Have you lost something on a London bus ? Find out how to report a lost item with Transport for London’s bus lost property service.

About London Buses and TfL
Transport for London (TfL) operates one of the largest urban bus networks in the world, with over 700 routes serving all parts of Greater London. The London bus network carries around 6 million passengers a day, making it the backbone of the city’s public transport system. Routes run 24 hours a day across central London, supplemented by night bus services across the wider network. The iconic red double-decker buses are a symbol of the city as much as a practical service.
With such enormous passenger volumes particularly on busy routes through central London, the City, and major interchanges such as Victoria, Liverpool Street, and Waterloo, items are left on buses every day. Phones, bags, keys, cards, and travel passes are among the most commonly lost items. TfL centralises lost property from all buses through a single office, making it straightforward to report losses regardless of which route you were travelling on.
What Should You Do If You’ve Lost Something on a London Bus ?
If you notice the loss immediately after leaving the bus, try to stay at the stop and flag the bus driver’s attention if the bus is still present. If the bus has already departed, don’t chase it contact TfL’s lost property office instead.
Items found on London buses are collected and sent to the TfL Lost Property Office in South Kensington. The process can take a few days before items are logged into the system, so wait 48 to 72 hours before visiting in person.
How to Report a Lost Item on a London Bus
Contact TfL’s Lost Property Office during opening hours. Provide the bus route number, the date and time of your journey, the bus stop where you boarded and alighted, and a clear description of the item. Include your contact details so TfL can reach you when the item is found. You can also complete and send in the Lost Item Report Form on our platform so that our team can assist you in reporting your lost item(s).
How Long Does TfL Keep Lost Property ?
TfL keeps lost property for a limited period. Items are typically retained for three months before being disposed of or donated. High-value items such as passports, bank cards, and medical equipment are handled separately and may be forwarded to the relevant authorities.
The TfL Lost Property Office also handles items lost on the London Underground, London Overground, Elizabeth line, DLR, and TfL Rail services so if you are unsure exactly where you lost an item during a journey involving multiple modes of transport, a single report to the office covers all TfL services.
Tips to Efficiently Report a Lost Item
- Note the bus route number and the direction of travel
- Record the approximate time and the stop where you alighted
- Describe the item in detail brand, colour, size, and any identifying features
- Provide your contact details including both a phone number and email
- Wait 48 to 72 hours after the loss before visiting in person items take time to reach the office
Contact the TfL Lost Property Office
Lost Property Office London Bus (TfL)
Address : Subway station South Kensington
63-81 Pelham St
London SW7 2NJ
Opening hours : Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM
The office is closed on weekends and bank holidays. Items lost at the weekend can be reported online at any time and will be processed when the office reopens.
Can You Recover Your Item After Leaving London ?
Yes. TfL’s lost property office accepts enquiries from passengers who have already left London. If the item is found, collection in person is possible during opening hours. For visitors from outside the UK, discuss forwarding options with the TfL team. Given the large volume of items handled, following up by phone after submitting a report is recommended for high-value items.
Recent Lost Items Reported in London buses
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Black pouch in London bus (UK)
Description of lost item(s) : THE ITEMS ARE CONTAINED IN A BLACK POUCH; 1 DIGITAL THERMOMETER 1 BLOOD PRESSURE MACHINE 1 PULSE OXIMETER 1 SMALL POUCH BP CUFFS Location of loss :…
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Black leather River Island wallet in London bus (UK)
Description of lost item(s) : Wallet black Location of loss : On the Sl8 bus from sheperds bus market station to Hayes at roughly 6.20 pm this evening Date of loss :…
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Spectacles on London bus 26 between Fleet St and Charing Cross (UK)
Description of lost item(s) : Standard reading glasses but no spectacles case. Location of loss : Last rear nearside seat on 26 bus heading to Victoria on lower deck. Lost between Fleet…
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Black backpack on London bus route 71 (UK)
Description of lost item(s) : One black backpack left on number 71 bus on the morning of 5 June 2026. It contains 2 books, an umbrella, bag with medication, blue cloth bag…
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Plastic bag with aftershave and perfumes and other small items in flight from London Gatwick airport to Belfast airport (UK)
Description of lost item(s) : A plastic bag with aftershaves perfume, red London bus toy keyring and other small items. A picture of two women in a London taxi at Madame Tussaud’s…
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Samsung Tab S8 Ultra on the 78 London bus to Shoreditch (UK)
Description of lost item(s) : It's a Samsung tab S8 Ultra with an S-Pen. It is in a flowery pouch that is nude to burnt orange in colour. For the lock screen…
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Wallet on London bus 281 (UK)
Description of lost item(s) : Wallet with contain my identification, driving license, bank cards, Location of loss : In the bus 281 coming from lidel in teddington, at about 9h20, on the…
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Brown wallet containing various ID cards in London bus (UK)
Description of lost item(s) : A brown leather wallet containing my revolut atm card, Monzo card, Nigeria issued international drivers license and 2 oyster cards Location of loss : Inside the bus…
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Bag on London bus (UK)
Description of lost item(s) : I lost my springwest school bag on the floor of the bus on the 482 bus heading towards Southall, it was on the back section of the…
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Pair of yellow wedges in London Bus from Elephant and Castle to Croydon Town Centre (UK)
Description of lost item(s) : I must have lost my shoe on 468 bus from Elephant and Castle to Croydon in between 08:16 – 09:15 in Sunday 19/04/2026. I was sitting downstairs…
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Navy plaid Burberry umbrella on London bus from W. Norwood to Brixton (UK)
Description of lost item(s) : Ladies non-folding umbrella, navy blue plaid, Burberry, black handle with black cord shoulder strap Location of loss : No 432 bus, boarded at West Norwood, arrived Brixton…
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Pink backpack on London bus H28 (UK)
Description of lost item(s) : I believe I left my daughter’s backpack on the H28 bus at around 11:59 AM 26-12-2025 when I got off at the Navigator Park.l bus stop. The…
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Orange Sainsbury’s bag lost on London bus 74 at Putney (United Kingdom)
Description of lost item(s) : Orange bag with the Sainsbury logo with a little dirty construction worker clothes. There are also some tools in the bag and a green jacket with the…
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Men’s wallet containing credit card (Santander) and Freedom Pass on London bus (UK)
Description of lost item(s) : Zipped wallet for Freedom Pass Lost on 43 Bus in Holloway Road on 13th February around 9.30 am Location of loss : 43 Bus Holloway Road Date…
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White bag containing Lenovo X1 laptop and books on London bus 19 (UK)
Description of lost item(s) : White canvas bag containing a lenovo x1 laptop and 2 books 1 in English and 1 in Italian. I left it on the bus route 19 at…
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Brown Diesel wallet with ID and other cards in a London bus (UK)
This report of lost property was transmitted in French Description of lost item(s) : J'ai perdu mon porte monnaie avec à l'intérieur ma carte d'identité, ma carte vitale, ma carte bleu, mon…
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Black beret on London bus 205 (United-Kingdom)
Description of lost item(s) : a black beret lost on the upper deck of the bus 205 just before getting off at islington angel Location of loss : on the upper deck…
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Black Eastpack rucksack, containing a pair of Nike flip-flops and a pair of white Nike TN, along with boxer shorts and a pair of socks in a London bus (UK)
This report of lost property was transmitted in French Description of lost item(s) : Un sac eastpack noir contenant Une paire de claquettes nike Des chaussettes noir jordan avec des chaussettes blanche…
Information Last Updated On :

If you have lost one or several item(s), you will find information on how to contact a lost and found property service on this page. Contact information following the loss of an item
Name : Lost Property Office - London bus
Address : Subway station South Kensington63-81 Pelham St, London SW7 2NJ
Phone number : +44 343 222 1234
Opening hours : Monday-friday 8:30 am to 4:00 pm
Website : https://tfl.gov.uk/help-and-contact/lost-property
List of the main items found
- Lost Personal Items : Keys, ID, Passport, Wallet, Documents, Badge, Licence (...)
- Lost Electronics : Phone, Tablet, Device charger, Camera, Laptop, Headphones (...)
- Lost Accessories : Purse, Bag, Backpack, Sunglasses, Eyeglasses, Jewellery (...)
- Lost Clothing : Gloves, Cap, Hat, Scarf, Sweater, Coat, Vest (...)
