| Number: | 281 |
| Bgcolor: | red |
| Titlecolor: | white |
| Operator: | RATP Dev Transit London |
| Garage: | Fulwell |
| Vehicle: | Alexander Dennis Enviro400EV Volvo B5LH Wright Gemini 3 |
| Pvr: | Day: 19 Night: 4[1] |
| Open: | 9 May 1962 |
| Predecessors: | Trolleybus Route 601 |
| Night: | 24-hour service |
| Start: | Hounslow bus station |
| Via: | Whitton Twickenham Teddington Kingston Surbiton |
| End: | Tolworth station |
| Level: | 24-hour service |
| Frequency: | About every 8 minutes |
| Day: | 24-hour service |
| Time: | 45-81 minutes |
London Buses route 281 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. Running between Hounslow bus station and Tolworth station, it is operated by RATP Dev Transit London.
Route 281 was introduced between Twickenham and Tolworth on 9 May 1962 to replace trolleybus route 601, operating from Fulwell garage.[2] [3] [4] On 15 August 1981 it was converted from AEC Routemaster to MCW Metrobus operation.
In 2000, the route was identified as one of the most popular in London, with approximately 5.5 million passengers using the service that year.[5]
On 3 June 2006, route 281 became the 100th night bus service in London, when a 24-hour service introduced.[6] It replaced a portion of route N22, which was shortened to end at Fulwell.[7]
Since the privatisation of London bus services, it has always been operated by London United (now RATP Dev Transit London) out of Fulwell garage.[8] [9] [10]
Route 281 operates via these main locations:[11]
In July 2005, shortly after the 7 July 2005 London bombings, the route was the subject of a hoax bomb threat.[12]