Running between Canada Water bus station and Hampstead Heath, it is operated by Go-Ahead London.

In June 1956, the Willesden to Marylebone station section was replaced by route 176.

[2] On 3 October 2009, East Thames Buses was sold to Go-Ahead London, which included a five-year contract to operate route 1.

[3][4][5][6] London General commenced a further contract on 1 October 2016 with a peak vehicle requirement of 17 Wright Gemini 3 bodied Volvo B5LHs.

[7][8][9] In November 2021 Transport for London launched a successful consultation with a view of merging routes 1 service between Hampstead Heath and Canada Water, as well as re-routing route 188 to serve its former terminus at Tottenham Court Road.