London Buses route 21
{{Short description|London bus route}}
{{Infobox bus line
|number = 21
|image = Go-Ahead London LT274 (LTZ1274) Old Kent Road 11.11.2023.jpg
|image_width = 300
|caption = Go-Ahead London New Routemaster on Old Kent Road
|bgcolor = red
|titlecolor = white
|operator = London Central (Go-Ahead London)
|garage = New Cross
|vehicle = New Routemaster
|night = N21
|start = Lewisham Shopping Centre
|via = New Cross
Old Kent Road
Bricklayers Arms
London Bridge
Moorgate
|end = Holloway
}}
London Buses route 21 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England.{{Cite web|last=|first=|title=21 bus route|url=https://tfl.gov.uk/travel-information/stations-stops-and-piers/|access-date=2022-01-20|website=Transport for London|language=en-GB}} Running between Holloway and Lewisham Shopping Centre, it is operated by London Central, a subsidiary of Go-Ahead London.
History
In 2018, an Optare MetroDecker EV prototype was trialed on the route.{{Cite web |last=Dougall |first=Emily |date=2020-11-24 |title=Optare celebrates fifth Metrodecker EV order |url=https://cbwmagazine.com/optare-celebrates-fifth-metrodecker-ev-order/ |access-date=2022-06-22 |website=CBW |language=en-GB}}
In November 2021, the frequency of the service was reduced from 6-8 minutes to 8-10 minutes.{{Cite web|last=Mitchell|first=Sophie|date=2022-01-18|title=Campaign to keep the 21 bus route|url=https://www.hackneygazette.co.uk/news/bus-route-21-campaign-2022-8630140|access-date=2022-01-20|website=Hackney Gazette|language=en-UK}}
On 4 February 2023, route 21 was withdrawn between Newington Green and Hoxton and extended to Holloway partially replacing the daytime route 271, following a successful consultation in early 2022.{{Cite web|url=https://ehq-production-europe.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/7d93d13f62c7baab67a19af04a7ea01000282699/original/1648050759/75f5a2c7b037a5e19e02fd18f3156a7c_21_143_263_271_Consultation_Report_FINAL.pdf|title=Proposed changes to routes 21, 143, 263 and 271|website=TfL Have Your Say|date=2022-03-21|access-date=2023-01-18}}
Current route
Route 21 operates via these primary locations:{{cite web|url=https://tfl.gov.uk/bus/route/21/|title=Route 21 Map|work=Transport for London|access-date=4 February 2023}}
- Lewisham Shopping Centre
- Lewisham station {{rail-interchange|london|dlr}} {{rail-interchange|london|rail}}
- St Johns station {{rail-interchange|london|rail}}
- New Cross Gate station {{rail-interchange|london|overground}} {{rail-interchange|london|rail}}
- Old Kent Road
- Bricklayers Arms
- Borough station {{rail-interchange|london|underground}}
- London Bridge station {{rail-interchange|london|underground}} {{rail-interchange|london|rail}}
- Bank and Monument stations {{rail-interchange|london|underground}} {{rail-interchange|london|dlr}}
- Moorgate station {{rail-interchange|london|underground}} {{rail-interchange|london|elizabeth}} {{rail-interchange|london|rail}}
- Moorfields Eye Hospital
- Essex Road railway station {{rail-interchange|london|rail}}
- Highbury & Islington station {{rail-interchange|london|underground}} {{rail-interchange|london|overground}} {{rail-interchange|london|rail}}
- Holloway Road station {{rail-interchange|london|underground}}
- Holloway Nag's Head
Incident
On 1 April 2017, a number 21 bus blocked the street in Cornhill as it became stuck after mounting the curb during an attempted three-point turn.{{Cite web|last=Morrison|first=Sean|date=2017-04-05|title=Bus wedged across street in City 'like scene from Austin Powers'|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/bus-wedged-across-street-in-city-like-scene-from-austin-powers-a3507571.html|access-date=2022-01-20|website=www.standard.co.uk|language=en}}