First 21 Bus: Start of Service
The first 21 of the day from every stop on the route
Up early for a flight or an early shift? The first 21 bus of the day leaves Lewisham Centre at 04:15 towards Caledonian Road (Mon-Thu). The tables below show the scheduled first 21 departure from every stop, in each direction, for each day of the week. Stop names link to the full 21 timetable with every departure of the day.
To Caledonian Road
| Stop | Mon-Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lewisham Centre U | 04:15 | 04:15 | 04:15 | 04:10 |
| Lewisham Clock Tower R | 04:16 | 04:16 | 04:16 | 04:11 |
| Lewisham Station J | 04:18 | 04:18 | 04:18 | 04:13 |
| Lewisham Station / Loampit Vale F | 04:19 | 04:19 | 04:19 | 04:14 |
| Loampit Vale / Jerrard Street SG | 04:20 | 04:20 | 04:20 | 04:15 |
| Undercliff Road SH | 04:22 | 04:22 | 04:22 | 04:17 |
| Lewisham College SJ | 04:24 | 04:24 | 04:24 | 04:19 |
| Lucas Street D | 04:25 | 04:25 | 04:25 | 04:20 |
| Malpas Road E | 04:26 | 04:26 | 04:26 | 04:21 |
| Amersham Road F | 04:27 | 04:27 | 04:27 | 04:22 |
| Marquis of Granby / Goldsmiths X | 04:28 | 04:28 | 04:28 | 04:23 |
| New Cross Gate Station O | 04:29 | 04:29 | 04:29 | 04:24 |
| New Cross Bus Garage J | 04:31 | 04:31 | 04:31 | 04:26 |
| New Cross Road / Besson Street C | 04:32 | 04:32 | 04:32 | 04:27 |
| Briant Street D | 04:33 | 04:33 | 04:33 | 04:28 |
| Pomeroy Street W | 04:34 | 04:34 | 04:34 | 04:29 |
| Old Kent Road / Ilderton Road WA | 04:35 | 04:35 | 04:35 | 04:30 |
| Commercial Way WB | 04:36 | 04:36 | 04:36 | 04:31 |
| Peckham Park Road WE | 04:38 | 04:38 | 04:38 | 04:33 |
| Malt Street WH | 04:40 | 04:40 | 04:40 | 04:35 |
| Trafalgar Avenue WJ | 04:41 | 04:41 | 04:41 | 04:36 |
| Dunton Road WN | 04:43 | 04:43 | 04:43 | 04:38 |
| Old Kent Road / East Street F | 04:45 | 04:45 | 04:45 | 04:40 |
| Bricklayer's Arms BP | 04:46 | 04:46 | 04:46 | 04:41 |
| Bartholomew Street BD | 04:48 | 04:48 | 04:48 | 04:43 |
| Trinity Street / the Roebuck M | 04:49 | 04:49 | 04:49 | 04:44 |
| Borough Station / Great Dover Street F | 04:50 | 04:50 | 04:50 | 04:45 |
| Union Street G | 04:52 | 04:52 | 04:52 | 04:47 |
| London Bridge M | 04:56 | 04:56 | 04:56 | 04:51 |
| Monument Station Q | 04:58 | 04:58 | 04:58 | 04:53 |
| Bank Station / King William Street F | 04:59 | 04:59 | 04:59 | 04:54 |
| Bank Station / Princes Street A | 05:01 | 05:01 | 05:01 | 04:56 |
| London Wall | 05:01 | 05:01 | 05:01 | 04:56 |
| Finsbury Square D | 05:04 | 05:04 | 05:04 | 04:59 |
| Moorfields Eye Hospital A | 05:08 | 05:08 | 05:08 | 05:03 |
| Bevenden Street XP | 05:10 | 05:10 | 05:10 | 05:05 |
| Mintern Street XQ | 05:12 | 05:12 | 05:12 | 05:07 |
| Eagle Wharf Road XR | 05:13 | 05:13 | 05:13 | 05:08 |
| Baring Street XS | 05:14 | 05:14 | 05:14 | 05:09 |
| Elizabeth Avenue EN | 05:16 | 05:16 | 05:16 | 05:11 |
| Essex Road EP | 05:17 | 05:17 | 05:17 | 05:12 |
| Essex Road Station EC | 05:18 | 05:18 | 05:18 | 05:13 |
| Canonbury Square L | 05:20 | 05:20 | 05:20 | 05:15 |
| Highbury Corner H | 05:21 | 05:21 | 05:21 | 05:16 |
| Highbury & Islington Station A | 05:23 | 05:23 | 05:23 | 05:18 |
| St Mary Magdalene Church S | 05:24 | 05:24 | 05:24 | 05:19 |
| Liverpool Road SV | 05:26 | 05:26 | 05:26 | 05:21 |
| Holloway Road Station SU | 05:27 | 05:27 | 05:27 | 05:22 |
| Camden Road T | 05:29 | 05:29 | 05:29 | 05:24 |
| Caledonian Road X | 05:30 | 05:30 | 05:30 | 05:25 |
To Molesworth Street
| Stop | Mon-Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chambers Road L | 04:45 | 04:45 | 04:45 | 04:45 |
| Parkhurst Road / Holloway Nags Head B | 04:46 | 04:46 | 04:46 | 04:46 |
| Holloway / Nags Head M | 04:47 | 04:47 | 04:47 | 04:47 |
| Tollington Road S | 04:48 | 04:48 | 04:48 | 04:48 |
| Holloway Road Station SY | 04:50 | 04:50 | 04:50 | 04:50 |
| St Mary Magdalene Church T | 04:53 | 04:53 | 04:53 | 04:53 |
| Highbury & Islington Station B | 04:54 | 04:54 | 04:54 | 04:54 |
| Canonbury Road / Highbury Corner J | 04:56 | 04:56 | 04:56 | 04:56 |
| Canonbury Grove K | 04:57 | 04:57 | 04:57 | 04:57 |
| Essex Road Station ED | 04:59 | 04:59 | 04:59 | 04:59 |
| Ecclesbourne Road EK | 05:00 | 05:00 | 05:00 | 05:00 |
| Basire Street EL | 05:01 | 05:01 | 05:01 | 05:01 |
| Baring Street XK | 05:02 | 05:02 | 05:02 | 05:02 |
| Eagle Wharf Road XL | 05:04 | 05:04 | 05:04 | 05:04 |
| Mintern Street XM | 05:05 | 05:05 | 05:05 | 05:05 |
| Bevenden Street XN | 05:07 | 05:07 | 05:07 | 05:07 |
| Old Street Stn / Moorfields Eye Hosp D | 05:09 | 05:09 | 05:09 | 05:09 |
| City Road / Leonard Street M | 05:11 | 05:11 | 05:11 | 05:11 |
| Epworth Street E | 05:12 | 05:12 | 05:12 | 05:12 |
| Finsbury Square / Moorgate K | 05:14 | 05:14 | 05:14 | 05:14 |
| All Hallows Church U | 05:16 | 05:16 | 05:16 | 05:16 |
| Wormwood Street P | 05:17 | 05:17 | 05:17 | 05:17 |
| Camomile Street Y | 05:17 | 05:17 | 05:17 | 05:17 |
| Fenchurch Street U | 05:19 | 05:19 | 05:19 | 05:19 |
| Monument Station P | 05:20 | 05:20 | 05:20 | 05:20 |
| London Bridge Y | 05:21 | 05:21 | 05:21 | 05:21 |
| Southwark Street | 05:24 | 05:24 | 05:24 | 05:24 |
| Union Street H | 05:25 | 05:25 | 05:25 | 05:25 |
| Borough Station / Great Dover Street E | 05:28 | 05:28 | 05:28 | 05:28 |
| Trinity Street / the Roebuck L | 05:28 | 05:28 | 05:28 | 05:28 |
| Blackhorse Court | 05:29 | 05:29 | 05:29 | 05:29 |
| Bartholomew Street BE | 05:31 | 05:31 | 05:31 | 05:31 |
| Bricklayer's Arms BK | 05:32 | 05:32 | 05:32 | 05:32 |
| Old Kent Road / East Street G | 05:33 | 05:33 | 05:33 | 05:33 |
| Trafalgar Avenue EE | 05:37 | 05:37 | 05:37 | 05:37 |
| Malt Street EN | 05:38 | 05:38 | 05:38 | 05:38 |
| Peckham Park Road EN | 05:40 | 05:40 | 05:40 | 05:40 |
| Commercial Way EP | 05:41 | 05:41 | 05:41 | 05:41 |
| Old Kent Road / Ilderton Road | 05:43 | 05:43 | 05:43 | 05:43 |
| Briant Street F | 05:45 | 05:45 | 05:45 | 05:45 |
| New Cross Bus Garage H | 05:47 | 05:47 | 05:47 | 05:47 |
| New Cross Gate Station M | 05:48 | 05:48 | 05:48 | 05:48 |
| Marquis of Granby T | 05:49 | 05:49 | 05:49 | 05:49 |
| Amersham Road B | 05:51 | 05:51 | 05:51 | 05:51 |
| Malpas Road B | 05:52 | 05:52 | 05:52 | 05:52 |
| Lucas Street C | 05:53 | 05:53 | 05:53 | 05:53 |
| Lewisham College / Ashmead School SK | 05:54 | 05:54 | 05:54 | 05:54 |
| Tyrwhitt Road / St Johns Station SL | 05:55 | 05:55 | 05:55 | 05:55 |
| Undercliff Road SN | 05:56 | 05:56 | 05:56 | 05:56 |
| Loampit Vale / Jerrard Street SP | 05:57 | 05:57 | 05:57 | 05:57 |
| Lewisham Station E | 05:58 | 05:58 | 05:58 | 05:58 |
| Molesworth Street Q | 06:00 | 06:00 | 06:00 | 06:00 |
Times are TfL's scheduled first departures from each stop in the given direction; the final stop's time is an arrival. Columns cover the days shown in their heading, and the highlighted column is today. On busy mornings buses can run a few minutes later than scheduled, so allow a small buffer if the first bus matters for a connection.
First 21 bus FAQs
What time is the first 21 bus?
The first 21 bus leaves Lewisham Centre at 04:15 towards Caledonian Road (Mon-Thu). From Chambers Road the first bus is at 04:45. Use the tables above for the first bus from any stop on the route.
What time is the first 21 bus on a Sunday?
On Sundays the first 21 bus leaves Lewisham Centre at 04:10. Sunday service usually starts later than on weekdays, so check the Sun column above for your stop.
Is there a bus before the first 21?
Before the first 21 of the morning, night bus N21 covers the route through the night. See the N21 route page for its stops and times.
Where does the first 21 bus start from?
The 21 starts from Lewisham Centre and runs to Caledonian Road, and in the other direction from Chambers Road. Buses reach stops along the route a few minutes after leaving the start, and the tables above show the scheduled first departure at every stop.
Planning the other end of the day?
See every 21 departure and the last bus from your stop, or check live arrivals while you wait.
Full 21 timetable → Live 21 arrivals →