Arriva London

Arriva London

Alexander Dennis Enviro400 on route 466 in February 2013
Parent	Arriva
Founded	1998
Headquarters	Wood Green
Service area	Greater London
Service type	Bus operator
Routes	85 (May 2015)
Depots	17
Fleet	1,460 (May 2015)
Website	www.arrivalondon.com

Arriva London is a bus company operating services in Greater London. It is a subsidiary of Arriva and operates services under contract to Transport for London. It was formed in 1998 from a fusion of previously separate Arriva subsidiaries Grey-Green, Leaside Buses, Kentish Bus, London & Country and South London Transport. Operations are split between two registered companies, Arriva London North Limited and Arriva London South Limited.

The origins of Arriva London can be traced back to 1980 when the Cowie Group purchased the Grey-Green coach business in London. In February 1987, Grey-Green commenced operating bus routes in north and east London under contract to London Regional Transport.

Meanwhile, on 1 April 1989 London Buses was divided into 11 separate business units, two of which were Leaside Buses and South London Transport. As part of the privatisation of London bus services, the Cowie Group purchased these business units in September 1994 and January 1995. Leaside Buses operated six depots in Clapton, Enfield, Palmers Green, Stamford Hill, Tottenham and Wood Green and South London Transport four in Brixton, Norwood, South Croydon and Thornton Heath.

On 1 August 1996, the Cowie Group purchased British Bus, which owned the Kentish Bus and London & Country businesses that also operated London bus services. In November 1997, the Cowie Group was rebranded as Arriva. Shortly after, Grey-Green, Kentish Bus, Leaside Buses, London & Country and South London Transport were all brought together under the Arriva London brand.