Discover Essex for less!

Journey planner

Get on board and Discover Essex for less with First Bus!

Want to make your bus ride more affordable and enjoyable? From exciting events and activities, shows and gigs, new cafes and restaurants to try and attractions for a fun filled day - there's something for everyone when you discover Essex with First Bus.

Travel for just £3 - From 1st January, the Government's single fare scheme lets you travel one-way for just £3, including on our airport services.
Exploring all day? - Our All Essex Adult Day Ticket is just £10.50 on the First Bus App - valid for unlimited travel all day! (Excludes airport services & school services)
Pay like a pro with TAP & CAP - Simply tap your bank card or smartphone when you get on and when you get off and you will never pay more than a day or weekly ticket.
Under 5s go FREE - Up to two under 5s go free with an accompanying adult, so the whole family can catch the bus with First Bus!

Download the First Bus App for helpful tools - plan your adventure with our Journey Planner, track your bus live on a map, or buy your bus ticket before you travel.

Events in Essex

What’s on?	When?	Info & Tickets	Bus route info
Aqua Springs	30th March 2025	Click here	All services to Colchester High Street
Southend Museums – The Drag Show	Until 13/07/2025	Click here	All services to Southend
Wildlife Weekend	12th April - 13th April 2025	Click here	Catch X30 to Earls Hall Avenue
'A Taste of Essex' English wine tasting event	28th March 2025	Click here	All services to Colchester
Towngate Theatre	Throughout the year	Click here	All services to Basildon Bus station
John Lewis (Chelmsford) Kids Easter Decoration Crafting Event	Multiple Dates (April)	Click here	All services to Chelmsford Bus/Train Station
Creative Minds - Art group at the Art Place	Every Monday	Click here	All services to Chelmsford Bus station
Leisure Pool - Leisure world	All year	Click here	All Colchester services to High street
Cosmic Castle	Saturday 19th April 2025	Day of Space Discovery - Click here Evening of Space Discovery - Click here	All services to Colchester High Street or Chelmsford to Colchester services 71, X71, 371, or 372 to Osborne Street.

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Bus No.	Direction of route:	Diversion route:
S1	To Highwoods	The S1 service will divert via Southway and Headgate.
S3	To West Bergholt	The S3 service will divert via Southway and Headgate.
S4	To Greenstead	The S4 service will divert via Southway and Headgate.
S5	To Greenstead	The S5 service will divert via St Johns Street.
S8	To Monkwick	The S8 service will divert via Southway and Headgate, Head Street, High Street, Queen Street and Osborne Street.
S8	To Colchester General Hospital	The S8 service will divert via Southway and Headgate and Head Street.
67	To Colchester, Osborne Street	The 67 service will divert via Southway, Headgate, St Johns Street and Stanwell Street.
68	To Highwoods	The 68 service will divert via Southway and Headgate, Head Street, High Street, Queen Street and Osborne Street.
69A	To Colchester, Osborne Street	The 69A service will divert via Southway and Headgate, Head Street, High Street, Queen Street and Osborne Street.
86	To Colchester, Osborne Street	The 86 service will divert via Southway and Headgate, Head Street, High Street, Queen Street and Osborne Street.
104	To Colchester, Stanwell Street	The 104 service will divert via Southway and Headgate.
X20	To Colchester Railway Station	EVENING journeys only. The X20 service will divert via Southway and Headgate, Head Street, High Street, Queen Street and Osborne Street.

X20 departures on 30/03/2025 ONLY	GMT	BST
Colchester Osborne Street	01:25	03:25
Lexden, Halstead Road Corner	01:32	03:32
Stanway Sainsburys Store	01:36	03:36
Marks Tey, Railway Station	01:41	03:41
Marks Tey, Poplars Nurseries	01:44	03:44
Bradwell, The Swan	01:54	03:54
Braintree Tesco East Store	01:57	03:57
Braintree Bus Interchange	02:05	04:05
Braintree, Tortoiseshell Way	02:10	04:10
Great Dunmow High Street	02:23	04:23
Stansted Airport	02:37	04:37

X20 departures on 30/03/2025 ONLY	GMT	BST	BST
Stansted Airport	00:45	02:45	05:00
Great Dunmow High Street	00:59	02:59	05:15
Braintree, Tortoiseshell Way	01:14	03:14	05:30
Braintree Bus Interchange	01:20	03:20	05:40
Braintree Tesco East Store	01:25	03:25	05:45
Bradwell, The Swan	01:28	03:28	05:48
Coggeshall Market Hill			05:54
Marks Tey, Poplars Nurseries	01:37	03:37	06:02
Marks Tey, Railway Station	01:40	03:40	06:05
Stanway Sainsburys Store	01:45	03:45	06:11
Lexden, Halstead Road Corner	01:48	03:48	06:15
Colchester Osborne Street	01:55	03:55
Colchester Head Street			06:22
Colchester Railway Station			06:27

X30 departures on 30/03/2025 ONLY	GMT	BST	BST	BST
Southend-on-Sea Travel Centre	23:55	00:55	03:15
Victoria Station Interchange	23:58	00:58	03:18
Southend Hospital South	00:03	↓	↓
Earls Hall Avenue	↓	02:01	03:21
Kent Elms Corner North	00:09	02:05	03:25
Eastwood Rise	00:14	02:10	03:30
Eastwood Road	00:19	02:15	03:35
Rayleigh Railway Station	00:21	02:17	03:37
Wolsey Park North	00:27	02:23	03:43
Chelmsford Bus Station	00:51	02:47	04:10	04:58
Broomfield Hospital	↓	↓	↓	05:08
Church School	02:13	03:08	04:31	05:23
Great Dunmow High Street	02:19	03:14	↓	05:29
Stansted Airport	02:34	03:29	04:44	05:44

X30 departures on 30/03/2025 ONLY	GMT	BST	BST	BST	BST
Stansted Airport	00:40	03:20	04:15		05:08
Great Dunmow High Street	↓	↓	↓		↓
Church School	00:52	03:27	04:27		05:20
Broomfield Hospital	↓	↓	↓	04:40	05:35
Chelmsford Bus Station	02:16	03:57	04:49	04:55	05:50
Wolsey Park North	02:36	04:17		05:15	06:11
Rayleigh Railway Station	02:42	04:23		05:21	06:17
Eastwood Road	02:44	04:25		05:23	06:18
Eastwood Rise	02:48	04:30		05:28	06:23
Kent Elms Corner North	02:52	04:35		05:33	06:28
Southend Hospital South	↓	↓		05:38	↓
Holiday Inn Southend Airport	↓	04:40			06:34
Earls Hall Avenue	02:58	04:43			06:37
Southend-on-Sea Victoria Station	03:02	04:47		05:44	06:41
Southend-on-Sea Travel Centre	03:05	04:50		05:47	06:45