Croydon London Bus Simulator recreates South London's bus network at 1:1 scale. Main daytime routes connect Croydon town centre with Thornton Heath, Elmers End, Norwood Junction, Mitcham Common, and beyond — each assigned to fictional operators modelled on real TfL contractors. Choosing the right route for your session goals — point grinding, XP farming, or scenic driving — starts with understanding this network.
Route Network Overview
Routes display in the operator menu when you spawn a bus from Croycoach, Arriva, Go-Ahead (Transport UK branding), or other free operators. Each route lists its number, terminuses, and estimated running time. Main routes operate during standard daytime hours unlike night routes N68 and N250 restricted to 20:00-07:00.
Notable Main Routes
| Route | Terminus 1 | Terminus 2 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 198 | Various | Various | Among the longest services; see our Route 198 walkthrough |
| 289 | Waddon | Elmers End | Longest route: 34 stops, ~30 minutes |
| 450 | Thornton Heath | Various | Popular shift route through dense areas |
| 109 | Croydon | Various | Core town centre connector |
| 264 | Various | Various | Reliable mid-length grinder |
Operator Assignment
Each route belongs to an operator mirroring real-life brands. You need a bus from that operator to select the route — browse available vehicles on our free buses page and gamepass packs page. XP upgrades on a specific operator increase per-passenger points as documented in our earn points guide.
Route Selection for Grinding
Short routes like SCS (3-4 stops, ~3 minutes) suit rapid cycle grinding during shifts when that route is active. Long routes like 289 maximize passengers per session during rush hour. Use the points calculator to compare expected yields before committing.
Custom Company Routes
Players with custom companies build private routes using the same stop network. Custom routes appear separately from main operator services — learn route creation on our custom routes guide. Pro subscribers access additional replacement routes on the subscription routes page.
Map Reference
Understand district layouts before tackling unfamiliar lines. Our map areas guide covers Croydon, Thornton Heath, Elmers End, Norwood Junction, and Mitcham Common. Depot locations for spawning buses are listed on the depots page.