Night bus
What it really means
Buses that run through the night after the normal services stop. In London their route numbers start with "N", such as the N29. Slower than the day services, but they get you home cheaply.
Context, tips & common mistakes
In London and larger cities, night buses take over when trains and the Underground stop — London's carry an 'N' before the route number and radiate from central hubs like Trafalgar Square. Fares work exactly as by day (contactless tap, daily cap includes night journeys), but routes and stops often differ from the daytime version of the same number, so check the journey planner rather than assuming.
Sensible habits: know your last train time (earlier than many expect, especially Sundays), sit downstairs near the driver if travelling alone late, and have a licensed-taxi backup plan for after any night out beyond the network. Outside big cities, assume there is no night service at all and plan accordingly.