Buses are the main form of public transport here in Bath. The city and its surrounding areas are covered by an expansive bus network that can get you where you need to go quickly and conveniently, with a range of ticket types and payment methods to cover all needs.

In this guide, we’ll take you through everything you need to know about using buses in Bath, from finding routes and buying tickets, to live tracking and hailing buses.

Image: Interior of a First bus, credit First Bus

Bus companies in Bath

There are several bus companies operating in Bath and the surrounding region, but the vast majority of routes are operated by First Bus.

If possible, we advise installing the free First Bus app on your device, available on the Apple App Store and Google Play, before you arrive in Bath. The app allows you to view route maps, buy digital tickets, track buses in live time, and much more.

Step 1: Finding your route

There are a variety of ways to plan bus journeys in Bath. You can find planners on the First Bus website and Travelwest website, or use Google Maps’ ‘Directions’ feature. Simply enter where you want to travel from and your destination to see a list of options and bus stop names.

Each bus route in Bath has a specific number, but some routes also feature letters relating to their length, branding, or destination. 

Shortened express routes are designated with the letter X as a prefix or suffix, for example 'D1x, X39.' Every bus displays the name of its end destination and route number on the front and side of the vehicle, for example 'Southdown - 2,' ‘Whiteway – 5.' 

Bus routes to Bath's university campuses are designated with the letter U as a prefix, for example 'U1, U5.' 

Bath also has three Park & Ride sites on every side of the city to the centre, offering a convenient, cheaper alternative to driving into the city centre. Find out more on the Travelwest website. 

Image: Bath Park & Ride buses, credit First Bus

The Air Decker bus route connecting Bath to Bristol Airport is designated 'A4,' and operated by Bath Bus Company. 

Step 2: Buying your tickets

If you’re planning to travel on the Air Decker service, you can either book tickets in advance via the Bath Bus Company website, or on board the bus.

The best way to buy your bus tickets for First Bus services is via the First Bus app. After creating an account, tap on the ‘Tickets’ tab at the bottom of the screen, then tap on the ‘Buy’ tab on the top right-hand side of the screen.

You’ll then need to choose your fare zone. Bath and the surrounding region are divided into two separate zones: the Bath Zone and the West of England Zone – you can view their boundaries on the First Bus website.

If you’re only planning to travel within Bath itself, tap on ‘Bristol, Bath and the West,’ then select ‘Bath.’ If you’re planning to travel outside of Bath to one of its nearby towns or cities, e.g. Frome, Warminster, Trowbridge, Bristol etc., select ‘West of England.’

After selecting your area and zone, you’ll see a list of the ticket types available. There’s plenty of choice, from single (one-way) tickets to those allowing unlimited travel on all buses in the selected zone for a full day, week, month, or year.

There are discounted variants of all of these ticket types for children (anyone up to the age of 15), young people (those aged 16-21), and students, who will need to provide valid student ID when presenting their ticket. If you’re planning to explore Bath or the wider region by bus in a group of up to five people of different ages, you can also enjoy unlimited travel on any bus in your chosen zone for 24 hours with the discounted Day Group ticket.

Once you’ve chosen your ticket, you can pay by entering your card details manually, or via Google Pay and PayPal. If you choose to enter your card details, the app will automatically save your card for future purchases. Your purchased ticket will then appear in your virtual wallet, which you can view by tapping on the Wallet tab in the top left-hand corner.

You’ll need to activate your ticket before you can use it on buses by tapping on the ticket in your wallet, then tapping the ‘Activate’ button. Most un-activated tickets will stay in your wallet for one year after the date of purchase, so that you can activate them as and when required. 

Single tickets will expire exactly 10 minutes after being activated, so we recommend activating just before boarding your bus when using these ticket types. All other tickets will last for their specific time frame after being activated, for example, 24 hours for day tickets, and seven days for week tickets. 

When activated, tickets will display a four-letter word and a QR code. To validate your ticket when boarding a bus, hold your phone face-up under the scanner next to the driver and wait for the beep.  

Image: A ticket scanner and digital ticket on the First Bus app - credit First Bus

If you’re travelling to Bath by train, check out the ‘Plus Bus’ ticket, which gives you unlimited bus travel across the city from as little as £4.30 per day. PlusBus tickets can only be added to your rail tickets when booking online, at a self-service station ticket machine, or at a station ticket office. Find out more on the First Bus website.

Other ways to buy tickets

If you’d prefer not to use the First Bus app, there are a couple of ways to pay your bus fare in Bath. 

You can buy from drivers aboard all buses by requesting the ticket type you’d like, but be aware that there will be a more limited selection of tickets than on the app, so you may end up paying more. Cash and contactless card payments are accepted on First Bus, Bath Bus Company, and Faresaver services, however paying by card or with the exact fare in cash is strongly encouraged to avoid delays.

You can also take advantage of First Bus’ ‘tap on, tap off’ technology, which automatically ensures that you pay the lowest possible fare for your journey based on the distance you’ve travelled. All you need to do is tap your bank card on the scanners to the left of the doors when boarding and once again when disembarking. However, tap on, tap off fares are based on standard adult prices only, so if you’re travelling with children, young people, or students, or as a group, we recommend pre-purchasing your tickets on the First Bus app.

Revenue Protection Officers

Be sure to keep hold of your tickets, payment cards, and ensure that you bring relevant ID while travelling on buses, as First Bus' Revenue Protection Officers regularly ride the network, and may ask to see your ticket to ensure that it is valid/correctly issued. If you are travelling without the correct ticket or without the necessary ID for your ticket, the RPOs will issue you with a 'Standard Fare Charge' of £50, which you will be given 21 days to pay or appeal. You can find out more here. 

Step 3: Live tracking and hailing buses

Once you’ve found your route and stop, checking when your bus is due and hailing it is easy.

Most bus stops in the city and wider region are fitted with digital departure boards updated in live time showing the approximate wait time for your bus. However, if you have the First Bus app installed on your device, you can also track where your bus is.

To do this, make sure you have Location Services activated on your device, then go into the ‘Plan’ tab on the bottom left-hand side of the screen, where you’ll see a Google map of your current location (marked with a blue dot). You can then either search for your stop (its name will be on the timetable board, digital display, and sign), or find it on the map (all stops are marked by small white stars in pink squares).

You’ll then be able to see where all of the next buses due at your stop are in live time, each marked with a bus icon and their route number, giving you an even more precise idea of when your bus will arrive. There’s also a handy virtual departure board if you’re at a stop not equipped with one.

When you see your bus approaching, you can hail it by raising your arm and putting out your hand clearly to signal to the driver that you want to get on board. To make yourself more visible in darkness or low light, you can make the same signal while holding a lit torch. 

Image: An access ramp on one of First Bus' vehicles, credit First Bus

Most bus stops in Bath are equipped with raised pavements, which work together with the city’s low-floor buses to provide level access for wheelchair users. Drivers can also extend built-in ramps on request. All buses have dedicated spaces for wheelchair users or pushchairs on board, as well as seats for elderly passengers and those with reduced mobility.

Fold-up bikes are welcome aboard all buses, provided that they are folded and stored appropriately. Standard non-folding bikes cannot be carried due to space and safety considerations. 

Step 4: Alighting

Many of Bath's buses feature voice announcements and screens informing passengers of the next stop. When yours is called, press any of the square-shaped buttons marked ‘STOP’ located throughout the bus to request a stop. When the bus has come to a complete halt, you can leave via the doors – don’t forget to tap your bank card to the scanner if you’re using tap on, tap off!

On some routes, buses will have front and rear doors. If this is the case, leave using the rear doors only, to allow passengers boarding the bus to enter via the front doors.

Read more:

• Public Transport in Bath
• Travelling Around Bath
• First Bus