Not as fast as going by car and certainly not as fast as trains, but for budget travellers who don't mind longer journeys there are savings by going by bus.
For example, buses between Edinburgh and Glasgow take around an hour and 25 minutes versus 50 minutes by train. The bus and train stations in both cities are virtually beside each other.
The pay-off is that you will be saving a few pounds by going by bus instead of the train (for example, £7 for adult single on the bus versus £13.50 for an off-peak, adult single train ticket).
Free bus travel for residents of Scotland
- National Entitlement Card If you are a youth (up to age 21), over 60, or have a disability, and are also a resident in Scotland, you are entitled to free bus travel around Scotland. Apply for a National Entitlement Card through the website for your free pass. The pass will take you as far south as Carlisle and Berwick-on-Tweed and as far North as Scotland.
- Young Scot Card This government run card offers many perks and reductions on bus, train and ferry travel. Children and youths aged 5 to 21 can apply for free bus travel (starting 31st January 2022). Guardians of children from up to 15 years old should apply.
Bus links
- Lothian Buses The distinctive big maroon, double-decker buses found locally in Edinburgh.
- First South East and Central Scotland Bus journeys in the Central and Fife regions.
- Bustracker Realtime updates on bus arrivals, routes of maps, and bus stop locations.
- Airport buses Airlink and other Skylink airport buses run by Lothian.
- National Express One of the main companies for travelling to and from Edinburgh by coach from around the UK.
- Scottish Citylink Timetables and prices for the company UK-wide bus journeys.
- Stagecoach Intercity and longer journey, bus travel.
- Traveline Scotland Independent company providing info on travelling by bus, coach or train in Scotland.