Exploring by bus
Catch the bus into town, explore local villages, or soak up the view from an open-topper with our guide to UK bus travel
When you travel by bus, the journey is all part of the day out. Enjoy the view over the hedges and the villages along the way. Without a car, you’re free to do a linear walk, enjoy a local tipple and snooze on the way home. In many parts of the country you’ll find smart new buses, with comfy seats and free wi-fi. There are a few places, though, where you can still enjoy the no-frills retro experience!
So hop on and sit back – we’ve got everything you need to know about taking the bus.
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Hop on a bus
You can plan any bus journey using our journey planner or apps like Moovit and BusChecker. Make sure you get to the bus stop a few minutes early and wait on the right side of the road (check Google maps).
Many buses now accept contactless payment on board, but some are still cash only. Here are a few tips to help you save money on bus travel:
- If you’re making more than one journey, you could save money with a Day Ticket or Weekly Ticket – check the bus operator’s website.
- If you’re travelling with kids, or with a few other people, look out for Family/Group tickets.
- If you’re a regular traveller, the main bus operators now have apps offering discounted mobile tickets.
- If you’re in your 60s, (qualifying age varies around the UK) you can get a bus pass from the council and ride for free.
- If you’re under 22 and living in Scotland, you can get free nationwide bus travel.
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Days out by bus
There are scenic bus rides to discover all over the UK. You can preview a few in our e-book Scenic rail and bus journeys of Britain – free with our newsletter, below. And for more inspiration visit Scenic Buses.
A day out by bus always comes with a bit of fresh air and exercise, but you could turn the walk into the main event. Bite off a chunk of coast path or National Trail, without having to circle back to the car. Head over to Car Free Walks for inspiration, or search ‘bus walks’ for more routes.
If you really enjoy the wind in your hair, you’ll love an open-top bus. These seasonal open-toppers give you a grandstand view and sometimes even a bit of a rollercoaster ride! Good Journey’s travel writer Phoebe Taplin details a few in this Guardian feature.
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Holidays by bus
Wherever you go in the UK, buses are a great way to get off the beaten track and enjoy some local craic. And, if there’s only a couple of buses a day, you’re more likely to slow down and really discover a place than to rush on through.
Some parts of the UK especially lend themselves to a car-free holiday. A few of our favourites include: Yorkshire Dales, Lake District, The Gower, Isle of Wight and Cornwall (you can get family tickets to travel all day in Cornwall).
For longer distance journeys, you can book inter-city coaches cheaply on National Express, Megabus, or Flixbus. And for affordable travel to festivals and events check out Big Green Coach.
If you’ve only got a day or two to take in the sights, a guided tour from companies like Go Cotswolds, Hidden Lakeland or Rabbies could be just the thing.
