*UPDATED 29th May 2022*
The 96 is one of the more useful routes that crosses the border of Greater London. It connects Bluewater shopping centre and Dartford in Kent with Crayford, Bexleyheath and Woolwich. It is operated on behalf of Transport for London and runs so frequently that you don't really need a timetable. Click here to discover other bus routes across Greater London and the South East.
Places served
Bluewater
Built in a former chalk quarry, Bluewater is one of the largest shopping centres in the UK. Clickon the logo above to see which shops you can find there. The 96 runs from stand 10 at the bus station.
It then runs non-stop to Dartford via the entrance to Darent Valley Hospital.
Dartford
Here's stop C on Home Gardens for buses to Bluewater:
Stop W over the road is for buses to Woolwich:
Why not catch a show at the Orchard Theatre (click logo to go to their website) or catch up on some local history at the Dartford Borough Museum on Market Street?
*Greater London/Kent border*
Stop M for buses towards Woolwich is outside the Town Hall, opposite McDonalds:
At Crayford Bridge, here is stop D on the High Street, for buses towards Bluewater:
While here, why not see the dogs at Crayford Greyhound Track?
Bexleyheath
Stop Y for Woolwich on the left, X for Bluewater on the right on Broadway, near Highland Road:
At the Clock Tower, stop P for Bluewater is on the left here, outside Wetherspoons on Mayplace Road West:
At Trinity Place, here's stop A for Woolwich, outside Wimpy on Broadway:
Stop B for Bluewater is outside Snappy Snaps and Asda:
At Upton Road, stop BK for Bluewater is on the left, BN for Woolwich on the right on A207 Crook Log:
Tourism: Red House, home of William Morris
At Park View Road/Crook Log Leisure Centre, use stop BC on Crook Log for Bluewater:
over the road, stop BT is for Woolwich:
Welling
Stop S for Bluewater is next to a cafe and Coral on High Street:
East Wickham
Plumstead
At Plumstead High Street, stop WH is for Woolwich on A206 Plumstead High Street, next to the police station:
Stop E for Bluewater:
At Plumstead Station, stop WL for Woolwich is on Plumstead Road:
Stop B for Bluewater is on the railway bridge at the start of Plumstead High Street:
Woolwich
At Woolwich Market, Stop Z to alight by the covered market is on A206 Beresford Street:
Stop K for Bluewater, opposite the market, right by Barclays Bank on A206 Beresford Street:
At Woolwich Arsenal Station, Stop N for Bluewater is on Woolwich New Road:
Stop H, where terminating buses on the 96 drop you off, is right outside the railway/DLR station entrance:
W on the right is the last stop. T, on the left on Thomas Street, is the first stop for buses to Bluewater:
Transport for London doesn't issue official timetables for its bus routes, but you can find one here or on Traveline. See a live map of bus locations on route 96 here.
Here are your links for live bus times from major stops towards Woolwich:
- Bluewater Bus Station, stop 10
- Dartford, Home Gardens, stop W
- Crayford, Town Hall, stop M
- Bexleyheath, Market Place, stop M
- Welling, High Street, stop R
- Plumstead Station, stop WL
...and towards Bluewater:
- Woolwich Arsenal Station, stop N
- Plumstead Station, stop B
- Welling, High Street, stop S
- Bexleyheath, Clock Tower, stop P
- Crayford, Town Hall, stop E
- Dartford, Home Gardens, stop C
Fares
Fares are set by Transport for London, meaning cash payments are no longer possible. You can pay either with Oyster or with a contactless debit or credit card. A single journey currently costs £1.65 and there's a daily bus/tram fare cap of £4.95, above which you will not be charged regardless of how many TfL bus/tram journeys you make. Bus journeys are also included in all of TfL's Oyster price caps for tube and rail fares - and that goes for all of TfL's red buses across all zones regardless of for which zones you have travelled in by rail.
Dartford Plusbus tickets are not valid for travel on the 96.
Connections
Change at Bluewater for
- Arriva 490 and Fastrack B to Gravesend from stops 3 and 4
- Arriva 700 to the Medway towns from stop 11
Change at Dartford for Arriva 477 to Swanley and Orpington from stop E.
TfL provides detailed spider maps showing connections with the 96 from the following locations:
TfL bus route 53 connects Woolwich Arsenal with Central London, making it possible to travel from Chatham to the heart of London with just two changes of bus.
The following railway stations are served by the 96:
- Dartford (Zone 8, find national fares here)
- Crayford (Zone 6)
- Bexleyheath (Zone 5)
- Welling (Zone 4)
- Plumstead (Zone 4)
- Woolwich Elizabeth Line (Zone 4)
- Woolwich Arsenal (Zone 4)
Alternatives
If you don't want to get the bus back, direct trains run between Dartford and Woolwich Arsenal, currently costing adults (without a railcard) £3.00 single (off-peak on Oyster or contactless), £4.40 for an Oyster/contactless peak single, £5.30 for a cash single and £5.70 for an off-peak cash day return (valid after 0915 weekdays, anytime weekends).
Long Distance Footpaths
- Darent Valley Path runs through Dartford
- London Loop passes through Crayford
- Green Chain Walk passes through Plumstead Common
- Thames Path passes through Woolwich
- Capital Ring passes through Woolwich
Click here to discover other bus routes across Greater London and the South East.
All of the information in this post is correct at the time of writing, but please check the relevant links before travelling.
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ReplyDeleteGot an inquiry. I live in SE London and I need to go to Dartford Crossing near the big junction where a huge Lorry drivers parking is located. Can I use the specific bus, and if yes, where I'm getting off? Thanks in advance for any relevant info.
If it's the lorry park I think it is, then you need Arriva Fastrack route A, which stops on Crossways Boulevard. Connect with the 96 at either Dartford or Bluewater.
ReplyDeleteSo I only need to top my oyster card with about £4 to Bluewater then back to Dartford
ReplyDelete