West London's late-night transport network is set for a significant upgrade this weekend with the launch of a brand-new bus service. Transport for London (TfL) has confirmed that the N118 night bus will begin operating from Saturday, 17 January 2026.
Route Details and Improved Connections
The new route will provide a direct overnight link between Trafalgar Square in central London and Ruislip Station in the borough of Hillingdon. This introduction answers long-standing calls for a night service in the Ruislip area, catering to growing demand for travel after hours.
The N118 will follow the existing path of the N18 to Sudbury & Harrow Road station. From there, it will continue onwards to Ruislip, serving key locations including Sudbury Hill, Northolt Park, South Ruislip, Wembley, Harrow Road, Kensal Green, Harlesden, Maida Hill, and Paddington.
Service Frequency and Network Changes
Passengers can expect regular services throughout the night. The N118 will run every 15 minutes on Friday and Saturday nights, and every 30 minutes from Sunday to Thursday nights.
This launch brings a change to the current N18 service. Journeys on the N18 that currently terminate at Sudbury & Harrow Road will be replaced by the extended N118. However, N18 services that travel to Harrow Weald will continue unchanged.
On the shared section between Trafalgar Square and Sudbury & Harrow Road, the N18 and N118 will be timed to work together. This coordination will offer a combined frequency of a bus every 7-8 minutes on weekend nights and every 15 minutes on weeknights.
A Positive Step for Night-Time London
Bob Blitz, Bus Planning Network Manager at TfL, welcomed the new route. He stated: "These improvements mark a really positive step for night-time travel in northwest London. The introduction of route N118 will give customers in Ruislip and the surrounding areas new overnight connections, opening up easier access to jobs, leisure and essential travel across the capital."
The move is seen as vital for supporting the capital's night-time economy, improving access to employment opportunities and leisure activities for residents in the western suburbs. TfL has committed to monitoring the network closely to ensure the changes deliver the best possible experience for all customers.
