Running between Parliament Hill Fields and Clapham Common, it is operated by Go-Ahead London.

[1] In 1993, route 88 became the first in London to use kneeling buses, with air suspension that lowered at bus stops to give a significantly reduced ground clearance to make access easier.

[2] Between 1993 and 1997, a fleet of 12 m (39 ft) Northern Counties Paladin-bodied Volvo B10Bs, which featured branding that styled the service as "The Clapham Omnibus", were operated by London General on route 88.

The Paladins were withdrawn in 1997 due to issues caused by their length and replaced with double-decker buses.

[8] On 30 March 2019, the route was extended from Camden Town to Parliament Hill Fields and re-routed between Camden Town and Great Portland Street Station to go via Albany Street and ultimately replace the C2, which ceased operation entirely.