In 2009, Transport for London consulted on the possibility of introducing the route. Transport for London confirmed in February 2010 that the route was going ahead, and would be introduced in October. In preparation for introducing the route, route 972 which ran two return journeys per week was withdrawn, as was a shuttle bus service operated by
Tesco between their Brent Cross supermarket and Brent Cross Shopping Centre. The route was introduced on 23 October 2010. Operation of the route was taken over by
Metroline on 24 October 2015. In 2020, Transport for London launched a consultation for the extension of the route from
Stanmore station to Centennial Park in
Elstree, via the
Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital. Calls for the route to serve the hospital had previously been dismissed by Transport for London as it stated the extension would require an additional bus and that there was insufficient demand. In July 2021, it was announced that the extension will go ahead. ==Current route==