About this bus lane
| Direction | Operating times | Who may use it |
|---|---|---|
| Southbound | 24 hours a day, 7 days a week | buses only |
This is not the old M4 motorway bus lane between junctions 3 and 2, which was taken out at the end of 2010. Transport for London records a bus-only lane about 1.3km long running southbound under the road name M4 in Hillingdon, on the spur that leaves the motorway for Heathrow.
Hillingdon Council was asked in August 2026 to list every camera-enforced bus lane and bus gate it runs and named four (freedom of information request FOI 05675, answered 21 August 2026): Coldharbour Lane in Hayes, Yeading Lane in Yeading, and two points on Uxbridge Road. This lane is not among them, and a motorway is policed rather than enforced by a borough council in any case.
Hours and permitted vehicles from Transport for London's official London bus lane database (open data, last updated February 2026).
Who can use it
- Buses
Not permitted
- Cars
- Vans
- Lorries
- Taxis and private hire vehicles
- Motorcycles
Where exactly is it?
M4 Heathrow spur (southbound), Hillingdon, London. Open the exact location in Google Maps → Pin from Transport for London's own bus lane dataset.
Got a PCN here?
London Borough of Hillingdon's own list of camera-enforced sites does not include this one, so a camera PCN from this location would be unexpected — check the notice carefully and make sure it names the road you were actually on. If it does, it is still £160, reduced to £80 within 14 days, and our step-by-step appeal guide covers the grounds that actually win. The restriction itself is not optional: the traffic order is in force and the police keep their own power to act.
Frequently asked questions
What are the operating times of the M4 bus lane?
The M4 Heathrow Spur Bus Lane in Hillingdon 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 M4 bus lane?
London Borough of Hillingdon 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 M4 bus lane?
Buses are permitted. Not permitted: cars, vans, lorries, taxis and private hire vehicles and motorcycles.
Can I appeal a PCN from the M4 bus lane?
Yes, and it costs nothing. Make formal representations to London Borough of Hillingdon first — the authority that issued the PCN has to consider them before it can enforce the penalty. If London Borough of Hillingdon 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.