Heathrow-bound: the SL7 is one of three SuperLoop routes introduced in 2023 which link Croydon to outer and central London
The SL7 SuperLoop bus that runs the near-marathon length route from West Croydon to Heathrow Airport has been given a reprieve.
Draft proposals to reduce the route, and have it start only from Sutton, with the SL5 extended from Bromley through Croydon to Sutton, were leaked last year amid suggestions that the long journey times in built-up traffic were seeing the electric buses running low on fuel.
At 24 miles long, the SL7 is London’s longest bus route, with journeys all the way from West Croydon to Heathrow supposed to take 1hr 42min.
But even with bus priority lanes and a reduced number of stops, the journey can often take longer. Or, as Transport for London would have it, the SL7 is “susceptible to traffic conditions as it travels through key town centres and shopping hubs in outer London”.
An announcement from TfL this week has confirmed that the SL7 – what used to be the X26 route – is here to stay.
The SuperLoop routes have generally been welcomed as a positive improvement to public transport in outer London since their introduction in 2023, adding almost 4million miles to London’s bus network, with stops in 23 boroughs and serving 55 bus and rail stations.
The SL7 has been doubled in frequency since the SuperLoop was introduced, running every 15minutes.
Croydon’s other SuperLoop routes are the SL5 to Bromley North and the SL6 from Russell Square to West Croydon via West Norwood, Waterloo and Holborn (Monday to Friday peak services only).
Going forward: the SuperLoop system map, as at May 2025, with the SL7, Sl5 and SL6 all serving Croydon destinations
And SuperLoop buses operate the same fares system as all other London buses. For £1.75, you can travel direct from West Croydon to Heathrow Airport.
The route reprieve has come after some urgent lobbying of London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan.
Addiscombe councillor Sean Fitzsimons said this week, “Residents told me that changing buses at Sutton would probably put them off using the service, especially at night time.
“I was also concerned that this was a threat to Croydon’s economy as it reduced our direct connections across south-west London to places like Kingston and Heathrow Airport.
“So it is good news that Sadiq Khan and TfL have listened to Croydon residents and that Croydon residents can continue to travel the 24-mile trip for the cost of a single bus fare.”
As Inside Croydon found out in 2022, it is possible to travel from Croydon to Heathrow using Thameslink and Elizabeth line trains in 1hr 15min – almost half-an-hour quicker than taking the bus, although with significantly more expensive fares.
Read more: Not so superloopy about our Superloop route into London
Read more: Lick of paint and a new logo won’t get our axed bus routes back
Read more: All change for Elizabeth Line trains on faster track to Heathrow
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