Industrial action is affecting a cluster of First Bus routes across west, northwest and southwest London through 24 December, with another walkout pencilled in for New Year’s Eve night.
The last full run-up to Christmas is usually about timing: last trains, last deliveries, last-minute dashes across town. This week, for parts of west London, it’s also about contingency. Strikes are planned on seven bus routes operated by First Bus London from Westbourne Park garage, with disruption running from 05:00 on Monday 22 December through to end of service on Wednesday 24 December.
The immediate impact is concentrated, but not minor. These routes stitch together neighbourhoods that rely heavily on buses for short hops and longer cross-city links — the kind of journeys that multiply in the days before Christmas, when roads are busy and rail services can be patchy. Even passengers not on the affected lines should expect knock-on effects as people shift onto other routes, the Tube, or cabs and ride-hail options.
TfL’s strike information indicates the affected services are operated out of Westbourne Park and cover parts of southwest, west and northwest London. In plain terms: if a journey normally begins or ends in the Paddington–Notting Hill–Kensington–Shepherd’s Bush orbit (and beyond), it’s worth checking before leaving the house rather than at the stop.
There is also a second strike window flagged: from 05:00 Wednesday 31 December to 05:00 Thursday 1 January — a period when London’s night travel patterns change completely and demand is often concentrated around a few key corridors. That matters because New Year’s Eve in London tends to rely on buses as the “last mile” option when central stations are busy, certain streets are closed, and walking routes are packed. A limited bus network that night can quickly become the bottleneck that shapes the rest of the journey. Transport for London
So what does sensible planning look like?
Start with route certainty. Use TfL’s live bus information (or the journey planner) rather than a timetable snapshot. Strike disruption can mean anything from reduced frequency to gaps so long they effectively amount to “no service” for stretches of the day. If a trip is essential — getting to a shift, making a booked train, reaching an airport coach — plan a second route that does not rely on the affected line. Transport for London
Next, assume alternatives will be busier. If a local route is out, passengers typically funnel to the nearest parallel corridor: a Tube line, a more central bus route, or a rail station. That extra load can slow boarding and increase dwell time at stops. On roads already tight with seasonal traffic, buses (even the ones still running) can become slower and less predictable.
Third, set expectations for accessibility. For passengers with mobility needs, buggies, or luggage, “just walk to the next stop” may not be a workable solution. In those cases, the best plan is earlier travel and a clearer fallback: step-free Tube routes where possible, or booked taxi/private hire if budgets allow.
Finally, watch for localised advice. Disruption is rarely uniform across an entire route; congestion, diversions and operational decisions can create “dead zones” where buses are theoretically running but practically absent. If a journey must happen, it’s often better to travel earlier than the instinct suggests.
London can usually absorb transport disruption — but the festive calendar compresses time, and that reduces slack in the system. This is one of those weeks where a ten-minute check before leaving can save an hour outside in the cold.