National Express Coaches is a leading coach company that provides reliable and affordable intercity travel options for passengers across the United Kingdom. A subsidiary of the National Express group, the company has a rich history dating back to 1972. Since then, the company has become a trusted name in the travel industry, known for its extensive network of routes, comfortable coaches, and excellent customer service.
National Express routes in the UK
The company operates an extensive network of routes that cover over 500 destinations across the UK, with about 1800 daily services. The company connects the country through routes that travel to big cities, like London, Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh, and Cardiff, but also to smaller towns. The company also runs airport services to all major airports in the UK, making it easy to travel between
Amenities
National Express buses provide modern amenities, including:
comfortable reclining leather seats
digital VUER entertainment service
free WiFi
USB charging ports
onboard restrooms
ample legroom
air conditioning.
Types of National Express tickets
National Express coaches offer three different types for some routes:
Standard: if you're set on your travel dates, this can be the best option for you. These tickets are non-refundable and non-exchangeable.
Flexible: these tickets cannot be refunded, but you can modify the date and time up to an hour before departure for a fee of £5.
Flexible+: You can exchange y our tickets and get a refund up to 72 hours before departure.
Book your National Express tickets
One of the easiest ways to book National Express coach tickets is through Busbud, which has been an authorized seller of National Express tickets since 2015 and has helped travelers book tickets to travel around the UK safely and conveniently - and without breaking the bank.
Booking with Busbud offers several benefits, including the ability to compare fares, view real-time availability, and choose from various payment options. It's a simple and convenient way to secure your National Express coach tickets, offering a seamless travel experience for passengers.
So, whether you're planning a city break, a weekend getaway, or a long-distance journey, National Express and Busbud are your reliable travel partners.
Photos of National Express buses
Official Partner
Busbud is an authorised National Express ticket seller. Dedicated customer support 24/7.
Amenities on National Express buses
Air conditioning
Toilet
Standard seat
Power outlets
National Express’s Coverage in Numbers
Daily Buses105199
Cities267
Countries2
Routes3796
National Express Bus classes
Economy
National Express User Reviews
4.2 out of 5 stars
User reviews from travelers who booked their tickets with National Express
Ratings and Reviews (23527)
Drivers Peter, then Mike were outstanding, kind, attentive, caring and very helpful.
The journey was good, we even had to "rescue" some others whose bus had broken down. The driver explained that there were more people joining us at Bristol and to make sure that, if necessary, to move around so that children etc could sit together.
Great service very friendly members of staff. Only disappointment is when my wife needed to use toilet noticed that toilet door not closing properly other people could look inside toilet. Everything else was perfect.
Terrible, didn't even have the journey. We were updated prior to the trip that time departure time had been moved from 6.30am to 6.50am. Upon getting to the coach station there was no one around and when we tracked the coach it had departed at 6.30 as originally planned. Why inform us the time had changed if it hadn't?? We therefore missed the coach and had to arrange other transport to Manchester, very nearly missing our flight in the process. I don't like to complain but this really was a awful service. Have a return leg booked on Saturday so genuinely keeping everything crossed that the bus will actually be there this time.
Bus stops at the airport were easy to find. Bus arrived on time. The driver dealt with a road closer very well. I definitely would use the service again.
Terrible. I did not realize I booked the wrong date. I only realized it when I got an email reminding me that my trip was scheduled to happen tomorrow. I immediately emailed the company and have gotten no reply. That was three days ago. Very disappointed in the lack of communication since I had emailed them immediately.
My flight came in earlier. I am able to take an earlier ride even though I booked a later ride. There is a “waiting” area with a toilet inside the rental car companies. The bus stop is just outside. Friendly bus driver.
Antisocial behaviour by passengers shouting loudly on phones was extraordinary. No effort by driver to curtail this despite discomfort of other passengers
EasyJet cancelled my flight home to Gatwick. I ended up on the only available BA flight to Heathrow with my car in the longstay at Gatwick. Taxi prices were extortionate. Booking National Express last second was easy and reasonably priced. I received my eTicket via email instantly and three minutes after booking online from my phone the coach arrived. I was greeted by a friendly driver, stepped on board and was taken to Gatwick with absolutely no issues. Seating comfortable, I managed a brief snooze after a very stressful 12hrs. If only easyJet could be so efficient. 😄
The buses and bus drivers are always great but it arrived an hour late. Fair enough that it was a rail strike, but NX should have prepared a lot better knowing about that for weeks. It’s not a new problem, get better at planning.
The trip was from York to Sheffield changing coach at Leeds. The first leg went well leaving York just a few minutes late but with a 40 minute change at Leeds there was no problem. At Leeds we found our coach to Sheffield was going to be 2 hours 10 minutes late and all other schedules were fully booked. As a result we abandoned the coach option and took local buses to Wakefield, then Barnsley, then Sheffield.
Because someone failed to put a sign in the seats my granddaughter and I sat in behind the seats marked reserved we were humiliated , verbally attacked and called out as stupid by the bus driver. Then the father of the group began to yell at me a 74 old lady he said I was also stupid and I needed to get out of his way that I was preventing his children from sitting down. I was not talking with anyone but the bus driver. I explained I was not from here and was not aware of secret codes that meant seats were reserved. Our seats did have a sign on them. My granddaughter has PTSD and we needed to sit together. The family that said we were in their seats were the last to board which ment 4 people had to move. There were not 2 seats together and when I tried to explained the problem the bus driver told me he did not have time to listen to me complain to go to an empty seat. I called him rude and sat down. I had to keep checking on my granddaughter the entire trip.
My trip was delayed by traffic and the need to pick up stranded passengers - fair enough. However I and other passengers had connections to make and the drivers’ lack of urgency was very frustrating. About 15 mins was wasted with the drivers chatting about the other coach’s breakdown, a further 7 mins spent chatting when swapping drivers etc. It just seemed bizarre.
Victoria bus station was chaos with very little information available and what was indicated on the signboards was often wrong. Very few staff on site. Awful.
It took longer than anticipated so I worried I was going to miss my connection to eurostar to go to Paris. It was okay in the end caught the train. I was panicking as if I missed the train with the rail strikes I worried how I would get back home if all failed. Very stressed. Also too hot in bus and no instructions for air conditioning. No I structures for connecting to WiFi ( not sure if it was available. So worried about recharging phone.
The bus was over an hour late, making me miss my connection and therefore my flight aswell. The busdriver didn’t want to help me. I tried to ask him questions on how I could possible help myself and he just answered “I don’t know” and started smoking instead. I understand things go wrong sometimes, but please be passionate about helping others out
My mother in law (aged 85) had to get off the bus in York as told there was no space even though assistance was organised and seat booked. She had to get a taxi from York to Leeds and then missed the bus connection
No, there is no WiFi on National Express. No worries, you can use your time on the bus to catch up on some much-needed sleep! You can also download your favourite films, TV programmes and audiobooks or bring a good book.
Are there power outlets or USB plugs on National Express?
Yes, there are power outlets and USB plugs on National Express. You can usually find 1 or 2 plugs per row of seats, so be a good traveller and check if your neighbour wants to charge up their devices as well.
Does National Express have a toilet on board?
Yes, National Express buses have a toilet on board. Toilets generally do not have running water, so we recommend bringing hand sanitiser. Remember to always hold the railing when going to the toilet in a moving vehicle.
Does National Express offer meals or snacks during the bus trip?
There are no meals or snacks offered on National Express buses. We recommend that you bring some snacks and drinks in a reusable water bottle for your bus trip.
Do you have to print your National Express bus ticket?
No, you don't need to print your ticket. You can board National Express buses by showing your e-ticket on your smartphone, along with a valid photo ID. Your ticket will be sent to you by email when booking on Busbud.
Does National Express allow pets on board or in the hold of the bus?
Only Certified Service animals are allowed on National Express buses. Unfortunately, your pets are not allowed on the bus or in the hold of the bus.
What are the amenities on National Express buses?
National Express goes the extra distance to offer best-in-class services to all travellers. You will be able to enjoy Air conditioning, Standard seat, Power outlets, Toilet on their buses.
Can wheelchair passengers access National Express coach?
All of the National Express buses have wheelchair access. To ensure that assisted travel is available, we need to carry out certain checks to ensure your experience with us is a happy one. The wheelchair must be compatible with the space available on National Express and that the combined weight of the passenger and wheelchair doesn’t exceed the weight of the lift.
What are the luggage restrictions on National Express buses?
Two medium-sized suitcases that weigh no more than 20Kg each, plus a small piece of hand luggage, are permitted. Smaller items such as laptops can be placed on overhead shelves in the bus, while larger items are safely stored outside under the floor. You’ll be given a ticket which you must keep to retrieve your bag.
How safe are your buses and drivers?
The company has a strict no-drug/alcohol policy for all drivers. In addition, every coach is equipped with cameras that monitor driver performance. On-board CCTV cameras and our Traffic Log system ensure passenger safety.
To set your mind at rest, National Express has been awarded several prestigious safety awards over the years, including a maximum 5-star rating by the British Safety Council, an honour that we have retained for years.
How green is travelling by National Express coaches?
National Express is fully committed to the environment. Travelling by bus has been proven to be substantially less harmful to the environment than any other form of travel. A full bus of 50 passengers potentially removes 50 cars from the road. Our white coach fleet is Euro VI standard which is the highest engine emission standard currently available. Our Levant III buses produce 13,6% less GHG emissions per passenger/km than any Euro VI coaches in an urban environment.
Are service dogs permitted on Nation Express coaches?
Definitely, National Express welcomes all trained assistance dogs onboard permitted that you provide a copy of the certificate of training the dog received. A copy of the dog’s ID book or any other proof that confirms that the relevant training took place will also be accepted. It is advisable for customers making use of this service to pre-book to ensure a comfortable spot on the bus providing the dog with enough space to lie down during the trip.
How can you get a refund from National Express?
Refunds are only available on Fully Flexible fares. If your ticket is refundable (read point 8 of our Conditions of Carriage), you'll need to cancel it no later than 72 hours before your departure time to get a refund. If you're entitled to a ticket refund, get in touch with our Contact Centre.
NOTE: You can board any available coach 12 hours before or after your original departure time. Amend your ticket at a Travel Shop where facilities are available but note that our restricted travel option does not permit any alterations to your booking or any refunds.
Please note, it is only possible to request an exchange within the timeframe allowed, as mentioned in the exchange policy of your booking. Busbud cannot modify or exchange your booking. If your ticket is exchangeable, you must contact National Express directly to request an exchange.
Do I need to print my National Express ticket?
No. You can show your ticket on your smartphone or tablet. The full ticket must be shown, partial pictures/screenshots will not be accepted.
Promos and special offers
When you buy a bus ticket online through Busbud or National Express, you’ll always get the best bang for your buck! To ensure that you get the best deal, explore our websites and:
Search for the best deals as early as you can
Be flexible about your dates and times of departure. Night trips are invariably cheaper.
Avoid traveling at peak times.
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Why choose Busbud?
The Best Way To Book Bus and Train Tickets
Busbud is a bus and train search tool – we include National Express routes, schedules and prices in our searches along with many other train and bus companies. You can compare prices, amenities and times by searching for a route. If you find a suitable trip, you can go ahead and get your National Express ticket from us. Note that train tickets sell out, National Express and other operators generally charge a lot more for last-minute tickets or for tickets bought in person.
National Express Popular Routes, Destinations and Stations