A building fire near Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich, South East London, has forced the closure of Stadium Road and caused disruption to several London bus routes.
The incident was reported on Wednesday 28 October 2026, with a transport alert issued at approximately 12.25pm confirming that Stadium Road had been closed in both directions near the hospital.
The closure affected several bus services operating around Woolwich Common, Academy Road, Ha-Ha Road and Stadium Road.
According to an operational update shared through TfL’s London Bus Network, London Fire Brigade subsequently allowed buses to regain access to the bus stand area.
An updated notice issued at 1pm confirmed that diversions had been amended, although several routes continued to operate via alternative roads.
Stadium Road Closed Near Queen Elizabeth Hospital
The initial transport notification reported that Stadium Road, SE18, had been closed in both directions near Queen Elizabeth Hospital because of a building fire.
The restriction affected bus movements in the area, with services unable to follow their usual routes while emergency access arrangements were in place.
The location is a key route for buses serving Queen Elizabeth Hospital and surrounding parts of Woolwich.
At the time of the initial report, details about the building involved and the extent of the fire had not been confirmed.
There was also no confirmed information about injuries or evacuations.
London Fire Brigade Allows Buses Back Into Stadium Road Stand
A further operational update at 1pm confirmed that London Fire Brigade was allowing buses to enter the Stadium Road bus stand.
Transport controllers subsequently revised diversions for affected services.
Although access to the stand had been restored, the update did not confirm that Stadium Road had fully reopened to all traffic.
The revised arrangements allowed a number of buses to reach the stand using alternative approaches through Academy Road, Woolwich Common and Ha-Ha Road.
Seven London Bus Routes Affected by Woolwich Fire
The initial closure affected seven bus routes:
- 161
- 178
- 244
- 291
- 386
- 469
- 486
Under the revised arrangements issued at 1pm, routes 161, 178, 244, 386 and 486 continued to use amended approaches to Stadium Road.
Routes 291 and 469 were listed as operating along their normal lines of route.
The update indicated that buses using the Stadium Road stand could turn around there before continuing their journeys.
Passengers travelling to Queen Elizabeth Hospital or through the Woolwich Common area were advised to expect potential disruption while the incident was being dealt with.
Emergency Response Continues as Cause of Fire Remains Unconfirmed
The London Fire Brigade’s involvement prompted temporary restrictions around Stadium Road to allow emergency operations to take place.
However, the available transport notice did not specify the number of fire engines attending, the type of building affected or whether anyone had been injured.
The cause of the reported fire has not been established.
There has been no confirmation that the fire involved Queen Elizabeth Hospital itself.
Further information is awaited regarding the emergency response and the full reopening of Stadium Road.
Passengers travelling through the area should check Transport for London for the latest service information before setting off.
