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Official National Express partner

Wanderu is an official partner of National Express

Wanderu is the simplest way to book bus and train travel in North America and Europe. We partner with more than 300 bus & train companies around the world to help you search, compare, and find the best travel deals all in one place.

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About National Express

National Express is probably the UK's best-known coach company offering intercity services. Nationwide in scope, it has over 600 coaches covering 18509 routes daily. National Express connects to 277 different cities, from small roadside stops to the country's biggest towns and cities. These include London, Manchester, Southampton, and Edinburgh, as well as airports such as Heathrow and Stansted, both serving London.

Founded in 1972, National Express is headquartered in Birmingham, the UK's second city. Its sleek, modern vehicles mainly consist of single-decker vehicles of approximately 50 seats, although the bus company uses double-decker buses on the busiest routes.

Both single and double-decker vehicles offer passengers a good amount of legroom – roomier than airlines have in coach class – alongside onboard WiFi, restrooms, and air conditioning. Although there is no food for purchase, passengers can bring their own snacks and drinks.

Wanderu makes it exceptionally easy to check the routes, prices, and schedules for National Express. Compare prices, book your trip, and save money on Wanderu!

National Express Amenities

Air conditioningAir conditioning
RestroomRestroom
Power outletPower outlet
WiFiWiFi

Quickview

National Express bus coverage

Daily Trips8,437
stations419
cities277
countries2

What travelers are saying about National Express

Here’s what Wanderu users who have booked trips with National Express had to say about their travel experience.

Traveling During COVID-19

“They took COVID safety precautions seriously.”
based on 35 reviews

Onboard Experience

“The WiFi actually worked for the entire trip”
based on 27 reviews
“I’ll travel with them again just for the staff!”
based on 45 reviews
“Really cheap tickets and really good service.”
based on 47 reviews
“The bus got there on time.”
based on 53 reviews
“Seats were really comfy and spacious”
based on 50 reviews
“The bus was almost suspiciously clean”
based on 51 reviews

National Express reviews from Wanderu customers

Overall review score for National Express

(Based on 56 reviews)

4.5
Ratings (Out of 5)
Comfort

4.3

Timeliness

4.7

Staff

4.4

Value

3.8

Condition

4.6

National Express passenger reviews

5.0

Samuel

January 22, 2023- Vacation

London to Plymouth

Pros: I liked how the wifi worked, the kindness and courteousness of staff, and how the sink and soap worked. Cons: Nothing. Tips: National Express is a good coach service, but mainly if you book in advance cause otherwise it's expennnsive.

Pros: I liked how the wifi worked, the kindness and courteousness of staff, and how the sink and soap worked. Cons: Nothing. Tips: National Express is a good coach service, but mainly if you book in advance cause otherwise it's expennnsive.

5.0

Martins

December 28, 2022- Regular commuter

Middlesbrough to Manchester

Pros: The driving,very superb. Cons: Free wifi. Tips: The should join the amazing trip.

Pros: The driving,very superb. Cons: Free wifi. Tips: The should join the amazing trip.

4.0

Penny

November 5, 2022- Visiting family

London to Paignton

Pros: excellent driving ,very easy once I arrived at Victoria coach station it was a breeze. Cons: Victoria coach station is very well organised but it would be useful to add to all the information sent out in advance that the arrivals and departures leave from diff...

Pros: excellent driving ,very easy once I arrived at Victoria coach station it was a breeze. Cons: Victoria coach station is very well organised but it would be useful to add to all the information sent out in advance that the arrivals and departures leave from different buildings which are across from each other. Tips: Make sure that you know where and how to access Victoria coach stations.

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5.0

Omoholo

November 5, 2022- Visiting family

Newcastle upon Tyne to Manchester

Pros: The bus was on time, clean and seats were comfortable. Cons: N/A. Tips: Totally recommended.

Pros: The bus was on time, clean and seats were comfortable. Cons: N/A. Tips: Totally recommended.

5.0

Alberto

October 25, 2022- Solo travel

London to Chippenham

Good service and reasonable price

Good service and reasonable price

National Express Routes & Network

National Express’s bus network features 18509 bus routes that connect 277 cities serving 419 stations. On average, National Express performs about 8437 bus trips every day. The top cities to which National Express offers the highest number of daily bus service include London and Leeds.

Top Cities Served by National Express

CityRouteEarliest busLatest bus
London412:05 am11:55 pm
Manchester412:10 am11:55 pm
Birmingham212:00 am11:55 pm
Liverpool412:10 am11:30 pm
Edinburgh412:10 am11:59 pm
Leeds412:25 am11:55 pm
Luton412:00 am11:55 pm
Glasgow412:45 am11:55 pm

Most popular National Express routes

The bus from London to Leeds is National Express’s most popular route. Trips from London to Liverpool and London to Manchester are also highly popular.

Top National Express routes

RouteDaily TripsDurationPrice
London to Leeds245h 55m$9
London to Liverpool287h 1m$11
London to Manchester296h 48m$11
London to Edinburgh812h 50m$17
London to Southampton644h 1m$8
London to Birmingham444h 55m$7
Glasgow to Edinburgh21h 11m$4
London to Bath284h 35m$7
Nottingham to London394h 31m$5

National Express Bus Guide & FAQs

Do National Express buses have WiFi?

Yes, National Express offers WiFi on their buses. Although most trips with National Express will have WiFi as advertised, some buses might not come equipped with WiFi and onboard WiFi can lose its connection in rural areas. We recommend you bring a book or download a movie just to play it safe. National Express WiFi is generally best used for surfing the web, checking emails and chatting with friends; you shouldn’t count on the WiFi to binge watch your favorite show.

Are there power outlets or USB plugs on the bus?

Yes, there are power outlets onboard National Express buses. You can generally find one or two sockets per row of seats, so be a good traveller and check if your seat neighbor might want to charge up their devices as well. With the onboard power outlets, you can charge both a computer and USB devices with a USB power adapter that typically comes with most phones and tablets.

Since National Express might sometimes use replacement bus vehicles, not all trips are guaranteed to have power points. We recommend to bring a power bank to charge your phone for all trips over 2 hours, just in case.

What is National Express's schedule?

On a typical day, National Express has 8437 scheduled bus trips in total. However, the exact departure and arrival times vary depending on the day and route. The best way to find the exact schedule for your trip is to use the search tool on this page.

Can you pick up will call tickets at the station?

No, National Express does not offer will call tickets. You should purchase your tickets online and make sure you have everything you need to board before you arrive at the station.

Do you need an ID to get on the bus?

Yes, National Express requires you to present an ID to an agent to be allowed to board the bus. Make sure you have identification issued by a government agency that meets the carrier’s requirements. Alternative IDs, such as a college ID, won’t work.

What are National Express’s COVID-19 policies?

Visit our COVID-19 Travel Guide to view the most up-to-date information about National Express’s cleaning protocols and adjusted ticket change policies during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Are there bathrooms on National Express buses?

Yes, there are bathrooms on National Express buses. The bathrooms are pretty basic and include a toilet, toilet paper and hand sanitizer. Most bathrooms don’t have running water. As you will be using a bathroom on a moving vehicle, please use caution and hold on to a rail at all times.

Are meals or beverages available?

National Express does not offer meals or beverages onboard. We recommend you bring a drink and some snacks for your trip. We also suggest packing a reusable water bottle with you to reduce your impact on the environment. However, note that most buses do not allow you to bring your own alcoholic drinks.

Do you have to print your National Express ticket?

Yes, National Express requires that all passengers have printed tickets to board the bus. When you book with Wanderu and activate your account, you will be able to easily find and download your tickets for most buses.

Does National Express offer any premium features like extra legroom or movies?

National Express focuses on delivering a great travel experience at a low price and currently does not offer premium features like extra legroom or onboard entertainment. But these days, between your laptop, tablet, smartphone and e-reader, you’re the master of your own entertainment even on longer journeys.

Cheap National Express tickets recently found on Wanderu

With 8,437 National Express trips per day, there are a lot of great deals to uncover for the bargain hunter and National Express tickets start at just $1.90. Check out some of the latest and greatest deals snatched up by Wanderu users.

How do I get the best deal on National Express tickets?

Wanderu is the best place to score cheap National Express tickets with the lowest available fares every day. Plus, you can compare National Express prices with trips offered by other bus companies to be sure you’re getting the best deal on your tickets!

Pro travelers know that booking your ticket well in advance is key to finding the lowest price. Ticket prices normally go up the closer you get to the travel date, so don’t miss out on a good deal when you see one. If you can be flexible with your travel date, you can also get cheap tickets by traveling on weekdays instead of weekends.

When you’re ready to book, type your departure city and destination city in the search bar above, select your travel date, and let Wanderu work its magic to show you all of the best bus and train ticket prices available for your trip. Pick the ticket that’s best for your budget, schedule, and preferences, and complete the booking right on Wanderu to secure your great deal.

More transportation options

Top National Express Routes

Top National Express Destinations

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Wanderu is the simplest way to book bus and train travel.

With just a quick search on Wanderu, you can compare bus and train schedules and prices from hundreds of travel companies in one convenient place to find the trip that works best for you. Wanderu’s simple checkout process makes it easy to book cheap bus and train tickets hassle-free. Most importantly, as Wanderu is an official partner of all leading bus and train companies, we always have the best deals out there.

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