On the 38 bus from Islington to Hackney at New Year (A People’s not Farage’s London)
The 38 bus has a place in left history. David Widgery left an MS on it and Sheila Rowbotham notes journeys in her memoirs.
It runs from Victoria Station through Central London to Islington, central Hackney and ends at Clapton Pond- the Lea Bridge Roundabout. However, for those who may not have noticed, TFL have plans to curtail the route at Holborn in 2026. Details are on the TFL website https://haveyoursay.tfl.gov.uk/bus-routes-19-38 Comments are open until 23rd January 2026. While TFL doesn’t have a great record of listening to individual comments if local Councils, Councillors, residents associations etc get involved then changes are not always a fait accompli
I catch it from time to time often on Friday evening from Angel Islington to central Hackney (destination the Cock Tavern E8 obviously).
I was on board again on New Year’s Eve 31st December 2025 travelling from Angel Islington to Hackney. The journey continues to be disrupted by apparently never ending road works in central Hackney.
Off to meet friends for a New Year drink (or several as it turned out) at the Cock in Hackney I had a heavy bag and so stayed downstairs. It was a working day but much quieter than usual. Many are off work and/or out of London at this time of year. The talk was confined to two key points. People wishing others a Happy New Year and people thanking the driver as they got off. Very much a People’s London rather than the Dionysian view in Farage’s New Year missive.
I had been on board a couple of weeks earlier on Tuesday 16th December, for (of course) Christmas drinks with friends Hazel, Ian and James
What were they were talking about on the upper deck?
It was a very seasonal discussion about what the difference between a cold and the flu was and whether it was possible to go to work if you had the latter (no seemed to be the answer)
A 38 Journey a few months ago found the following discussion
Jeremy Corbyn is starting a new party
Hotels in New York are crap
Good places to eat in Dalston
Holidays in Europe.
What they were not talking about
Small boats
Farage
Asylum seekers
I might add that despite media stories about the North London Elite, both Hackney and Islington remain majority working class areas. But for balance in London bus travellers particularly at commuting time (5pm) can be more middle class than might be the case in some other places. Bus travel in London (card only) remains low cost though that’s no help if you have no money
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