Bus to London

Buses to London

London is the capital of England and the main city in the United Kingdom. The city is well connected to other cities in the United Kingdom and Europe, thanks to the buses to London. The city has four main bus stations: London Golders Green Coach Station, London Liverpool Street Coach Station, London Stratford Coach Station, and London Victoria Coach Station. You can catch the coach to Blackpool from London, or a bus to London from Paris, Brussels, or Amsterdam from any of these bus stations. Most buses to London will end up at either of these bus stations, depending on your chosen provider.

Tower Bridge London. Source: Shutterstock

Main bus stations in London

London Golders Green Coach Station is one of the main bus stations in London, servicing buses to London. The station is around 10.7 km (6.6 miles) from central London, and you can get to the station by taking the Tube or a taxi to the station. The station mostly serves National Express buses to London, and you can get a bus to any of the four London airports or some local destinations, including Manchester. The station is usually open from around 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Facilities at the station include waiting areas, automated ticket machines, payphones, and restroom facilities.

Liverpool Street Coach Station is another station serving coaches to London. The station is open between 2:15 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. every day. The station is around 4.7 km (3 miles) from central London, and you can easily get to the station by walking or taking the train or a taxi. The station serves buses from National Express, FlixBus, and Megabus UK. You can get a coach or bus from this station to Bristol, Oxford, Heathrow Airport, Gatwick, Southampton, Glasgow, and Edinburgh, among many others. The station facilities include payphones, waiting facilities, ticket machines, and a coffee shop.

London Stratford Coach Station is the other station serving coaches to London. The bus station is open from around 2:15 a.m. to 6:15 p.m. The station is 14 km (8.6 miles) from Downtown London, and you can get to the station by taking a train or taxi. You can get a coach to London Stratford Coach Station from Luton, Glasgow, Bristol, Southampton, and Leeds, among many others. The station mostly serves buses from Megabus UK, National Express, and FlixBus. Amenities provided include ticket machines and a waiting area.

London Victoria Coach Station serves various international and domestic routes from and to London. The station mostly serves Megabus UK and national Express buses, with only a handful of routes offered by FlixBus. The station is within walking distance from the London city center, with several options, including taking the Tube to the bus stop. Through National Express, you will get buses to all three London airports. You will also find coaches to London from Paris, Dublin, and Amsterdam at this station. The station is open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and amenities include payphones, left luggage facilities, ATMs, a photobooth, and restrooms.

National Express buses to London

There are at least 40 National Express buses to London. National Express is one of the leading bus providers in England, offering many domestic and international routes. Buses are available from as early as 5:00 a.m. and operate up to around 11:30 p.m. You will find a National Express to London from England’s main cities, including Manchester, Liverpool, and Bristol. National Express also operates several buses from London to cities outside England, including Glasgow, Edinburgh, Paris, Brussels, Dublin, and Amsterdam. To see the bus schedule from London, insert your desired destination and travel date and click on search to display the bus timetable.

Megabus buses to London

Megabus is another long-distance bus provider in England. Megabus operates buses to and from London, and there are over 40 Megabus buses to London daily. Megabus operates several domestic routes, traveling to cities like Southampton, Oxford, and Newcastle from the major bus stations in London. Buses are available from as early as 5:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. They operate long-distance buses into France, Netherlands, and Scotland, and some of the most popular routes are London-Glasgow, London-Brussels, and London-Edinburgh. To see the bus schedule from London, insert your desired destination and travel date and click on Search to display the Megabus timetable for the day.

FlixBus buses to London

FlixBus is a relatively newer company in the bus game but has been making great strides in the United Kingdom. FlixBus has buses to London from around 65 destinations, with over 40 buses traveling daily to London. FlixBus buses to London are available from early morning, at around 2:00 a.m., and are available up to after midnight. Flixbus buses are eco-friendly and offer many amenities on board. Flixbus to London has six bus stations in London, two more than the other bus companies. They have buses to London from Leeds, Cardiff, Heathrow Airport, Reading, Bradford, and more. They also offer international connections, with Paris-London being one of the most popular routes. You will also get regular bus services to other cities in Europe, including Lille, Frankfurt, The Hague, Dortmund, and Glasgow.

Boarding your bus in London

Bus stations in London are not the busiest, and boarding buses in London is fairly easy. If you are traveling from London Golders Green Coach Station, the station doubles as a bus and tube station. The tube station operates underground, while the bus station is up top. The bus station has a waiting area and is wheelchair accessible, making it pretty easy to spot and board your bus. Arrive at the station at least 10min before departure time to make your journey on time.

Liverpool Street Coach Station is a tad busier than the previous bus station. It is also bigger, featuring waiting rooms, payphones, and a ticket hall. The station’s waiting area has a departure board, and information about the bus usually appears on the departure board. Arrive at the station at least 10min before departure to get to your bus on time. This train station also doubles as a tube station and also serves the London overground trains, so ensure you are at the correct position as you await your bus.

London Stratford Coach Station has five bus stands. Each bus stand features comfortable seats in the waiting area where you will await your bus from London. The bus station doesn’t have a departure board, but you will see all buses coming and leaving the station. You should arrive at the station at least 10min before departure to avoid missing your bus. The bus station is wheelchair accessible and is usually operational from 2:15 a.m. to 6:15 p.m.

London Victoria Coach Station is the biggest coach station in London. It is located in central London and is the departure point for many short, medium, and long-distance buses from London. The massive coach station has 22 bus stands, each with a waiting area beside it. There is a departure board showing where your bus will depart, so keep your eyes on that, as it gets updated 20min to departure. Since it is a busy London coach station, ensure you arrive at least 20min before departure to avoid missing your bus. The station operates from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Bus tickets in London: Useful to know

Use the Omio app or website to get cheap bus tickets to London. The Omio app is a great option since the process is fast and easy, and you can save all your coach tickets to London on one account. Moreover, you can board buses to London using e-tickets. You don’t have to print your ticket, which saves the environment from paper waste. However, you will need to present a valid form of ID before boarding the bus. The name on your ticket must match that on the ID. Any form of school ID or birth certificate will be a welcomed alternative for students.

How to find cheap bus tickets for London buses

There are four easy ways of getting cheap bus tickets to London. The first and easiest is booking cheap buses to London on the Omio app or website. Omio regularly has great deals on buses to London, and you should take advantage of these discounts. Second, book your journey in advance. Don’t wait until the day of travel to book your bus. Prices are usually higher on the day of travel but much lower weeks in advance. Option C is choosing the slower journeys. Omio has direct and connecting buses to and from London, with the latter being significantly cheaper. Lastly, be flexible. Browse through the Omio London bus schedule and book your bus to London on the day with the cheapest bus prices.

How to get around in London

London is a vibrant city with an efficient transport system to match the city’s energy. The best thing about the London transportation system is the rapid transit London underground train, or what the locals call the Tube. The Tube has an extensive network throughout the city and even stretches into neighboring countries. It is also one of the best ways to get to Heathrow Airport. If you wish to catch the sights as you move around, consider taking the bus. London has a great bus system, covering all the routes, and the London buses operate 24h a day.

The other option is the London overground train. This train connects to most neighborhoods, Heathrow Airport, and even travels to Reading, west of London. Taxis are also a great option, and London’s famous black cabs are available throughout the city. You can also rent a car from the car rental providers in London should you wish to self-drive. Biking is another option, and London has a bike-sharing operation where you can rent bikes at an affordable price.

Travel by bus to London: A sustainable journey

Traveling by coach to London is a sustainable choice. Buses in the UK are more sustainable than single-occupancy vehicles. Buses transport more people at a go, meaning the carbon emissions per trip per passenger are significantly lower. Most companies, including FlixBus, have invested in newer bus models that have reduced emissions for a cleaner trip. Some companies have also introduced electric buses to their fleet, which are a greener option than gas buses. Moreover, with Omio e-tickets, there is less paper wastage, and more trees are saved, thus saving the environment.

View of London, UK. Source: Unsplash

To London by Bus: Travel tips

London is a city full of experiences; no matter your budget, you will find something fun in this glorious city. With a variety of museums, restaurants, sights, and sounds, you can never be bored in London. If you are looking for something to do or places to eat, check out this guide to London from Window Seat. Here are some fun things to do in London:

• London Eye: Take the best Instagram selfies from the top of this iconic Ferris wheel.
• Tower of London: The spooky and possibly haunted Tower of London is a must-visit for any history buff.
• Thames River: Take a riverboat tour on this iconic waterway.
• The British Museum: This is one of the oldest museums in the world, well worth a visit.
• The National Gallery: Get lost in the world of art at this gallery right off Trafalgar Square.
• The Victoria and Albert Museum: A free seven-floor museum open to all visitors.

London

London is a friendly city with plenty to see and do for visitors. Lots of the most stunning attractions are free, like the V&A, Natural History, and Science Museums, all located in leafy South Kensington. Unlike most large cities, London is a walkable metropolis, with many of its most iconic landmarks within an hour’s stroll. It’s possible for visitors to take in Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square and the Houses of Parliament in one afternoon, then put their feet up on the London Eye for a panoramic view of the Thames and Embankment. The designer shopping on Bond Street is world class, but for high street cool, head to Oxford Circus for the latest catwalk designs at a more reasonable price. At night, London is packed with theatre goers on Shaftsbury Avenue, clubbers in Camden and diners in Chinatown. Even in the early hours the streets are rarely empty. Luckily it’s also easy to find a well-prepared and reasonably priced breakfast in one of Soho’s buzzing 24 hour cafes.