Running numbers at most garages were allocated for particular routes. So TB 14 seen on a RT on route 47 would mean it was Bromley's duty 14 on route 47.
Garage plates were worn in the early days, but at some date they were painted onto the buses in the plate holder position. If a bus was loaned to another garage aluminium garage plates could then be inserted over the painted code..
The following list is not complete. There was a number of small private garages taken over at the formation of London Transport which were allocated codes, and operated buses, for a short period. There is also a number of operating bases for small modern operators about which I have gleaned little.
| Code | Garage | Opening dates, notes | Closure dates, notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Sutton | 01/1924 | London General |
| AA | Merton Abbey outstation | 1989 | |
| AB | Twickenham | 03/1912 LGOC 06/1919 reopened 04/1924 reopened | 01/1919 requisitioned by RFC 05/21 closed: used for body building 04/70 closed |
| AC | Willesden | 1912 LGOC | Metroline |
| AD | Palmers Green | 07/1912 LGOC | Arriva London N |
| AE | Hendon | 03/1913 LGOC | 06/87 closed |
| AF | Putney, Chelverton Rd | 1888 horse buses, 1912 motor buses | London General |
| AG/CH | Ash Grove | 04/1981 LT 05/94 Kentish Bus (CH: Cambridge Heath) 3/00 reopened: East Thames Buses (AG) | 11/91 closed 02/98 left by Kentish Bus East Thames Buses/HackneyCT |
| AH | Nunhead | 1911 National Steam Car Co: steam buses 04/1920 reopened by LGOC used by LT as workshops leased to Charles Banfield. 1979 used by Obsolete Fleet | 11/1919 closed 01/54 closed |
| AH | Brentford | 1999 Armchair | Metroline |
| AK | Streatham | 06/1913 LGOC for MET buses 02/87 reopened after rebuild | 10/84 temporary relocation to CA 03/92 closed |
| AL | Merton | 11/1913, LGOC | London General |
| AM | Plumstead | 10/1913 LGOC 1919 re-opened | c1914 requisitioned by WD 10/81 closed |
| AN | Catford | 1914 LGOC | closed 01/1915 (see TL) |
| AP | Seven Kings | 05/1913 LGOC | 03/93 closed |
| AQ | Camden Town | 11/1905 Associated Omnibus | 09/33 closed |
| AR | Tottenham | 07/1913 MET buses, 06/19 LGOC | Arriva London N |
| AT | Acton Tram Depot | 1896 LUT horse trams, 04/1901 electric trams, 04/36 trolleybuses 1990 reopened as bus garage | 03/37 closed: used as LT store First London |
| AV | Hounslow | 12/1913 LGOC 07/1919 reopened | 01/1915 requisitioned by WD London United:Transdev |
| AW | Abbey Wood | 04/1910, LCC Tramways, 07/52 buses | 10/81 closed |
| B | Battersea | 07/1906, London Road Car Co. re-opened, London Coaches | 11/85 closed 04/88 closed |
| B | Wood Lane, White City | 07/1992: outstation to S | 03/95 closed |
| BA | Battersea outstation | Kentish Bus, yard next to B | Arriva London S |
| BB | Battersea Minibus unit | 06/93, opposite B | 06/98 closed |
| BC | Beddington Cross | 02/2000 Connex | |
| BD | Brookdell Yard, Garston | Metroline outstation | |
| BE | Blue Triangle, Rainham | Go-Ahead London | |
| BF/CN | Beddington Farm | 12/90 London Country SW (CN) 10/90 Arriva London South (BF) | Arriva London S |
| BK | Barking | 01/1924 LGOC, 1931 modernised | East London Bus Group |
| BN | Brixton | 1892 cable trams, 1906 electric trams, 1951 buses | Arriva London S |
| BT | Brixton Hill, Waterworks Rd | Green Line Private Hire | LPTB 1937 |
| BT | Borehamwood | BTS | Transdev |
| BV | Belvedere | 02/98 Harris Bus, 05/2000 East Thames Buses | East Thames Buses |
| BW | Bow | 1908 LCC trams, 11/39 trolleybuses, 08/59 buses | East London Bus Group |
| BX | Bexleyheath | 11/1935 LPTB 01/1988 reopened: Bexleybus, 11/90 London Central | 08/86 closed London Central |
| C | Athol Street, Poplar | 1879 LGOC horse buses, 1907 motor buses | 05/61 closed |
| C | Croydon | Metrobus | Metrobus |
| CA | Clapham | 1885 London Tramways, 05/1903 electric trams, 10/50 buses 03/1961 National Transport Museum 1981 LT, rebuilt garage opened | 11/58 closed 04/73 closed 02/87 closed |
| CB/CK | Chiswick Tram Depot | 1883: horse buses, 07/1901 LUT: new depot, 07/35 bus garage (CK) during AF rebuild 1966 used for BEA fleet | 1922 bought by LCC, mainly store 03/36 reverted to store 08/78 BEA departed rebuilt as Stamford Brook |
| CE | Hendon, Colindale | 1904 MET trams (Hendon), 1913 trams & MET buses (Hendon) 7/36 trolleybuses (Hendon), 7/50 renamed Colindale | 1914 bus garage closed 1/62 closed |
| CF | Chalk Farm | 03/1916, LGOC | 07/93 closed |
| CL | Clay Hall | 10/1931 rebuilt from Y | 11/59 closed |
| CN | Sutton, Carshalton | 1906 South Met trams (Sutton), 12/35 trolleybuses (Sutton) 07/50 renamed Carshalton, 3/59 buses | 01/64 closed |
| CT | Hackney, Clapton | 1882 North Met Tramways: horse trams, LCC: 1909 electric trams, 9/39 trolleybuses (Hackney), 1950 renamed Clapton, 04/59 motor buses 05/89 reopened | 08/87 closed Arriva London N |
| D | Dalston | 07/1906 Motor Bus Co. 01/1908 re-opened, Vanguard | */1907 closed */81 closed |
| DM | Dagenham Dock | 11/1989 Ensignbus | First Capital |
| BR/DX | Barking | 03/1992 Grey-Green | Arriva London NE |
| E | Enfield | 1927 LGOC for Public, 10/84 modernised | Arriva London N |
| ED | Elmers End | 03/29 LGOC | 10/86 closed |
| EM | Edmonton | 1881 N.London Suburban Tramway Co: steam trams, 1902 MET 10/38 trolleybuses, 04-07/61 buses | 01/86 closed |
| EM | Edmonton (Gibbs Rd) | 1991 County Bus | 09/97 closed |
| ED/EM/EC | Edmonton (Wharf) | 1993 London Suburban Bus (ED), then MTL London 09/97 County Bus (EM/EC) | 06/96 closed Arriva London NE |
| EW/BT | Edgware | 1925 LGOC, 01/39 new building, 10/84 third garage 05/99 half leased by Sov (BT), 11/99 other half reclaimed by Metroline | 03/93 shed closed: midibus base Metroline (EW), Sovereign (BT) |
| F | Putney Bridge | 1913 National Steam Car Co: steam trams 01/20 LGOC motor buses | 1919 closed 11/58 closed |
| FW | Fulwell | 1902 LUT, trams, 05/31-10/35 trolleybuses, 05/62 buses | London United: Transdev |
| FY | Finchley | 07/1905 MET, 08/36 trolleybuses, 11/61 buses | 01/94 closed |
| G | Forest Gate | 1898 Great Eastern London Motor Omnibus Co. | 04/60 closed |
| G | Greenford | 03/1993 leased from London Borough of Ealing | First London |
| GB | Victoria Basement | 10/1986: operations by Central London Minibus unit | 06/93 closed |
| GM | Victoria,Gillingham St | 03/40 LT | 07/93 closed |
| H | Hackney | 06/1911 LGOC | 04/81 closed |
| H | Hackney | First London | |
| HB | Hammersmith | 05/1908 LCC trams, 0937 trolleybuses, 1961 BEA coaches | 07/66 closed |
| HD | Harrow Weald | 04/1930 LGOC | Metroline |
| WK/HH | Hounslow Heath | 06/1987 Westlink (WK), renamed HH in 1999 | Transdev |
| HL | Hanwell | 1901 LUT, 11/36 trolleybuses, 11/60 buses | 03/93 closed |
| HR | Harlesden | 1994 Atlas Bus, 11/94 Metroline | |
| HS | Hayes | First London | |
| HT | Holloway, Highgate | 11/1907 LCC trams (Holloway), 3/38-04/52 trolleybuses 1950 renamed Highgate, 07/60-04/61 buses, 09/71 renamed Holloway | Metroline |
| - | Hounslow (Albion Rd) | AML Coaches, LCSW 1994 | - |
| HW | Hanwell, Southall | 03/25 LGOC (Hanwell), 1950 renamed Southall | 08/86 closed |
| ID | Ilford | 1903 Ilford UDC trams, 2/38 trolleybuses | 08/59 closed |
| IH | Hounslow, Isleworth | 07/1901 LUT, 10/35 trolleybuses, 195* renamed Isleworth | 05/62 closed |
| J | Holloway | 187* LGOC horse buses, 1911 motor buses | 09/71 closed |
| K | Kingston | 01/1922 LGOC | 2000 closed |
| KX | Kings Cross | 06/08 moved to Old Potato Mkt | |
| L | Loughton | 1923 LGOC | 12/53 closed |
| L | Loughton | 12/53 LT, new garage | 05/86 closed |
| L | Leyton (Ruckholt Rd) | BRS depot, 11/88 Kentish Bus | 05/86 closed |
| LB | Leyton, Lea Bridge | 1889 Leyton & Walthamstow Tramways Co., 1906 Leyton UDC trams 06/39 trolleybuses, 1950 renamed Lea Bridge | 04/59 closed |
| LM | Lewisham (Deptford) | 1994 Kentish Bus | 1996 closed |
| LV | Lee Valley | Arriva London | |
| M | Mortlake | 1901 LGOC horse bus stables, 07/1906 motor buses | 06/83 closed |
| MB | Metrobus Bromley | 08/86 Metrobus | Metrobus |
| MH | Muswell Hill | 09/25 LGOC | 07/90 closed |
| Muswell Hill (LCNW) | 04/87 LCNW | 06/88 closed | |
| MW | Mandela Way | London General | |
| N | Norwood | 03/1909 LGOC 1984, reopened after rebuild | 04/81 closed for rebuild Arriva London S |
| NA | North Acton | R&I Coaches, 1995 MTL, 1998 Metroline | closed |
| NB | Norbiton | 05/52 LT | 09/91 closed |
| NP | Northumberland Park | First London | |
| NS | Romford, North Street | 08/1953 LT | East London Bus Group |
| NW | North Wembley | 1994 midibus base | Metroline |
| NX | New Cross | 1906 LCC trams, 1951-2 buses | London Central |
| OB | Orpington | 08/1986 midibus base | 12/95 closed |
| ON | Alperton | 06/39 LPTB | First London |
| P | Old Kent Road | London Tramways Co: horse trams, take-over by LCC: electric trams 1907 reopened, Vanguard: motor buses | closed 11/58 closed |
| PA | West Perivale | Armchair, Metroline | |
| PB | Potters Bar | 05/30 LGOC for Overground | Metroline |
| PD | Plumstead | 10/1981 London Buses | East London Bus Group |
| PL | Plough Lane | London General | |
| PM | Peckham | 1876 Thomas Tilling: horse buses, later motor buses and works 05/51: LT new garage | 01/94 closed |
| PM | Peckham low-cost base | 01/1994, London Buses | London Central |
| PR | Poplar | 12/1906 LCC trams, 6/40 trolleybuses, 11/59 motor buses | 11/85 closed |
| PV | Perivale | Metroline | |
| Q | Camberwell | 06/1914 LGOC, 07/1919 reopened | 11/1914 requisitioned by WD London Central |
| R | Hammersmith, Riverside | 12/1913 LGOC (Hammersmith), 1950 renamed Riverside | 06/83 closed |
| RA | Waterloo Red Arrow | 1990 London Buses | London General |
| RD | Romford, Hornchurch | 07/1924 LGOC (Romford), 1935 renamed Hornchurch | 09/88 closed |
| RL | Rye Lane | 01/1952 LT | 03/69 closed |
| S | Shepherds Bush | 02/1907 Vanguard 1919 partly reopened 07/23 reopened after rebuild by LGOC | World War One: requisitioned 01/1920 closed for rebuild London United: Transdev |
| SD | Stratford | 09/1992 London Buses | closed |
| SE | Stonebridge Park | 10/1906 MET trams, 07/36 trolleybuses, 01/62 motor buses | 08/81 closed |
| SF | Stamford Hill | 02/1907 LCC trams, 02/39 trolleybuses, 07/61 motor buses reopened for Leaside Travel | 05/95 closed 03/2000 mothballed |
| SI | Silvertown | Docklands Buses | |
| SP | Sidcup | 06/1924 LGOC | 01/88 closed |
| SW | Stockwell | 04/1952 LT | London General |
| T | Leyton | 1912 LGOC | East London Bus Group |
| TB | Bromley | 04/1924 LGOC for Thomas Tilling | East London Bus Group |
| TC | Croydon | 01/1916 LGOC for Thomas Tilling | Arriva London S |
| TH | Thornton Heath | 10/1879 Croydon Tramways, 09/1901 electric trams 04/51 re-opened, motor buses | 01/1950: staff/trams to Purley Arriva London S |
| TL | Catford | 10/1920 LGOC for Thomas Tilling | East London Bus Group |
| TV | Tolworth | 11/2001, London United | London United: Transdev |
| U | Upton Park | 1907 London Road Car Co. reopened 05/1919 | 11/1915 requisitioned East London Bus Group |
| UX | Uxbridge | 1921 LGOC (Denham), 12/83 new garage at UX Stn | First London |
| V | Turnham Green | 1899 LGOC horse buses, 05/1911 motor buses | 05/80 closed |
| V | Stamford Brook | 05/1980 after rebuild from CB | London United: Transdev |
| W | Dollis Hill, Cricklewood | 1898 LGOC Dollis Hill stables, 1905 motor buses | Metroline |
| WA | Waterden Road | Stagecoach East London | closed |
| WD | Wandsworth | 1883 South London Tramways, 1902 LCC, 08/1906 rebuilt, 09/37-09/50 trolleybuses & trams, 09/50 buses 04/88 reopened for London Coaches, RLST | 07/87 closed: store,Lon Coaches Arriva TOLST |
| WG | West Green | 1922 Admiral, 1927 Public, 03/28 LGOC | 01/62 closed |
| WH | West Ham | 10/1906 West Ham Corporation Tramways, 06/37 trolleybuses, 59-60 motor buses | 10/92 closed |
| WJ | Willesden Junction | First London | |
| WL | Camberwell, Walworth | 1891 London Tramways Co, then LCC Camberwell, 07/50 renamed Walworth, 10/51 motor buses 1987 reopened as Red Arrow temporary base 12/92 reopened for Londonlinks reopened by Travel London | 11/85 closed closed again 08/97 closed again |
| WN | Wood Green | North Met steam trams, 07/1904 MET trams, 05/38 trolleybuses 04-11/61 motor buses | Arriva London N |
| WW | Walthamstow | 06/1905 Walthamstow UDC: electric trams, 1936-7 trolleybuses 02/60 buses | 1994 closed |
| WR | Heathrow, West Ramp | 01/1995 | 2000 closed |
| X | Middle Row Kensington | 05/1910 LGOC | 08/81 closed |
| X | Westbourne Park | 08/1981 LT | First London |
| Y | Old Ford | 1897 LGOC horse buses, 10/1910 motor buses 07/1919 reopened: lorry buses rebuilt as Clay Hall | 04/1917 closed 01/1920 closed: used as store see CL |
| Y | Orpington | 03/1996 First Orpington |