London bus route 38 runs from Victoria to Clapton Pond via Piccadilly, Bloomsbury, Islington, Hackney. Operated by Arriva London across Zones 1-2, the route has ~36 stops and takes about 75 minutes end to end.
Journey time
~75 min
Stops
36
Frequency
Every 6 min
Step-free
Yes
London Bus Route 38 is a 24-hour service operated by Arriva London, linking Victoria with Clapton Pond via Piccadilly, Bloomsbury, Islington, Hackney. The route covers London fare Zones 1-2 and serves approximately 36 stops along its corridor.
Buses run every 6 minutes during the daytime peak. The first bus from Victoria departs at 05:00, and the last service is at 00:30 — note this route operates 24 hours a day. All vehicles on this route are low-floor, wheelchair-accessible double-deck or single-deck buses with audio-visual next-stop announcements (iBus).
Fares: a single bus or tram journey is £1.75 with contactless or Oyster, and the Hopper fare lets you transfer for free within one hour. There is a daily cap of £5.25 for unlimited buses and trams. Cash is not accepted on TfL buses.
This page is part of Triplo's London transport directory and is updated regularly. For real-time arrivals consult the TfL Go app or station QR codes.
First bus
05:00
Last bus
00:30
Service
24 hours
Frequencies are higher during the morning (07:00–09:30) and evening (16:30–19:00) peak. For real-time departures, use the TfL Go app or scan the QR code at any bus stop.
Single fare
£1.75
contactless or Oyster
Hopper fare
Free
within 60 minutes
Daily cap
£5.25
unlimited bus & tram
Cash is not accepted on TfL buses. Tap your contactless card, phone or Oyster on the yellow reader as you board. Children under 11 travel free with an adult; 11–15 year olds need a Zip Oyster card.
All buses on route 38 are low-floor, wheelchair-accessible, with a dedicated wheelchair bay, retractable ramp and audio-visual next-stop announcements (iBus). Assistance dogs are welcome on all London buses.
The first 38 bus departs Victoria at around 05:00 on weekdays. Weekend and bank holiday timings may vary slightly.
Route 38 runs 24 hours, with reduced frequency overnight (roughly every 15-20 minutes between 00:30 and 05:00).
A full journey from Victoria to Clapton Pond takes about 75 minutes depending on traffic. The route serves approximately 36 stops.
A single bus journey in London is £1.75 with contactless, Oyster, or a valid bus pass (Hopper fare allows unlimited buses within 1 hour for the same fare). Cash is not accepted on TfL buses.
Yes — all buses on route 38 are low-floor, wheelchair accessible, and have a dedicated wheelchair bay.
Yes, route 38 operates 7 days a week including bank holidays, though Sunday frequencies are slightly reduced.