Getting around Yorkshire by bus
Many different transport companies are involved in providing bus travel in the Yorkshire region.
The five big companies Arriva, First, Go-ahead, Stagecoach and Transdev are represented in services around the region, sometimes operating under more localised names, and there are also many smaller companies with mini and midi buses providing a vital link to small villages in rural areas.
Getting about Yorkshire's big towns and cities poses no problem with plenty of services to the outlying districts of each town, particularly during the daytime.
Park and ride bus schemes are also in operation in
Bridlington,
Doncaster,
Leeds,
Scarborough,
Whitby and
York, where finding any parking in central areas can be extremely difficult.
In
York there are city sightseeing buses in addition to park and ride buses and regular local bus services.
Whitby also has sightseeing buses and in
Scarborough there are open-top sea-front services between the North and South Bays.
In
Sheffield local transit includes the Supertram tram system.
In
Leeds and in
Bradford watch out for guided busways which have been laid out a bit like a bus lane, but along the centre of some dual carriageway roads rather than at the side. Where some routes along the road use the busway and some don't it may mean having to choose between the bus shelter at the side of the road or one for the busway in the middle of the road, having decided which bus you want to catch.
In villages in rural areas of Yorkshire there are bus links to be found in many places, but journeys require very careful planning. Sometimes there are only one or two services a day and sometimes services only operate on particular days. Often there is no service on Sundays, except for summer services to tourist spots. Many tourist areas have a much better service in summer months than in the winter.
Yorkshire is a very large region. West Yorkshire alone is larger than Greater London. For inter-town/city travel, buses travelling through urban areas will take multiple times longer than
rail travel where available.
Fares and day tickets
A range of day ticket options (as well as tickets for longer periods) now exists for the various bus operators around Yorkshire. Most operators offer tickets restricted to the operator's own services, but there are now several multi-operator options available, particularly in West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire and City of York:
West Yorkshire
Across West Yorkshire bus fares are capped at £2* per single journey within the county until the end of March 2025.
There are also short hop fares of £1.50 in West Yorkshire.
A Day Ticket allowing unlimited all-day travel by bus with all operators can be obtained via the MCard app and some operators' smartphone apps for £5.00*.
A similarly priced PlusBus at £5.00* a day can be added to rail tickets to major stations in West Yorkshire and covers buses across all West Yorkshire. PlusBus tickets usually need to be collected in advance from station, ticket machine or obtained by post. PlusBus eTickets are being introduced in some areas with West Yorkshire taking part in trials.
A range of multi-operator bus and rail tickets also exist and are available via the MCard app. A WY DaySaver Bus and Rail Off-peak ticket covering all West Yorkshire is available via the Specials section of the MCard app and at staffed stations for £11.10*. The ticket is valid all day at weekends. Similar Family and Group tickets are available.
A Bus & Rail Zones 1-5 ticket covering all West Yorkshire and including peak travel is £17.20*. Lower cost options are available if travelling only in rail zones closest to Leeds, Zones 1-3 or 1-4. The cheapest peak-inclusive ticket Bus & Rail Zones 2-5 covers bus and rail for West Yorkshire avoiding Leeds rail station and is available for 13.50*.
These are the most flexible day ticket options, but cheaper ticketing options may be available for concessionary fares, for longer periods of travel or if confining journeys to a single operator.
For young people under 19 there are fares of 60p* for journeys under a mile, £1.20* for up to five miles and £1.80* over five miles.
Journeys crossing the West Yorkshire boundary may be subject to a higher fare up to the Government's national single journey fare cap of £3.
See 
Metro - Tickets & passes for more details or see operator-specific options on their websites.
* West Yorkshire prices correct as at March 2, 2025, including changes to bus and rail ticket fares. Bus only ticket prices are expected to change on March 30, 2025.
South Yorkshire
A First bus in Sheffield in commemorative 1980s-style South Yorkshire's Transport livery
In South Yorkshire bus fares are capped at £3 per single journey within the county from January 1, 2025. This is not a flat fare and there will be cheaper fares for shorter journeys.
Among a wide range of ticket options are one-day TravelMaster day tickets offering travel across the different bus operators and some higher-priced tickets also offer tram or tram and train journeys.
The Travelmaster SYConnect+ Day ticket for £11.40* offers unlimited day travel in South Yorkshire on bus, tram and train. This is available from bus and tram conductors, staffed stations and on mobile phones through via TSY Mobile, First and Stagecoach apps. Railway station boundary stops include Denby Dale, Moorthorpe and South Elmsall in West Yorkshire.
A SYConnect Day ticket, which includes bus and trams, but not trains, can be bought for £9.20*.
A SYBus Day ticket, which includes only buses across South Yorkshire and not trams or trains, can be bought for £6.60*.
Alternatively a PlusBus at £5.70* a day can be added to rail tickets to major stations in South Yorkshire and covers trams and buses across South Yorkshire. PlusBus tickets will need to be collected in advance from station, ticket machine or obtained by post. PlusBus eTickets are being introduced in some areas.
In Sheffield local transit includes the Supertram tram system. Long or short distance single tickets and return tickets can be bought from a conductor on the tram. Tickets also allow for a change of tram or break of journey if the final leg is boarded within an hour of buying the ticket. A tram only Day ticket is available for £5.30* via the TSY Mobile app or for £5.70* from the tram conductor.
For journeys by tram and multi-operator bus only within Sheffield district, a CityWide Day ticket is available via Travel South Yorkshire, First and Stagecoach apps or on board for £6.70*. A bus-only CityBus Day ticket can be bought for £5.90*.
These are the most flexible day ticket options from many ticketing options in South Yorkshire. Tickets for longer periods of travel are also available for most of these options and there may also be some cheaper options available if confining your journeys to a single operator.
For TravelMaster multi-operator tickets see the Travelmaster website.
* South Yorkshire prices correct as at January 3, 2025
North Yorkshire
In North Yorkshire bus fares are capped at £3* per single journey.
There are also short hop fares of £2.50* in North Yorkshire.
These prices also apply to cross-boundary travel.
For young people aged 18 and under there is a £1 single journey fare on most routes.
* North Yorkshire prices correct as at January 3, 2025
City of York
An AllYork day ticket covers all operators within the City of York boundaryIn the City of York bus fares are capped at £3* per single journey.
There are also short hop fares of £2.50* in York.
These prices also apply to cross-boundary travel.
An AllYork day ticket covering all operators within the City of York boundary is available as a paper ticket for £6.00*. Bought as a bundle of 20 day tickets using a York by Bus smartcard this cost can be reduced to £4.42* per day.
An AllYork Family ticket covering five people including up to two adults can be bought as a paper ticket for £9.60*.
Variants of the AllYork ticket for young persons and for weekly and monthly periods are also available. Other ticketing options may be available if confining journeys to a single operator.
For young people aged 18 and under there is a £1 single journey fare on most routes.
Ticketing options for York can be found at iTravel York
* York prices correct as at January 3, 2025
East Riding of Yorkshire
In the East Riding of Yorkshire bus fares are capped at £3* per single journey from January 1, 2025.
There are also shorter journey fares including £1.50*, £2.00*, £2.30*, £2.50* and £2.80* on East Yorkshire buses.
The fares also apply to cross-boundary services including to and from Hull, City of York and Scarborough in North Yorkshire.
Operators, including East Yorkshire, have a range of day and longer period tickets. East Yorkshire offers a Go Anywhere day ticket for £17.20*. A wide range of zonal tickets include a day ticket for £3.90* around Beverley, a Bridlington ticket at £4.70* and a Bridlington Country ticket, also including Filey, Flamborough and Driffield, at £11.60*. The £3.00* single fares cap may be a consideration in purchasing some of these tickets.
* East Yorkshire prices correct as at January 3, 2025
More detailed information on bus travel in each area is being added to pages for the cities and towns which can be found through our
A to Y gazetteer page.
We are also happy to help by providing these links to other websites which can help you with your journey planning:
Website links for further bus information
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire Council has public transport information including details of around 80 different bus operators and also timetables for the various services across North Yorkshire at its Bus Timetables page.
Dales Bus provided by the Dales and Bowland Community Interest Company provides co-ordinated information on bus services operating into the Yorkshire Dales National Park and Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty including a timetable produced in conjunction with West Yorkshire Metro.
Ryedale Community Transport runs several community bus routes and dial a ride services, principally in the Ryedale area of North Yorkshire.
East Yorkshire
East Yorkshire Motor Services operate many services in Hull and East Yorkshire and to Filey and Scarborough in North Yorkshire.
East Riding of Yorkshire Council has a full list of operators in the East Riding.
South Yorkshire
Travel South Yorkshire provides journey planning help.
West Yorkshire
Metro provides help on travel planning.
Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, Stockton-on-Tees boroughs
Connect Tees Valley provides bus information and timetables.
City of York
i Travel York provides help on journey planning.
Also in Yorkshire.guide
Travel Home Yorkshire map
