Route 49 is a long standing route, once running as far as Crystal Palace. On 26 November 1958 route 49 was extended from Shepherd's Bush to Willesden Junction on Sundays, to replace the withdrawn section of the Sunday service on route 12. By 15 May 1971 the route was withdrawn between Crystal Palace and Streatham Bus Garage, and replaced by route 249.
On 28 October 1978 the Sunday extension to Willesden Junction was withdrawn, and replaced by the reintroduction on route 12. The route was extended back to Crystal Palace on the 17 June, 1989 as route 249 that had replaced it 18 years previously was withdrawn.
This only lasted until 25 May 1991 when route 249 was reintroduced, and route 49 was withdrawn between Crystal Palace and Clapham Junction at the same time.
May 1999 saw Armchair operating the route on a temporary contract from Brentford Garage after London General lost the route, until the new buses were ready for London United. On 30 October 1999 London United commended operation from Shepherd's Bush Garage, and the route was converted to low floor, and single decked (using Dennis Dart SLFs) at the same time.
For a brief period between 2002 and 2004, the route was operated from Stamford Brook Garage, upon return to Shepherd's Bush Garage the route was converted back to double deck.
On 29 November, the route was diverted at Shepherd's Bush Green via the Westfield Complex to serve the new White City Bus Station.
