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Megabus, National Express and Coach Travel in the UK on a Student Budget

Started by WanderlustEmma · 5 septembre 2025 · 9 replies · 📖 Read as Guide
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WanderlustEmma
Undergraduate, University of Leeds
Joined: Feb 2017 Posts: 195
5 septembre 2025 #1
Just finished my second year of doing the Leeds-London coach run every few weeks and I have strong opinions about Megabus vs National Express at this point. Sharing everything I have learned about booking, timing and which routes are worth the coach and which are not.
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RyanToronto
Canadian exchange, University of Edinburgh
Joined: May 2023Posts: 160
September 07, 2025#2
The overnight Megabus from London to Edinburgh is genuinely one of the best budget hacks in the UK. Paid 3 quid, arrived at 6am, had the entire day. Sleep quality was about a 3 out of 10 but the savings were real.
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CamilleDuval
Erasmus student, University of Manchester
Joined: Jan 2019Posts: 128
September 09, 2025#3
As a French student I was shocked that UK coaches are this cheap. In France the equivalent Flixbus routes are usually 15-25 euros minimum. The 1 pound Megabus tickets are actually real if you book early enough.
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JessicaBoston
Semester abroad, Bristol
Joined: Feb 2020Posts: 73
September 12, 2025#4
The luggage situation is the biggest downside for me. Moving between Bristol and London with two suitcases was a nightmare. Ended up shipping one box via Parcel2Go for 7 quid which was easier than trying to argue with the driver about bag limits.
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BackpackerJake
Gap year traveller
Joined: Jul 2019Posts: 22
September 15, 2025#5
Pro tip: the National Express Coachcard also works on their airport services. London to Stansted for about 6 quid with the card versus 12 without. If you fly Ryanair that saves you almost as much as the card costs.
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OliviaOxford
Masters student, Oxford Brookes
Joined: Jun 2024Posts: 161
September 18, 2025#6
London to Oxford is one route where the coach is not worth it. The Oxford Tube (a different coach service) runs 24/7 and costs about 9 quid each way but takes 90+ minutes. The train is 55 minutes for 13 quid with a railcard. I switched to trains after my second trip.
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EmmaManchester
Postgrad, King's College London
Joined: Jul 2019Posts: 78
September 21, 2025#7
The M6 traffic point cannot be overstated. My London-Manchester Megabus was supposed to be 4.5 hours and it took 7 because of an accident near Birmingham. No refund, no compensation, just vibes. Budget extra time if you have a connection to make.
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AidanDublin
Irish student, SOAS
Joined: Oct 2022Posts: 201
September 24, 2025#8
For anyone going to or from airports: National Express to Heathrow is 6-8 quid and drops you right at the terminal. The Heathrow Express is 25 quid and takes the same time once you factor in getting to Paddington. No contest on budget.
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LiamLondon
International student, UCL
Joined: Oct 2022Posts: 21
September 27, 2025#9
I track all my coach bookings in a spreadsheet and over the past year I have averaged 7.40 per journey booking 4-6 weeks in advance on Megabus. That is about 60 percent less than the equivalent train with a railcard. For long routes the savings are massive.
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NatalieVancouver
Canadian exchange, Imperial
Joined: Apr 2022Posts: 111
October 01, 2025#10
One thing nobody mentions: Victoria Coach Station is horrible. It is cramped, badly signposted and the queues are chaotic. Arrive 30 minutes early, bring snacks, and do not expect any of the seats in the waiting area to be free. It is part of the budget travel experience I suppose.
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