UK TRIPDEALS

BRITAIN, ONE JOURNEY AT A TIME

Find your way. Enjoy the journey.

Official timetables, current departures and clear ticket advice for travelling across the UK. Choose a place or transport type to find the right service.

Official operator linksGuidance in eight languages

Timetables at the source

National Rail

Plan rail journeys across Great Britain, search live station departures and reach each train company's current timetable.

Traveline

A useful starting point for towns, countryside and combined journeys across Great Britain. Search routes, stop departures and timetables.

Translink Northern Ireland

Journey planning and timetables for Metro, Glider, Ulsterbus, Goldline and NI Railways, including relevant cross-border services.

Start with Traveline for Great Britain or Translink for Northern Ireland. City and ferry guides add useful local detail; this directory is not a complete list of every operator.

Where are you heading?

32 matching guides

City networks13

BusesTrams

Edinburgh

Lothian Buses and Edinburgh Trams

Find official journey planning, timetable and ticket information for Edinburgh. Lothian Buses and Edinburgh Trams have different payment rules; choose your service before travelling.

Plan a journeyFind a timetableDepartures & live informationTickets & current fares
How to pay and tap
Paying and tapping your card

On Lothian buses, tap your card or device when boarding; do not tap off. Tell the driver your destination first on Airlink, East Coast Buses and Lothian Country. On Edinburgh Trams, tap at a platform validator before boarding and tap off at your destination. Use one card or device per passenger and the same one throughout.

How to buy a ticket

For tram journeys, buy, activate or validate your ticket before boarding. Platform machines and the Bus & Tram app offer alternatives to contactless. Ask for the appropriate child or group ticket rather than assuming adult card capping will apply.

Finding the right fare

Daily and Monday–Sunday weekly caps can combine eligible bus and tram journeys. Airport, night and outer-zone travel can have different fares or caps: check the operator's current fare options.

  • Check your last journey home, service updates and the exact boarding stop before travelling. Timetables can change at short notice.
Read the full guide
More official links

Tram live departures and fare finder

Tram tickets and purchase options

Tram tap on, tap off

Lothian service updates

Guidance checked: Review due: 2026-10-30
Tube & subwayBusesTrains

Glasgow

SPT Subway, First Bus and other local operators

Find official journey planning, timetable and ticket information for Glasgow. SPT Subway, First Bus and other local operators have different payment rules; choose your service before travelling.

Plan a journeyFind a timetableTickets & current fares
How to pay and tap
Paying and tapping your card

Glasgow Subway accepts Visa or Mastercard and supported mobile wallets at its gates. Tap in and out using the same card or device; bank-card contactless is for adult fares. First Glasgow has a separate Tap On Tap Off system on eligible services: tap at the driver's reader when boarding and tap off before leaving.

How to buy a ticket

Subway ticket offices and machines sell tickets if contactless is unsuitable. For First Bus, use the app, pay on board or use eligible tap-on/tap-off travel. Other bus operators and ScotRail have their own ticket rules.

Finding the right fare

Subway contactless has daily and weekly capping. First Bus fares and caps are separate: using the same bank card does not create a single Glasgow-wide cap. Check the last Subway service, especially on Sundays.

  • Check your last journey home, service updates and the exact boarding stop before travelling. Timetables can change at short notice.
Read the full guide
More official links

Visitor information

Subway contactless help

First Glasgow tap on, tap off

First Bus journey planner

SPT Subway travel information

Guidance checked: Review due: 2026-10-30
BusesTramsTrains

Manchester

Bee Network buses and Metrolink trams

Find official journey planning, timetable and ticket information for Manchester. Bee Network buses and Metrolink trams have different payment rules; choose your service before travelling.

Plan a journeyFind a timetableDepartures & live informationTickets & current fares
How to pay and tap
Paying and tapping your card

On Bee Network buses, tap once when boarding and do not tap out. On Metrolink, tap in at the stop reader before boarding and tap out at your final tram stop. Use the same card or device for all eligible bus and tram travel so the correct cap can be applied.

How to buy a ticket

Contactless tap-and-go avoids buying a separate adult bus or tram ticket. Other tickets remain available, including bus tickets bought from the driver and tram tickets through the Bee Network app. Check eligibility for child, concession and group products.

Finding the right fare

Caps depend on bus/tram use, tram zones and travel times. Use the current TfGM fare guidance. Do not assume a National Rail journey is included in bus-and-tram tap-and-go: verify the specific rail route before boarding.

  • Check your last journey home, service updates and the exact boarding stop before travelling. Timetables can change at short notice.
Read the full guide
More official links

Bee Network mobile app

Travel updates

TfGM contactless conditions

Guidance checked: Review due: 2026-10-30
TrainsBusesFerries

Liverpool

Merseytravel, Merseyrail, buses and Mersey Ferries

Find official journey planning, timetable and ticket information for Liverpool. Merseytravel, Merseyrail, buses and Mersey Ferries have different payment rules; choose your service before travelling.

Plan a journeyFind a timetableTickets & current fares
How to pay and tap
Paying and tapping your card

Merseyrail bank-card Tap & Go works on its Northern and Wirral lines, except journeys to or from Chester: use a MetroCard or another valid ticket there. Tap in and out with the same card or device. It does not cover the City line or another operator's onward train. Bank-card taps charge adult fares.

How to buy a ticket

Merseyrail station ticket offices remain an alternative to Tap & Go. Bus payment rules depend on the operator: Arriva Liverpool City Region offers its own tap-on capping, while other tickets can be bought separately. Check ferry ticket and sailing details with the operator.

Finding the right fare

Merseyrail has daily and Monday–Sunday weekly caps. Do not assume a bus, train and ferry trip shares one contactless cap. The planned full-network bus tap-and-go rollout is not due until autumn 2027; current operator schemes differ.

  • Check your last journey home, service updates and the exact boarding stop before travelling. Timetables can change at short notice.
Read the full guide
More official links

Visitor information

Merseyrail Tap & Go and Chester exception

Arriva Liverpool City Region Tap and Go

Bus ticket changes and future rollout

Merseytravel local journey planning

Guidance checked: Review due: 2026-10-30
BusesTrains

Belfast

Translink Metro, Glider, Ulsterbus and NI Railways

Find official journey planning, timetable and ticket information for Belfast. Translink Metro, Glider, Ulsterbus and NI Railways have different payment rules; choose your service before travelling.

Plan a journeyFind a timetableDepartures & live informationTickets & current fares
How to pay and tap
Paying and tapping your card

On Metro, tap once at the driver's reader for your own adult travel; daily capping applies. On NI Railways, a bank card buys a ticket at an office, machine or from the conductor: it is not a universal tap-in/tap-out system. For other passengers or Ulsterbus ticket choices, speak to the driver before tapping.

How to buy a ticket

For Glider, buy your ticket before boarding at a halt's ticket machine, or use a valid activated app ticket or travelcard. Do not board expecting to tap a bank card on the vehicle. Translink's ticket pages explain mLink, travelcards and visitor options.

Finding the right fare

Compare day or visitor tickets for repeated journeys, and check which services and zones they cover. Do not assume Metro contactless capping includes every Glider, Ulsterbus or rail journey.

  • Check your last journey home, service updates and the exact boarding stop before travelling. Timetables can change at short notice.
Read the full guide
More official links

Contactless guidance by mode

Travel updates

Journey planner and ticketing apps

Metro and Glider route maps

Guidance checked: Review due: 2026-10-30
BusesTrains

York

iTravel York, First Bus and other local operators

Find official journey planning, timetable and ticket information for York. iTravel York, First Bus and other local operators have different payment rules; choose your service before travelling.

Plan a journeyFind a timetableDepartures & live informationTickets & current fares
How to pay and tap
Paying and tapping your card

First York offers adult Tap On Tap Off: tap at the driver's reader when boarding and tap off with the same card or device when leaving. Keep using that same card or device for capping. Other operators can have different contactless and ticket rules.

How to buy a ticket

First Bus offers app, cash and card options as well as tap-on/tap-off. Check the operator's fare pages for the ticket appropriate to your journey, including Park & Ride and child or group travel.

Finding the right fare

First York calculates adult single fares by distance and applies daily or multi-day caps. The council's timetable directory covers multiple bus companies; a First ticket or cap is not automatically valid on all of them.

  • Check your last journey home, service updates and the exact boarding stop before travelling. Timetables can change at short notice.
Read the full guide
More official links

First York tap on, tap off and current caps

First York timetables

Guidance checked: Review due: 2026-10-30
BusesTube & subwayTramsTrainsFerries

London

Transport for London (TfL)

Use TfL for London's Tube, buses, trams, DLR, Overground and Elizabeth line. The timetable directory also links river services. TfL Go provides live arrivals and accessible journey planning.

Plan a journeyFind a timetableDepartures & live informationTickets & current faresContactless rulesService updates
How to pay and tap
Paying and tapping your card

On buses and trams, touch in only. On Tube, DLR, Overground, Elizabeth line and accepted National Rail journeys, touch in and out with the same card or the same device, even at open gates. Tram interchanges such as Wimbledon have special instructions: follow TfL's tapping guide.

How to buy a ticket

Pay as you go with a supported contactless bank card, phone/watch or Oyster card. Each traveller needs their own payment card or device. London buses are cashless. Paper Tube and rail tickets are also available through TfL's ticket guidance.

Finding the right fare

Use the single fare finder for your actual rail journey and TfL's fare pages for applicable caps. London pay-as-you-go coverage is not the whole UK railway. Many overseas cards work, but acceptance and foreign transaction charges depend on the card issuer.

  • Use the same physical card, phone or watch throughout your journey. Premium airport, river and cable-car services may have separate fares and may not count towards ordinary Tube or rail caps.
Read the full guide
More official links

TfL pay as you go

TfL single fare finder

TfL cash-free bus policy

TfL Go

Guidance checked: Review due: 2026-10-30
BusesTrains

Bath

WEST Journey Planner / First Bus

WEST Journey Planner covers the wider Bath and Bristol area, with routes, timetables and live arrivals. First Bus's directory covers its own services, including local and Park & Ride routes.

Plan a journeyFind a timetableTickets & current faresContactless rulesService updates
How to pay and tap
Paying and tapping your card

For First Bus adult Tap On Tap Off, tap the driver's reader when boarding and tap off when leaving. Use exactly the same bank card or device for both taps and subsequent journeys.

How to buy a ticket

Compare the operator's current single, day and group tickets for your route. Check the fare zone and Park & Ride conditions before buying; a ticket for one operator is not automatically valid on another.

Finding the right fare

Open First Bus's fare finder for current prices and fare zones. Other operators and train journeys have their own tickets and payment rules.

  • Check your last journey home, service updates and the exact boarding stop before travelling. Timetables can change at short notice.
Read the full guide
Guidance checked: Review due: 2026-10-30
BusesTrains

Bristol

WEST Journey Planner / First Bus

Use the regional WEST planner for bus and rail journeys around Bristol. Its Live Arrivals and Routes & Timetables tools are updated at source; check diversions before setting off.

Plan a journeyFind a timetableTickets & current faresContactless rulesService updates
How to pay and tap
Paying and tapping your card

On First Bus adult Tap On Tap Off journeys, tap on at the driver's reader and off at the exit reader or driver's machine. Keep to the same card or device. Other operators may use different systems.

How to buy a ticket

Choose tickets for your operator and travel zone. Airport services and special tickets may have separate conditions; check the actual service before buying.

Finding the right fare

First Bus provides current zone-based ticket prices. Use the operator's fare tool for singles, day tickets and group choices; do not assume a bus ticket includes rail travel.

  • Check your last journey home, service updates and the exact boarding stop before travelling. Timetables can change at short notice.
Read the full guide
Guidance checked: Review due: 2026-10-30
BusesCoaches

Oxford

Oxford Bus Company / Thames Travel; other operators also serve Oxford

Find Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel timetables and route maps, including Park & Ride. The council's public transport page also links other operators and live departure maps.

Plan a journeyFind a timetableDepartures & live informationTickets & current faresContactless rules
How to pay and tap
Paying and tapping your card

Freeflow is adult contactless pay as you go: tap on when boarding and off when leaving. Its daily cap depends on the area travelled. Use the same card or device for every journey that should count towards the cap.

How to buy a ticket

Buy the appropriate ticket through Oxford Bus Company's app, smartcard options or on board. Their services accept cash and contactless ticket purchases; airport coaches have separate booking information.

Finding the right fare

Check current fares and ticket boundaries before choosing a product. Freeflow is not a promise that every bus operator in Oxford shares one cap.

  • Check your last journey home, service updates and the exact boarding stop before travelling. Timetables can change at short notice.
Read the full guide
More official links

Oxford City Council transport directory

Oxford Bus ways to pay

Guidance checked: Review due: 2026-10-30
Buses

Cambridge

Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority / Stagecoach / Whippet

Use the Combined Authority's planner for the wider bus network and its timetable directory for individual routes. Stagecoach provides live times for its services; confirm which company operates your bus.

Plan a journeyFind a timetableDepartures & live informationTickets & current faresContactless rules
How to pay and tap
Paying and tapping your card

Whippet advertises adult Tap On Tap Off on all its buses: use the same card or device when boarding and leaving. Do not apply that rule automatically to Stagecoach Cambridge; follow the operator's ticket instructions.

How to buy a ticket

On Stagecoach, ask the driver for your single or return ticket and pay by contactless, or use its ticket app. Compare day and group products where appropriate. Buying a ticket with a bank card does not itself mean automatic fare capping.

Finding the right fare

Compare current single, day and Park & Ride products on the operator’s fare pages. Check the operator and route before buying; tickets are not automatically interchangeable.

  • Check your last journey home, service updates and the exact boarding stop before travelling. Timetables can change at short notice.
Read the full guide
More official links

Stagecoach PAYG rollout areas

Whippet Tap On Tap Off

Guidance checked: Review due: 2026-10-30
Buses

Cardiff

Cardiff Bus; Transport for Wales for local rail

Cardiff Bus provides route timetables, live departures and a journey planner. For local rail and wider Wales journeys, use Transport for Wales or Traveline Cymru as well.

Plan a journeyFind a timetableDepartures & live informationTickets & current faresContactless rules
How to pay and tap
Paying and tapping your card

Cardiff Bus adult Tap On Tap Off requires a tap at boarding and a tap at the exit reader. Use the same card or device for all journeys. Each person needs their own payment method; group tickets are a separate purchase.

How to buy a ticket

Buy tickets through the Cardiff Bus app or ask the driver and pay by cash or contactless. Bring the exact cash fare: drivers do not give change. Fare zones and service 30 to Newport have different conditions.

Finding the right fare

Adult Tap On Tap Off is capped at the relevant day-ticket price for the zones travelled. Weekly, longer-period and family products may suit some visitors better. Check current fares and compare before paying.

  • Check your last journey home, service updates and the exact boarding stop before travelling. Timetables can change at short notice.
Read the full guide
More official links

Cardiff Bus app

Guidance checked: Review due: 2026-10-30
BusesTramsTrains

Birmingham

Transport for West Midlands / West Midlands Metro

TfWM's regional tools cover bus, tram and train journeys. Use the ticket finder for products that match your modes and travel area.

Plan a journeyFind a timetableTickets & current faresContactless rules
How to pay and tap
Paying and tapping your card

For Swift Go, tap the Swift card when boarding a bus, with no bus tap-off. On the tram, register a tap-on at the stop's ticket machine before boarding and tap off after leaving. Follow the operator's current instructions.

How to buy a ticket

Swift Go requires its own Swift card, account and payment setup; it is not simply tapping a bank card. Metro tickets can be bought through the MyMetro app or ticket machines using supported payment methods.

Finding the right fare

Swift Go is for adults aged 18 or over and works on all trams and most West Midlands buses, with applicable daily, three-day or weekly caps. It is not an all-rail pay-as-you-go product.

  • Check your last journey home, service updates and the exact boarding stop before travelling. Timetables can change at short notice.
Read the full guide
More official links

Metro tickets

Guidance checked: Review due: 2026-10-30

National & regional journeys7

Trains

Great Britain

National Rail

Plan rail journeys across Great Britain, search live station departures and reach each train company's current timetable.

Plan a journeyDepartures & live informationFind a timetableTickets & current faresContactless rulesSavings & railcards
How to pay and tap
Paying and tapping your card

Bank-card tap-in/out is available only on eligible routes. Check the contactless map before relying on it; most intercity journeys still require a ticket.

How to buy a ticket

Compare Advance, Off-Peak and Anytime tickets. Advance normally binds you to the booked train; check every ticket's route and time restrictions. Buy online, via an operator app or at a station.

Finding the right fare

Check the linked operator for the fare on your chosen route and date. Compare single, return and day-ticket options where available; booking, baggage and reservation conditions can differ.

  • Check your last journey home, service updates and the exact boarding stop before travelling. Timetables can change at short notice.
Read the full guide
Guidance checked: Review due: 2026-10-30
BusesTrainsTramsCoachesFerries

Great Britain

Traveline

A useful starting point for towns, countryside and combined journeys across Great Britain. Search routes, stop departures and timetables.

Plan a journeyDepartures & live information
How to pay and tap
Paying and tapping your card

Payment rules vary by operator. Check whether the service supports ticket purchase by card, tap-on/tap-off, cash or an app.

How to buy a ticket

Traveline provides journey information. Follow the named operator for actual fares, booking, day tickets and concessions.

Finding the right fare

Check the linked operator for the fare on your chosen route and date. Compare single, return and day-ticket options where available; booking, baggage and reservation conditions can differ.

  • Check your last journey home, service updates and the exact boarding stop before travelling. Timetables can change at short notice.
Read the full guide
More official links

How to find a timetable

Guidance checked: Review due: 2026-10-30
BusesCoachesTrainsTramsTube & subwayFerries

Scotland

Traveline Scotland

Scotland's national public transport planner covers buses, coaches, rail, Glasgow Subway, trams and ferries, with stop and station departures.

Plan a journeyFind a timetableDepartures & live information
How to pay and tap
Paying and tapping your card

There is no single Scotland-wide bank-card tap-and-go fare. Each operator has its own payment and ticket rules.

How to buy a ticket

Use the operator shown in the journey result to check prices and buy tickets. Ferries and long-distance coaches may need a reservation.

Finding the right fare

Check the linked operator for the fare on your chosen route and date. Compare single, return and day-ticket options where available; booking, baggage and reservation conditions can differ.

  • Check your last journey home, service updates and the exact boarding stop before travelling. Timetables can change at short notice.
Read the full guide
Guidance checked: Review due: 2026-10-30
BusesTrainsCoaches

Wales

Traveline Cymru / Transport for Wales

Plan public transport in Wales, search a timetable by service number and check short-notice or incorrect-timetable notices before travelling.

Plan a journeyFind a timetableService updates
How to pay and tap
Paying and tapping your card

Wales has multiple bus operators and separate rail PAYG zones. Do not assume a bank card can replace a ticket on every route.

How to buy a ticket

Check the actual bus or train operator for fares and ticket options; some flexible rural bus services require booking.

Finding the right fare

Check the linked operator for the fare on your chosen route and date. Compare single, return and day-ticket options where available; booking, baggage and reservation conditions can differ.

  • Check your last journey home, service updates and the exact boarding stop before travelling. Timetables can change at short notice.
Read the full guide
Guidance checked: Review due: 2026-10-30
Trains

Wales

Transport for Wales rail

Official Welsh rail journey planning, live train information, downloadable timetables and ticket sales.

Plan a journeyFind a timetableContactless rules
How to pay and tap
Paying and tapping your card

PAYG uses the same card/device to tap in and out at eligible stations. Separate North and South Wales zones apply; it cannot connect those zones or extend beyond them. Check eligible operators and the current map.

How to buy a ticket

Buy train tickets on the TfW website/app or through station facilities. Compare the fare and restriction details shown for your exact journey.

Finding the right fare

Check the linked operator for the fare on your chosen route and date. Compare single, return and day-ticket options where available; booking, baggage and reservation conditions can differ.

  • Check your last journey home, service updates and the exact boarding stop before travelling. Timetables can change at short notice.
Read the full guide
Guidance checked: Review due: 2026-10-30
Trains

Scotland

ScotRail

Plan rail journeys around Scotland, find current timetables and see service information in the official journey planner/app.

Plan a journeyFind a timetableTickets & current fares
How to pay and tap
Paying and tapping your card

Buy a valid ticket or use an eligible operator ticket product; a bank-card payment at a ticket machine does not automatically authorise tap-and-go travel.

How to buy a ticket

Buy before boarding where facilities are available. Compare Advance, flexible tickets and visitor passes using the official ticket tools.

Finding the right fare

Check the linked operator for the fare on your chosen route and date. Compare single, return and day-ticket options where available; booking, baggage and reservation conditions can differ.

  • Check your last journey home, service updates and the exact boarding stop before travelling. Timetables can change at short notice.
Read the full guide
More official links

Buy before you board

Guidance checked: Review due: 2026-10-30

Coaches3

Coaches

Great Britain

National Express coaches

Intercity and airport coaches with a date-specific timetable finder, booking engine and coach tracking.

Plan a journeyFind a timetableService updates
How to pay and tap
Paying and tapping your card

Pay during booking using an accepted payment method. This is a booked coach service, not a local tap-in/tap-out network.

How to buy a ticket

Compare departures and book the required coach. Check the departure stop, date, fare flexibility and luggage allowance on your ticket.

Finding the right fare

Check the linked operator for the fare on your chosen route and date. Compare single, return and day-ticket options where available; booking, baggage and reservation conditions can differ.

  • Check your last journey home, service updates and the exact boarding stop before travelling. Timetables can change at short notice.
Read the full guide
Guidance checked: Review due: 2026-10-30
Coaches

Great Britain

FlixBus

Search UK coach services and current fares; use the trip tracker for the stop or your booking.

Plan a journeyFind a timetableDepartures & live information
How to pay and tap
Paying and tapping your card

Complete the ticket booking before travel; do not treat a coach boarding scanner as a bank-card PAYG reader.

How to buy a ticket

Book online or in the app and keep the booking's QR ticket ready. Prices and availability depend on the selected service.

Finding the right fare

Check the linked operator for the fare on your chosen route and date. Compare single, return and day-ticket options where available; booking, baggage and reservation conditions can differ.

  • Check your last journey home, service updates and the exact boarding stop before travelling. Timetables can change at short notice.
Read the full guide
Guidance checked: Review due: 2026-10-30

Ferries9

Ferries

Scotland

CalMac

West coast of Scotland and Hebridean ferry timetables, fares and route-by-route service status.

Find a timetableService updatesTickets & current fares
How to pay and tap
Paying and tapping your card

Buy the appropriate ferry ticket through the operator; there is no assumption of bank-card tap-and-go boarding.

How to buy a ticket

Check the chosen route, whether a reservation is required, vehicle availability and check-in time. Reserve popular crossings early and recheck the sailing status.

Finding the right fare

Check the linked operator for the fare on your chosen route and date. Compare single, return and day-ticket options where available; booking, baggage and reservation conditions can differ.

  • Check your last journey home, service updates and the exact boarding stop before travelling. Timetables can change at short notice.
Read the full guide
Guidance checked: Review due: 2026-10-30
Ferries

Scotland

Orkney Ferries

Inter-island Orkney ferry timetables and fares, with separate operational notices for changes and cancellations.

Find a timetableService updatesTickets & current fares
How to pay and tap
Paying and tapping your card

Use the operator's stated ticket and payment arrangements for the route; do not assume a local bus or rail ticket covers a ferry.

How to buy a ticket

Check route-specific booking and check-in requirements and confirm onward connections. Seasonal and freight-related variations can affect sailings.

Finding the right fare

Check the linked operator for the fare on your chosen route and date. Compare single, return and day-ticket options where available; booking, baggage and reservation conditions can differ.

  • Check your last journey home, service updates and the exact boarding stop before travelling. Timetables can change at short notice.
Read the full guide
Guidance checked: Review due: 2026-10-30
Ferries

Scotland

Pentland Ferries

Gills Bay–St Margaret's Hope ferry service for Orkney, with current timetable and tariff information.

Find a timetableTickets & current faresTickets & current fares
How to pay and tap
Paying and tapping your card

Purchase a ferry ticket using the booking service; contactless payment does not mean automatic tap-and-go ferry travel.

How to buy a ticket

Check passenger/vehicle availability and the check-in deadline when booking. Read current notices before setting off.

Finding the right fare

Check the linked operator for the fare on your chosen route and date. Compare single, return and day-ticket options where available; booking, baggage and reservation conditions can differ.

  • Check your last journey home, service updates and the exact boarding stop before travelling. Timetables can change at short notice.
Read the full guide
Guidance checked: Review due: 2026-10-30
Ferries

England

Red Funnel

Southampton–Isle of Wight vehicle ferries and Red Jet foot-passenger services, with current timetables and live departure status.

Find a timetableService updatesTickets & current fares
How to pay and tap
Paying and tapping your card

Follow the operator's ticket purchase instructions; do not assume bank-card tapping alone gives authority to board.

How to buy a ticket

Check whether your sailing is a vehicle ferry or foot-passenger service, then select the appropriate ticket and observe check-in times.

Finding the right fare

Check the linked operator for the fare on your chosen route and date. Compare single, return and day-ticket options where available; booking, baggage and reservation conditions can differ.

  • Check your last journey home, service updates and the exact boarding stop before travelling. Timetables can change at short notice.
Read the full guide
Guidance checked: Review due: 2026-10-30
Ferries

England

Isles of Scilly Travel — Scillonian

Passenger ferry travel between Penzance and St Mary's, Isles of Scilly, with seasonal timetables and weather advisories.

Find a timetableService updatesTickets & current fares
How to pay and tap
Paying and tapping your card

Use the operator's ticket booking process. Plan the mainland connection with enough time before ferry check-in.

How to buy a ticket

Check that the ferry operates on your travel date, book the correct passenger ticket and review luggage and check-in instructions.

Finding the right fare

Check the linked operator for the fare on your chosen route and date. Compare single, return and day-ticket options where available; booking, baggage and reservation conditions can differ.

  • Check your last journey home, service updates and the exact boarding stop before travelling. Timetables can change at short notice.
Read the full guide
Guidance checked: Review due: 2026-10-30
Ferries

Northern Ireland

Stena Line — Cairnryan–Belfast

Passenger and vehicle ferry link between Scotland and Northern Ireland; check date-specific departures and sailing updates.

Find a timetableService updatesService updates
How to pay and tap
Paying and tapping your card

Use a booked ferry ticket; a contactless bank card does not provide automatic boarding or a regional transport cap.

How to buy a ticket

Book the right direction and passenger/vehicle type. Check identity-document and check-in requirements with Stena Line before travel.

Finding the right fare

Check the linked operator for the fare on your chosen route and date. Compare single, return and day-ticket options where available; booking, baggage and reservation conditions can differ.

  • Check your last journey home, service updates and the exact boarding stop before travelling. Timetables can change at short notice.
Read the full guide
Guidance checked: Review due: 2026-10-30
Ferries

Northern Ireland

P&O Ferries — Cairnryan–Larne

Ferry link between south-west Scotland and Northern Ireland; use the operator's date-specific timetable and booking tool.

Find a timetableTickets & current fares
How to pay and tap
Paying and tapping your card

Pay through the ferry booking process; bank-card acceptance does not make this a tap-on public transport service.

How to buy a ticket

Confirm the permitted travel type, availability, identity-document rules and check-in deadline when buying your ferry ticket.

Finding the right fare

Check the linked operator for the fare on your chosen route and date. Compare single, return and day-ticket options where available; booking, baggage and reservation conditions can differ.

  • Check your last journey home, service updates and the exact boarding stop before travelling. Timetables can change at short notice.
Read the full guide
Guidance checked: Review due: 2026-10-30

Before you travel

A bank card is not a UK-wide travel pass

Check the operator’s instructions. Buying a ticket with contactless is different from tapping in and out. Use the same physical card or the same phone/watch throughout a capped journey; they are separate payment identities. One adult per card or device is common, and child, group or discounted tickets may need another method.

Make your travel budget go further

Compare single, return, day and group tickets for your actual route. Check Advance and Off-Peak restrictions, railcard eligibility, zones and airport supplements. A cheap ticket for the wrong operator or departure may not be valid. Use current fare tools rather than treating an old headline price as a quote.

Plan the whole accessible journey

Check step-free routes, lift status, boarding assistance and replacement buses with the operator. Accessible stations do not always mean every connection or vehicle is accessible. Arrange assistance where needed before travel.

Check the date and the last journey home

Times are local UK time (GMT or BST). Weekend, school-day and bank-holiday timetables can differ. Rural buses and island ferries may run infrequently. Confirm the outward journey, return journey, disruption and any check-in deadline.

Guidance in eight languages

Read timetables in your language

Our advice and labels are translated. Operator websites may use English or Welsh. Use your browser’s Translate option, or Google Translate’s Websites tool with the official page address. Live widgets, PDFs and booking forms may not translate correctly. Keep original station names and confirm details on the original page.

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Your timetable phrasebook
On the timetableMeaning in your language
Departure / depThe time the service leaves this stop.
Arrival / arrThe time the service reaches this stop.
ExpectedThe latest predicted time; it can change.
On timeCurrently expected at the scheduled time.
DelayedRunning later than the published timetable.
CancelledThis service will not run as shown.
PlatformThe numbered boarding platform; recheck before boarding.
Change trains / connectionsLeave one service and board another to complete your journey.
Monday–FridayRuns on weekdays, subject to holiday and other notes.
SaturdaySaturday service pattern.
SundaySunday service pattern; it may be less frequent.
Bank holidayA public holiday; a different timetable may apply.
School days onlyRuns only on the specified local school days.
Step-free accessA route without steps; check lifts and the full journey’s accessibility.
Rail replacement busA bus replaces part of a rail journey; check the boarding location.
Last serviceThe final service of the day; allow time to reach its stop.

Current information, directly from the operator

Departure times and prices open on official services and are not copied into this website. Select your travel date there, then check live departures and disruption before leaving. Published timetables are not a guarantee that a service will run.

Reloads our latest published advice. Official timetable and fare buttons open the provider’s own current information.

Put the journey into your holiday

Build an itinerary, estimate your spending and check wider disruption before you set off.

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