station
• Paddington station
• St Mary's Hospital
• Marble Arch station
• Hyde Park Corner station
• Green Park station
• Piccadilly Circus
• Trafalgar Square
• Charing Cross station
• Aldwych