Bus 53 in London: Plumstead to Lower Marsh

The number 53 bus crosses south-east London from Plumstead to Lower Marsh, close to Lambeth North, passing through Woolwich, Greenwich and New Cross on the way.

It runs more than 130 journeys on a weekday in each direction, so you rarely face a long wait between buses on this corridor.

Where the route goes

From Orchard Road the bus heads through Plumstead Common and Trinity Church, then reaches Woolwich Station and Woolwich Arsenal Station before passing The Woolwich Centre. It climbs past Charlton Park Road and Blackheath Royal Standard, then runs by Greenwich Park and Maze Hill before reaching New Cross Station and New Cross Gate Station.

The reverse journey from Lower Marsh keeps to a similar line through the Elephant and Castle and the Old Kent Road, then passes Peckham Park Road and Commercial Way before heading back through New Cross to Plumstead. The outward run takes 75 minutes on weekdays and 65 at weekends, and the return takes 69 and 62 minutes.

Stops: Orchard Road / Griffin Road - Lower Marsh

1. Orchard Road / Griffin Road
2. Conway Road
3. Griffin Road / Brewery Road
4. Heavitree Road
5. Warwick Terrace/Plumstead C Rd
6. Plumstead Common Road
7. Plumstead Common / The Ship
8. Kirk Lane
9. Trinity Church
10. Herbert Road (SE18)
11. Frederick Place
12. Crescent Road (SE18)
13. Burrage Road
14. Woolwich Station
15. Woolwich Arsenal Station
16. The Woolwich Centre
17. Artillery Place /J ohn Wilson St
18. Artillery Place / Frances Street
19. Erwood Road
20. Cemetery Lane
21. Charlton Park Road
22. Charlton House
23. Charlton Road / Victoria Way
24. Wyndcliff Road
25. Blackheath / Royal Standard
26. Vanburgh Park /Stratheden Road
27. Vanbrugh Pk / Beaconsfield Rd
28. Maze Hill
29. Greenwich Park
30. Wat Tyler Road
31. Lewisham Road
32. Egerton Drive
33. Deptford Bridge
34. Florence Road (SE14)
35. New Cross Station
36. Marquis of Granby / Goldsmiths
37. New Cross Gate Station
38. New Cross Bus Garage
39. New Cross Road / Besson Street
40. Briant Street
41. Pomeroy Street New Cross
42. Old Kent Road / Ilderton Road
43. Commercial Way Peckham
44. Peckham Park Road
45. Malt Street
46. Trafalgar Avenue
47. Dunton Road
48. Old Kent Road / East Street
49. Bricklayer's Arms
50. Bricklayers Arms / New Kent Rd
51. Rodney Place
52. Elephant & Castle / New Kent Road
53. London College of Comm
54. St Georges Rd/Imperial War Mus
55. Lambeth North
56. Lower Marsh

Stops: Lower Marsh - Griffin Road / Plumstead Station

1. Lower Marsh
2. Lambeth North
3. St George's Circus
4. Elephant & Castle / London Road
5. Elephant & Castle / New Kent Road
6. Rodney Place
7. Old Kent Road / East Street
8. Burgess Park / Dunton Road
9. Trafalgar Avenue
10. Malt Street
11. Peckham Park Road
12. Commercial Way Peckham
13. Old Kent Road / Ilderton Road
14. Briant Street
15. New Cross Bus Garage
16. New Cross Gate Station
17. Marquis Of Granby
18. New Cross Station
19. Deptford High St /New Cross Rd
20. Deptford Bridge
21. Egerton Drive
22. Lewisham Road
23. Wat Tyler Road
24. Greenwich Park
25. Charlton Way / Maze Hill
26. Vanbrugh Pk / Beaconsfield Rd
27. Blackheath / Royal Standard
28. Wyndcliff Road
29. Charlton Road / Victoria Way
30. Charlton Village
31. Charlton Park Road
32. Cemetery Lane
33. Erwood Road
34. Artillery Place / Frances Street
35. The Woolwich Centre
36. Woolwich Arsenal Station
37. Vincent Road /Woolwich Arsenal
38. Burrage Road / Arthur Grove
39. Frederick Place
40. Bloomfield Road / Plumstead Common Road
41. Trinity Church
42. Blendon Terrace
43. Plumstead Common / The Ship
44. Heavitree Road
45. Griffin Road / Brewery Road
46. Conway Road
47. Griffin Road / Plumstead Station

When it runs

Weekday buses leave Orchard Road from 04:05 until 23:40, with 138 journeys and an average gap of 9 minutes. At weekends there are 107 journeys from the same stop between 04:15 and 23:40, spaced about 11 minutes apart. From Lower Marsh the first bus is at 00:02 on weekdays and the last at 23:50, with 138 journeys and an interval of 10 minutes, while the weekend run is 109 journeys at a 13-minute gap.

Timetable at a glance

Tips for passengers

With buses spaced about ten minutes apart on weekdays, you can usually turn up and go, although the first bus from Orchard Road leaves at 04:05 on weekdays, earlier than most of the route's other departures. Anyone travelling between Woolwich and Peckham should allow more than an hour, since the full journey takes 75 minutes in one direction.

See also

Weekday and weekend times for the London Bus 4.

First and last departures on the London Bus 3.

Compare with the London Bus 2.

Route details for the London Bus 1.

Stops and journey times on the London Tram.

Nearby routes and routes sharing stops

• London Bus 51
• London Bus 52
• London Bus 54
• London Bus 55
• London Bus 172
• London Bus 21
• London Bus 177
• London Bus 63
• London Bus 12
• London Bus 148