TfL SL7 Carshalton Kingston Stops You Might Miss
The TfL SL7 is the Superloop express bus running between West Croydon and Heathrow Central, and the Carshalton-to-Kingston section takes you through Carshalton High Street, Sutton, Cheam, North Cheam, Worcester Park, New Malden, Kingston Station, and Wood Street before continuing toward Teddington and Heathrow. It was renumbered from X26 to SL7 on 19 August 2023, and TfL's timetable shows the main intermediate stops on this corridor clearly, including Carshalton High Street and Kingston Station. [web:1][web:5]
What the SL7 route covers
The SL7 corridor is one of London's longest bus links, connecting south London with west London and Heathrow on a single express route. London Buses route records describe the service as running through Croydon, Carshalton, Sutton, Cheam, Worcester Park, New Malden, Kingston, Teddington, Hatton Cross, and Heathrow. Wikipedia lists the route length at 23.75 miles, making it the longest bus route in London. [web:1][web:3]
The Carshalton and Kingston section is especially useful because it ties together suburban town centres with rail interchanges. TfL's timetable lists stops such as Carshalton High Street, Sutton / Grove Road, Cheam Broadway, North Cheam / London Road, Worcester Park Station, New Malden / Kingston Road, Kingston Station, and Wood Street. [web:5]
Stops between Carshalton and Kingston
If you are travelling specifically from Carshalton to Kingston, the SL7 generally serves the following main stopping pattern in that direction: Carshalton High Street, Sutton, Cheam Broadway, North Cheam, Worcester Park Station, New Malden, Kingston Station, and Wood Street. TfL's official timetable page presents these as the principal named stops in the westbound and eastbound patterns. [web:5]
| Stop order | Location | What it connects to | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carshalton High Street | Local town centre | Primary board/alight point for Carshalton passengers. [web:5] |
| 2 | Sutton / Grove Road | Sutton town centre and rail access | Useful for shopping and onward travel. [web:5] |
| 3 | Cheam Broadway | Cheam village area | Serves a major local centre on the corridor. [web:5] |
| 4 | North Cheam / London Road | Residential and retail catchment | Often overlooked by occasional riders. [web:5] |
| 5 | Worcester Park Station | National Rail interchange | Key rail-bus transfer point. [web:5] |
| 6 | New Malden / Kingston Road | Local district centre | Marks the approach to Kingston. [web:5] |
| 7 | Kingston Station | Rail and bus hub | Main destination stop for Kingston passengers. [web:5] |
| 8 | Wood Street | Kingston town centre edge | Useful for the retail core and river area. [web:5] |
Stops you might miss
Several hidden stops on the SL7 matter more than first-time riders expect. Worcester Park Station is a major interchange that can save time compared with changing to rail later, while Wood Street in Kingston places you close to the town centre without needing to continue to every end-stop. TfL's official stop list shows both stops as part of the core route pattern. [web:5]
Another easy-to-overlook stop is North Cheam / London Road, which is not as famous as Sutton or Kingston but can be the most practical boarding point for nearby streets. Carshalton High Street is also important because it is the route's most obvious access point for the Carshalton area, especially for local residents heading toward Kingston or the southwest section of the route. [web:5]
"The SL7 is designed as a fast, legible cross-London link, but its value is often in the intermediate town-centre stops that people only notice when they need them."
Service history
The route history is straightforward: SL7 began life as X26 before being renumbered into the Superloop network on 19 August 2023. The change also came with a frequency increase, which Wikipedia summarizes as every 8-20 minutes, reinforcing its role as a higher-visibility express service. TfL and route-history records show the same corridor continuing under the newer branding. [web:1][web:3]
That history matters because the route has long acted as a strategic orbital link rather than a simple local bus. It connects major suburban centres with Heathrow, which gives Carshalton and Kingston riders a one-seat ride to airports, town centres, and rail hubs. TfL's route page identifies it as a Superloop route, confirming its place in the wider express network. [web:5][web:9]
How the route is used
The SL7 pattern works best for medium-distance trips across south-west London, especially when the journey would otherwise require two or three changes. Transit data sources describe the full ride as taking roughly 85 to 115 minutes depending on direction, stopping pattern, and traffic conditions, which reflects the route's long cross-borough span. [web:2][web:4][web:6]
For everyday use, that means Carshalton passengers often rely on the SL7 for Kingston shopping, university trips, or rail access, while Kingston passengers use it for Sutton, Cheam, and Carshalton without going through central London. Because the route also continues to Heathrow, it has a broader utility profile than a normal local bus. [web:1][web:5]
Typical journey logic
- Board at Carshalton High Street for the quickest direct link toward Sutton and Kingston. [web:5]
- Use Sutton / Grove Road or Cheam Broadway if those are closer to your origin or destination. [web:5]
- Transfer at Worcester Park Station if you need rail options or a break in the bus journey. [web:5]
- Ride to Kingston Station for the main town-centre interchange. [web:5]
- Continue to Wood Street if your destination is the western edge of Kingston's centre. [web:5]
Practical rider notes
The official timetable is the best source for exact stop order because TfL notes that buses only stop at the points shown on the timetable. That means not every street-level location along the corridor is a guaranteed stop, and the named stops are the ones riders should plan around. [web:1][web:5]
For most passengers, the smartest approach is to treat the SL7 as an express spine with a few critical interchange nodes. Carshalton High Street, Worcester Park Station, Kingston Station, and Wood Street are the stops most likely to shape a trip, while Sutton and Cheam sit in the middle as major suburban anchors. [web:5]
Why this route matters
The Carshalton-Kingston link is valuable because it compresses a long chain of suburban destinations into one frequent service. The SL7's Superloop status gives it clearer branding and easier recognition than the old X26, which helps occasional riders understand that it is meant for longer, faster journeys rather than short local hops. [web:1][web:3][web:9]
For transport planning, that makes SL7 a rare bus line that behaves more like a strategic connector than a neighborhood route. It serves local shopping streets, rail stations, and airport access in one corridor, which is exactly why the intermediate stops between Carshalton and Kingston are so important. [web:1][web:5]
Helpful tips and tricks for Tfl Sl7 Carshalton Kingston Stops You Might Miss
What are the main stops between Carshalton and Kingston?
The main stops are Carshalton High Street, Sutton / Grove Road, Cheam Broadway, North Cheam / London Road, Worcester Park Station, New Malden / Kingston Road, Kingston Station, and Wood Street. TfL's timetable lists those as the key named points on the route. [web:5]
Is the SL7 the same as the old X26?
Yes. Route X26 was renumbered SL7 on 19 August 2023 and folded into the Superloop network. [web:1][web:3]
Does SL7 stop at every place in Kingston?
No. The official timetable shows specific named stops, with Kingston Station and Wood Street being the most relevant points for Kingston-bound riders. TfL also notes that buses only stop where the timetable indicates. [web:5][web:1]
Why do riders miss some SL7 stops?
Because the route is fast and long, many passengers focus only on the headline places like Sutton or Kingston and overlook useful intermediate stops such as Worcester Park Station and North Cheam / London Road. Those stops can be the most convenient depending on where you start or finish your trip. [web:5]