please empty your brain below
326 & Dollis Valley Estate.

dg writes: added thanks

482 doesn't pass the length test but has several minor loopy bits

B14 towards Orpington loops at Crockenhill Estate, Queen Mary's Hospital and Horn Park, towards Bexleyheath 2 of the 3 loops aren't closed.

dg writes: 3 closed loops northbound only

Still Anon | 24.02.26 - 7:35 a.m. | #

Services which transit or terminate at gyratories give scope for a small amount of loopiness.

Examples are at Swiss Cottage:

school route 603 loops round to start the return journey (somewhat extended by long term roadworks that have created a very long deviation loop through Hampstead and Chalk Farm),

Route 31 has the two directions cross over running in the *same* direction northbound at the gyratory, passing the Odeon cinema/former eponymous pub (31 runs on different streets through South Hampstead for approx. half a mile as part of this).

Topographically therefore one could consider both halves of route 31 as long looping double runs with a figure 8 section in the middle, using a similar argument that a bagel and a coffee mug (with loop handle) are actually the same topographical class of shape.

MilesT | 24.02.26 - 9:18 a.m. | #

Route 493 just misses out on a loop as it leaves Tooting going along Perimeter Road, then Blackshaw Road 20 metres to the south ten minutes later.

Sprout Eater | 24.02.26 - 9:47 a.m. | #

Route 200 has a 'loop' of 1.4km at the Raynes Park end to go down Copse Hill and then comes back up the hill, in both directions. The loop serves more than 1 stop, so might just sneak into the 'Also with loops over 1km' category.

dg writes: added thanks

Jamie | 24.02.26 - 9:58 a.m. | #

One measure could be the ratio of distance travelled by the bus:as a crow flies.

dg writes: see first link

toby | 24.02.26 - 10:38 a.m. | #

I looked in vain for any mention of frying pan routes. That’s what we generally called them in my day. The 463 is a classic frying pan route.
I’d also like to say that although passengers generally disliked them, those curvy, loopy routes were often the bus drivers’ favourites. They were much more fun to drive — you were constantly turning the wheel and needed some driving skill. Long straight routes not so much.

Steve | Homepage | 24.02.26 - 11:13 a.m. | #

Route 189 performs a 1.6Km loop from Claremont Road to Brent Cross West station, serving two stops, both called Brent Cross West Station, on opposite sides of the road, each serving the 189 in both directions. This is mostly a spur apart from a turning circle just beyond the bus stops, so not sure whether it counts as a loop by your criteria. Supposedly a temporary arrangement until the roads in Brent Cross Town are completed.

dg writes: added thanks

Strabismus | 24.02.26 - 12:07 p.m. | #

Totally loopy! :)

Cornish Cockney | 24.02.26 - 12:25 p.m. | #

My previous local bus route was the 100, which has a mini loop around the Highway/Cable Street, rendering it mostly useless for travel from my closest bus stop. But seeing the very elderly women with their shopping who always stayed on for that bit, I guess it was serving a purpose.

anon | 24.02.26 - 1:28 p.m. | #

how many circular bus routes are there?

Alistair Twin | 24.02.26 - 1:53 p.m. | #

You've missed one. The K5 has a loop from Ham towards Morden and terminates in a loop at both Ham & Morden. Buses from Morden when they reach Dukes Ave in Ham run via Dysart Ave, Lammas Rd, Beaufort Rd, back to the alighting point and stand on Dukes Avenue. There are stops on all 3 roads. in Kingston, Morden bound buses come in via Richmond Road, then run via Cromwell Rd (serving the bus station) Queen Elizabeth Rd, Fairfield North, Wheatfield Way, Ashdown Rd, Eden St, Clarence St, back to Cromwell Rd, serving the bus station again. At the Morden end from Kenley Rd H&R buses run via Windermere Ave to the set down stop on Crown Lane. Leaving Morden, buses run via London Rd, & Morden Hall Rdbt to Kenley Rd H&R.

dg writes: added thanks

Kevin Lucioni | 24.02.26 - 2:48 p.m. | #

Re: the K5, if I remember correctly, the loop through Kingston to and from Cromwell Road bus station is one way only. But surely it's the biggest loop regardless of direction with TfL buses?

dg writes: never risk a surely

And maybe it's recently changed, but I also remember the 410 has two very tiny loops en route to Norwood Junction. At one stop each, I doubt they're that big a deal.

All Over 2a | Homepage | 24.02.26 - 3:53 p.m. | #

W5 round Hornsey/Crouch End/Highgate has a loop in the middle

Johnny Topaz | 24.02.26 - 4:34 p.m. | #

It's too short for your criterion, but the 64 from New Addington seem to go round and round and round the interchange

Deborah | 24.02.26 - 4:39 p.m. | #

Very much wanted to have the W5 included on this but my measures have the Harringay station loop coming up at 800m. Drat.

My working day involves a provincial bus route which takes in a 2.48km loop (served in the same order of stops regardless of direction) so reading this post was a treat today.

Nico | 24.02.26 - 4:41 p.m. | #

If it were possible to measure 'switchbackness', I am sure the 404 would win that accolade too. As it deviates from the ridge of the steadily rising hill towards Caterham-on-the-hill it goes down the side slopes then up again multiple times. For quite a large portion of the journey it does not seem to be on the level at all.

Pedantic of Purley | 24.02.26 - 7:16 p.m. | #

B11 has one-way loop in Welling

dg writes: added twice, thanks

anon | 24.02.26 - 9:23 p.m. | #

The W9 loop in Highlands Village is curious (and very disorientating when I first rode it) in that it has four left turns on what is ultimately a clockwise loop.

Stephen H | 24.02.26 - 11:44 p.m. | #

969 has a loop near Whitton and a loop near Mortlake. The bus also does a loop around the junction south of Barnes when turning, and used to have another loop near Whitton.

K3 does a loop around Claygate in one direction.

dg writes; The K3 is one of the Top 5 routes by total looped distance (3.6km), just behind the R5, R10, B14 and 404.

Sophie | 25.02.26 - 8:31 p.m. | #











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