Running between Woolwich and Bluewater Shopping Centre, it is operated by Stagecoach London.

Because this stretch is outside Greater London, it runs express between these points, only stopping at Darent Valley Hospital in between.

[4] On 31 July 2006, a vehicle operating route 96 bound for Bluewater caught fire in Dartford.

[6] There were proposals as early as 2011 to alter the route to run via Darent Valley Hospital.

[7] However, this change was delayed as it was deemed necessary to use the Fastrack Bus Lanes, and Kent County Council had refused to allow route 96 to use it.