About this bus lane
This road has 4 separate bus lane stretches, including more than one in the same direction. Each has its own hours — check the sign at the start of the stretch you are in.
| Direction | Operating times | Who may use it |
|---|---|---|
| Southbound | 7am to 10am, Monday to Friday | buses, cycles, motorcycles and taxis (black cabs) |
| Northbound | 4pm to 7pm, Monday to Friday | buses, cycles, motorcycles and taxis (black cabs) |
| Westbound | 7am to 10am, Monday to Friday | buses, cycles, motorcycles and taxis (black cabs) |
| Northbound | 24 hours a day, 7 days a week | buses, cycles, motorcycles and taxis (black cabs) |
Hours and permitted vehicles from Transport for London's official London bus lane database (open data, last updated February 2026). Transport for London enforces bus lanes on its red route network (the TLRN) using ANPR cameras.
Who can use it
- Buses
- Black cabs (hackney carriages)
- Motorcycles
- Pedal cycles
Not permitted
- Cars
- Vans
- Lorries
- Private hire vehicles
Where exactly is it?
Hampstead Road (southbound, northbound and westbound), London. 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 Hampstead Road bus lane?
Transport for London's published record gives the operating times of the Hampstead Road Bus Lane in TfL Red Routes as “Varies by direction — see notes” rather than a single time range, so the sign at the start of the lane is the definitive source.
How much is the fine for driving through the Hampstead Road bus lane?
Transport for London 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 Hampstead Road bus lane?
Buses, black cabs (hackney carriages), motorcycles and pedal cycles are permitted. Not permitted: cars, vans, lorries and private hire vehicles.
Can I appeal a PCN from the Hampstead Road bus lane?
Yes, and it costs nothing. This bus lane is on a TfL red route, so representations go to Transport for London — not Camden Council, which handles the challenge from start to finish. If Transport for London 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. Transport for London does not publish this bus lane's operating times centrally, which makes signage the decisive issue: the restriction has to be signed clearly enough to be understood on approach, and unclear signage is a recognised ground of appeal. It is worth doing: Transport for London accepted 67% of the 11,802 formal challenges it received in 2025/26, and of the 402 that went on to the tribunal, 19 succeeded (figures from its own FOI response). Note that paying the £80 discounted rate accepts liability and closes the case, so challenge before you pay.