Preston to Bolton bus with National Express

Sun, Jun 21
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National Express
Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire
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Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire
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2,000+ travel companies
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The cheapest and fastest buses from Preston to Bolton

Showing times and prices for Jun 21

Cheapest price

$10

Average price

$12

Fastest journey

40 m

Average duration

1 h 12 m

Buses per day

3

Distance

28 km

Cheap tickets

The best way to find a cheap bus ticket from Preston to Bolton is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid traveling at rush hour.

The average ticket from Preston to Bolton will cost around $12 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only $10.

Fast buses

Of the 3 buses that leave Preston for Bolton on Sun, Jun 21, 3 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.

On Sun, Jun 21 the direct buses cover the 28 km distance in an average of 1 h 12 m but if you time it right, some buses will get you there in just 40 m .

On Sun, Jun 21 the slowest buses will take 2 h 15 m and usually involve a change or two along the way, but you might be able to save a few pennies if you’re on a budget.

  • National Express
    9:35 PM0h40
    Preston
    10:15 PMBolton
    $101One-way
    0 transfers
  • National Express
    8:55 AM2h15
    Preston
    11:10 AMBolton
    $111One-way
    0 transfers
  • National Express
    10:35 PM0h40
    Preston
    11:15 PMBolton
    $131One-way
    0 transfers

Travel Information

Compare bus and train for Preston to Bolton

Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Preston to Bolton among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the train with prices starting from $3. For those with little time consider booking a train which can get you there in 25m. In case you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint the train is your best bet as it emits only 0.0 - 0.0kg. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a train costs an average of $3, and a bus costs an average of $10.

Distance: 17 miles (28 km)

Compare bus with

Bus
Most popular
Train
Driving

$12

Average price

$7

Average price

Cheapest

$8

Average price

(fuel + tolls)

1h 10m

Average total duration

40m

Onboard

+

30m

Additional time*

55m

Average total duration

Fastest

25m

Onboard

+

30m

Additional time*

42m

Average total duration

(door-to-door)

0.0 - 0.1kg

CO2 emissions

0.0 - 0.0kg

CO2 emissions

Lowest

-

CO2 emissions

National Express

Most popular bus company

Northern Rail

Most popular train company

Your own car or car rental

Direct Options

Direct Options

Direct Options

Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.

The cheapest way to travel from Preston to Bolton is a train with an average price of $7 (€6).

This is compared to other travel options from Preston to Bolton:

A train is $5 (€4) less than a bus for this route with tickets for a bus from Preston to Bolton costing on average $12 (€10).

The fastest way to travel from Preston to Bolton is by train with an average journey time of 25m.

Other travel options to Bolton take longer:

Bus takes on average 40m.

It's helpful to compare your options as there are 2 ways to travel between Preston and Bolton including taking a bus and train.
We recommend using the train as it is the most popular way to get from Preston to Bolton among Omio's users.
Take the bus. It's the quicker way to make this trip, and the time saved usually justifies the slightly higher cost.

You'll arrive about 2m sooner (40m by bus vs 42m by car). Tickets start at around $12 (€10) compared to roughly $8 (€6) in fuel and tolls — a bit more, but you're getting time back, skipping traffic and parking, and you can work or rest on board.

Direct coaches are operated by National Express, Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire.

Driving makes more sense if you're travelling as a group (where fuel splits across several people), want flexibility on timing, or plan to stop en route.

Preston to Bolton Bus Timetables

OperatorDeparture TimeArrival TimeDurationDeparture daysCheapest price
Operator
National Express
Departure Time
05:55AM
Arrival Time
08:30AM
Duration
2h35
Departure days
Fri
Cheapest price
$15
Operator
National Express
Departure Time
06:55AM
Arrival Time
09:20AM
Duration
2h25
Departure days
Mon, Wed
Cheapest price
$11
Operator
National Express
Departure Time
07:55AM
Arrival Time
10:20AM
Duration
2h25
Departure days
Tue
Cheapest price
$15
Operator
National Express
Departure Time
08:35AM
Arrival Time
10:45AM
Duration
2h10
Departure days
Wed
Cheapest price
$11
Operator
National Express
Departure Time
08:55AM
Arrival Time
11:10AM
Duration
2h15
Departure days
Sun
Cheapest price
$11
Operator
National Express
Departure Time
09:35AM
Arrival Time
11:45AM
Duration
2h10
Departure days
Mon, Thu
Cheapest price
$11
Operator
National Express
Departure Time
10:05AM
Arrival Time
11:55AM
Duration
1h50
Departure days
Fri
Cheapest price
$15
Operator
National Express
Departure Time
09:35PM
Arrival Time
10:15PM
Duration
0h40
Departure days
Mon, Wed, Thu, Sun
Cheapest price
$10
Operator
National Express
Departure Time
10:35PM
Arrival Time
11:15PM
Duration
0h40
Departure days
Everyday
Cheapest price
$13

Live departures

Preston to Bolton bus times

The table below shows live departures for Preston to Bolton buses for today, Saturday, June 20. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated bus journeys.

Last updated at
ProviderDepartsDurationArrivesTransfers
Tickets
National ExpressNX42410:35 PM Preston, Bus Station
0h40
11:15 PM Bolton, Interchange0 transfersDirect
Sunday, June 21
National Express8:55 AM Preston
2h15
11:10 AM Bolton0 transfersDirect

This is the last bus of the day.

Find all the dates and times for this journey

Compare prices and tickets Preston to Bolton by bus or train

Compare bus and train prices over the next three weeks. See the best deals at a glance, find the lowest fares, and choose the option that fits your budget.

Sun
Jun 21
Mon
Jun 22
Tue
Jun 23
Wed
Jun 24
Thu
Jun 25
Fri
Jun 26
Sat
Jun 27

Why should you book Preston to Bolton buses with Omio?

National Express as well as Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire offer buses services from Preston to Bolton.
Omio is an official ticket reseller for all your travel options from Preston to Bolton.

Why book with Omio vs National Express?

  • Compare with other providers: On Omio, you can not only buy tickets for National Express, but also compare tickets for the likes of Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire to find the best option for your trip from Preston to Bolton.
  • Designed for International Travelers: Omio is in your language including 24/7 customer service and offers multiple payment options, including PayPal, credit cards, and bank transfer, in your preferred currency.
  • Compare all your options: Omio allows you to compare National Express with all available travel options, which are bus and train to ensure you get the best deal for traveling from Preston to Bolton.

Why book with Omio over Wanderu?

  • Multiple modes of transport: Omio allows you to compare travel options including bus and train to find the ideal travel option from Preston to Bolton.

Journey information

Overview: Bus from Preston to Bolton

United KingdomUnited Kingdom
United KingdomUnited Kingdom
Icon of bus

Buses from Preston to Bolton run on average 1 times per day, taking around 40m. Cheap bus tickets for this journey start at $10 (€8) but you can travel from only $3 (€3) by train.

There are 1 buses per day. The earliest bus runs at 00:03, the last at 23:30. The fastest bus covers the 17 miles (28 km) distance in 40m.

Fares are the lowest economy prices found on Omio. Early booking often means lower prices. Prices change daily and are subject to availability. Discount cards, coach trips, and booking fees are not included.
Price information
Cheapest alternative travel mode
Train from $3 (€3)
Distance
17 miles (28 km)
Average bus duration
40m
Cheapest ticket price
$10 (€8)
Buses per day
1
Direct buses
1
Fastest bus
40m
First bus
12:03 AM
Last bus
11:30 PM
Cheapest Month
Dec
Cheapest Day
Wed
High Season
Jan - Mar
Low Season
Jul - Sep
Busiest Day
Tue
Least Busy Day
Wed
Best time to book
2 days
Fares are the lowest economy prices found on Omio. Early booking often means lower prices. Prices change daily and are subject to availability. Discount cards, coach trips, and booking fees are not included.
Price information
Cheapest alternative travel mode
Train from $3 (€3)

Bus providers: National Express, Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire from Preston to BoltonYou can travel by bus between Preston to Bolton with National Express, Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire for as low as $3 (€3). When you search for schedules and tickets, Omio will show you the best journey

National Express

About
National Express is the UK’s leading long-distance coach company, operating over 550 services per day and serving more than 900 destinations nationwide. It also runs frequent services to major UK airports — including Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, and Bristol — 24 hours a day. All National Express coaches are air-conditioned and offer free Wi-Fi and onboard entertainment. Most vehicles are equipped with seat belts and power outlets at every seat, allowing you to charge your phone or laptop during your journey. Ticket options include Restricted Fare, Standard Fare, and Fully Flexible Fare, with the latter providing maximum flexibility for cancellations or changes.
Luggage & cancellation policy
Average Duration
40m
Cheapest Price
$10 (€8)
National Express frequency
1 a day
Luggage included
Two medium-sized suitcases up to 20kg each and one small piece of hand luggage.
Additional luggage
10€ per additional bag.
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel your ticket up to 24 hours before departure for a refund minus a cancellation fee. Changes can be up to 24 hours before departure for a fee.
Amenities on board the bus
Wifi
Food sold onboard
Seat reservation
Toilets
USB plugs
Accessibility
Assistance; Priority seating; Accessible toilets.
Bikes
Folding Bikes are allowed; non-folding bikes are not allowed.
Learn more about National Express

Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire

Luggage & cancellation policy
Average Duration
1h 16m
Cheapest Price
$10 (€8)
Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire frequency
25 a day

FAQs: Bus from Preston to Bolton

Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Preston to Bolton by bus. From journey times and ticket prices to direct connections, first and last departures, and even whether the route is scenic, our FAQs cover everything you need to plan your trip. Whether you’re looking for the fastest bus, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Bolton, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

FAQs
Cheap bus tickets from Preston to Bolton can start from as little as $10 (€8) when you book in advance. The average bus ticket price for Preston to Bolton is $12 (€10) ; however, prices vary depending on the time of day and class and they tend to be more expensive on the day.
The average journey time by bus from Preston to Bolton is 40m to travel the 17 miles (28 km) long journey. Journey times can vary on weekends and holidays, so use our Journey Planner to search for a specific date.
The earliest bus from Preston to Bolton leaves at 12:03 AM. Plan your trip with the Journey Planner from Omio.
The latest bus from Preston to Bolton leaves at 11:30 PM.
Yes, there are 1 direct buses a day from Preston to Bolton with National Express, Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire. Schedules can vary on holidays or weekends with fewer direct buses.
When taking a bus from Preston to Bolton, you can count on National Express, Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire for the best way to get you to Bolton. You can also check all possible bus companies who offer a service between Preston and Bolton and compare the amenities they offer before buying a bus ticket.
A day trip to Bolton from Preston is worth doing with a journey time of 40m each way. Check with Omio app the best way to travel.
The cheapest month for a bus from Preston to Bolton is December.
It's helpful to compare your options as there are 2 ways to travel between Preston and Bolton including taking a bus and train.
Yes, the following accessibility options are available when taking the bus from Preston to Bolton:
  • National Express
    • Assistance
    • Priority seating
    • Accessible toilets.
Yes, there are bathrooms on board the bus from Preston to Bolton for bus company National Express.
Whether you can cancel your bus ticket from Preston to Bolton depends on the bus companies:
  • National Express
    • You can cancel your ticket up to 24 hours before departure for a refund minus a cancellation fee. Changes can be up to 24 hours before departure for a fee.
Yes, bikes are allowed on board the bus with bus company National Express.
Tickets are often cheaper when booked early. Traveling during off-peak hours or on weekdays can help you save money. Sort results by price to quickly identify the most affordable options. Check for promotions or discounts available on our website and app.
Yes, there is food available to purchase on board the bus from Preston to Bolton.
Yes, the following luggage options are included when booking a bus ticket from Preston to Bolton:
  • National Express
    • Two medium-sized suitcases up to 20kg each and one small piece of hand luggage.
Yes, the following additional luggage options are available when booking a bus ticket from Preston to Bolton:
  • National Express
    • 10€ per additional bag.
Unfortunately, pets are not allowed on the bus from Preston to Bolton.
You can reserve your seat on the bus from Preston to Bolton with the following bus company: National Express
Yes, there are USB plugs on board the bus from Preston to Bolton with the following bus company: National Express.
Yes, there is Wifi on board the bus from Preston to Bolton with the following bus company: National Express.
Since neither Preston nor Bolton are in the Schengen Area, passport requirements depend on the specific immigration rules of United Kingdom and United Kingdom. Entry and visa requirements can be subject to change. For the latest information, check with your destination's embassy or consulate.
We recommend using the train as it is the most popular way to get from Preston to Bolton among Omio's users.
The currency used in the United Kingdom is the British Pound Sterling (GBP). For travelers, using a card is generally more convenient and widely accepted, especially in cities and for transportation tickets, though carrying some cash can be useful for small purchases or in rural areas.
In Bolton, travelers should be cautious of pickpocketing in busy areas such as markets and public transport hubs. Common scams include fake charity collectors and overcharging by taxi drivers. It's advisable to use licensed taxis and stay aware of surroundings, especially at night.
Pack lightweight, versatile clothing suitable for the destination's climate, and use secure, lockable luggage to protect belongings. Keep essential items like travel documents, medication, and valuables in a carry-on bag for easy access. Use packing organizers or cubes to maximize space and maintain order. Lastly, include a small first aid kit and personal hygiene items for added comfort during travel.

popular bus stations

Popular bus stations from Preston to Bolton

Most Preston to Bolton buses use the Preston, Bus Station to Bolton, Interchange station pair, with some services arriving at Bolton, Astley Bridge. Use this guide to compare Preston and Bolton bus stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like bus station facilities and services.

Departure bus stations in Preston
Arrival bus stations in Bolton
Preston, Bus Station
City-centre transport

Getting to Preston, Bus Station from Preston city centre

Bus23 · 6m · $11 · every ~8 min

More options for your journey from Preston to Bolton

Here are some other resources that might have the information you need

Compare all journeys between Preston and Bolton
Tickets and more information for coaches to Preston
Tickets and more information for coaches to Bolton
HomeBusesBuses in United KingdomBus tickets to BoltonPreston to Bolton bus

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