Why travel by coach?
Coaches are generally seen as a great budget option, offering cheap travel across the UK and Europe. The downside of this is that the travel is seen as cheap, therefore not desirable. Though coaches have different comfort levels to trains, modern coaches are remarkably well-equipped, with surprisingly spacious and comfortable seating, plug sockets and wifi, and toilet facilities.
Long stretches spent on the road can seem daunting, but coach drivers have a set amount of time they need to rest, which means you get a rest too, at service stations along your route.
Coach travel is also an excellent option for keeping emissions down: per person per journey, coaches produce five times less CO2 than air travel. That environmental saving comes with the fascinating bonus of being able to watch the scenery roll past beyond your window.
CheckMyBus is a recommended resource where you can search for coach and bus routes across many different providers, letting you find the cheapest fares and giving plenty of date and time flexibility.
National Express
Probably the best option for UK travel, the National Express serves a wide range of destinations across England, Scotland, Wales, NI and Ireland. It's a fast, efficient and cheap way to travel to cities across the UK and Ireland.
Find routes and destinations using this map on their website.
Megabus
Megabus serves over 100 destinations across the UK and offers extremely competitive ticket prices.
Flixbus
Flixbus is your go-to option for Europe-wide coach travel. Its fleet of bright green coaches can take you from Birmingham to Berlin, Bristol to Bruges and many more. Here's a map of destinations.
Coaches range from daytime travel to overnight routes, and some can even take your bike.
Snow Express
SnowExpress is specifically for skiers, and goes direct to the Alps from London Victoria coach station, meaning you can ski low-carbon and on a budget.
Coach tours
Shearings is a coach tour operator with an astonishing variety of holidays and tours, from four days in Scotland to 16 days in Croatia.
Alfa Travel specialises in UK coach holidays, with a modern fleet of coaches and some lovely destinations to boot.
Travelling overnight
Taking an overnight coach is the ultimate in budget travel, as you save on a hotel or hostel, and it can work out much cheaper than a sleeper train. It’s very rare you will get a bed though, so it won’t be the most comfortable night’s sleep.
A travel pillow, eye mask and earplugs can really help, and waking up in a new exciting destination will make all that tiredness disappear…Â
Tips for travelling by coach
- Book in advance and compare ticket prices across providers. This takes the stress out of travelling and the stress off the bank balance!
- Pack plenty of snacks. Most coach journeys will incorporate regular stop-offs at service stations, but even so, you don't want to be caught out.
- Virtually all coaches have charging points so you can take headphones / laptops safe in the knowledge you can keep them charged on the road.
- Wear comfortable clothes, take a travel pillow, and if you get restless when seated for even a short length of time, then try these handy seated stretches!
