About this bus lane
The Southampton Row/Theobalds Road bus lane camera took £2.68m from 39,071 PCNs between August 2011 and January 2017 — one of the highest-earning bus lane cameras in a 2017 BBC study.
Motorcycles are not permitted in any Camden bus lane (unlike most red routes).
Hours and permitted vehicles from Transport for London's official London bus lane database (open data, last updated February 2026). Camden enforces bus lanes with static and mobile CCTV cameras borough-wide.
Who can use it
- Buses
- Black cabs (hackney carriages)
- Pedal cycles
Not permitted
- Cars
- Vans
- Lorries
- Private hire vehicles
- Motorcycles
Where exactly is it?
Southampton Row (south-east bound), Holborn, London WC1. Open the exact location in Google Maps → Pin from Transport for London's own bus lane dataset.
Got a PCN from this camera?
Don't panic, and don't ignore it. Pay £80 within 14 days to halve the charge — or if the signage was unclear, the details are wrong, or you had a genuine reason to be in the lane, consider challenging it first. Our step-by-step appeal guide covers the grounds that actually win.
Frequently asked questions
What are the operating times of the Southampton Row bus lane?
The Southampton Row Bus Lane in Camden operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. There is no time of day when general traffic may use it.
How much is the fine for driving through the Southampton Row bus lane?
Camden Council issues a Penalty Charge Notice of £160, reduced to £80 if paid within 14 days. There are no penalty points — it is a civil penalty.
Who is allowed to use the Southampton Row bus lane?
Buses, black cabs (hackney carriages) and pedal cycles are permitted. Not permitted: cars, vans, lorries, private hire vehicles and motorcycles.
Can I appeal a PCN from the Southampton Row bus lane?
Yes, and it costs nothing. Make formal representations to Camden Council first — the authority that issued the PCN has to consider them before it can enforce the penalty. If Camden Council rejects them it must issue a Notice of Rejection, and you can then appeal free to the Environment and Traffic Adjudicators at London Tribunals. Its adjudicators are lawyers independent of the enforcing authority, and their decision is binding on both sides. This bus lane operates 24 hours, so "I was outside the operating times" is not open to you — the grounds that win here are that your vehicle was exempt, that the details on the PCN are wrong, or that the signage did not make the restriction clear. Note that paying the £80 discounted rate accepts liability and closes the case, so challenge before you pay.