London Buses route 281 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. Running between Hounslow bus station and Tolworth, 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]

• Hounslow bus station
• Hounslow station
• Whitton Admiral Nelson
• Twickenham Stadium
• Twickenham station
• Twickenham King Street
• Twickenham Prince Albert
• Fulwell station
• Teddington High Street
• Hampton Wick station
• Kingston upon Thames Wood Street
• Cromwell Road bus station for Kingston station
• Kingston station
• Kingston University
• Surbiton station
• Tolworth

In July 2005, shortly after the 7 July 2005 London bombings, the route was the subject of a hoax bomb threat.^[12]