[2] Route 97 was included in the July 1998 sale of Capital Citybus to First London.

[3][4] Upon being re-tendered, it was retained by First London with a new contract commencing on 26 February 2000.

When next tendered, it passed to Stagecoach London's Leyton garage with a new contract commencing on 5 March 2005.

[7] On 31 August 2013, the route was diverted to serve the new residential precinct around the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

[8] Sister route 97A operated from 1981 and 2000 between Chingford and Walthamstow Central with various extensions to Leyton, Hackney and latterly Whipps Cross.