National Express, a provider of coach travel and airport transfers, proves hard to beat for budget transport across the UK. Better still, with spacious seating and ample luggage space, journeys on four wheels can be a stress-free alternative to flying or train travel.
To help you save more on your coach travel, The Independent’s deal-hunters have sourced the very best discounts on National Express tickets and highlighted the top ways to save, including £5 tickets and student discounts. Keep scrolling for all this and more.
How to save on National Express tickets
Kids travel for free this summer
Make the most of the summer holidays with free children's fares between 1 July and 30 September. This offer is valid for up to three children aged 15 and under and is a great way to create family memories without breaking the bank.
Airport travel from just £8
If you’re catching a flight from Stansted, National Express offers a reliable mode of transport to the aviation hub. The direct 1 hour 10 minutes journey departs Liverpool Street for Stansted airport, with up to 49 coaches running per day. With airport tickets starting from just £7 and drop-off at the terminal, securing your seat for your summer getaways couldn’t be easier.
Cheap ticket offers
National Express’ cheap ticket offers start from less than £5. Explore more of the UK’s top destinations for a fraction of the cost, with journeys to Bournemouth, Birmingham, Manchester and beyond starting from just £4.90.
Student discounts
Students travelling between university and home for the holidays can save up to 25 per cent on the cost of their coach travel through Unidays, Totum or Student Beans. Think direct journeys to and from university campuses with wifi for working on last-minute deadlines and a great luggage allowance for the bags of washing.
Save a third with a coachcard
For those travelling by coach regularly, a coachcard is a no-brainer. There is an upfront cost of just £15, but a coachcard saves you a third off all standard and flexible fares, meaning it will pay for itself in no time. Below are the cards currently available to purchase:
- Young persons – for those aged 16-26 years
- Senior – for those 60 or over
- Disabled – anyone with a registered disability
Helpful booking information
Refunds and amendments
Standard tickets are non-refundable and incur a £5 fee if you need to amend any of your travel details. Alternatively, you can pay a fraction more for a flexible ticket, which allows you to change or cancel your booking up to 24 hours before with no extra costs.
What’s on board?
All National Express coaches come with free wifi and USB ports for charging devices, as well as air conditioning. Each passenger has a generous 20kg luggage allowance, as well as an extra piece of hand luggage, which is ideal for longer trips.
How we choose the best National Express discount codes
To provide you with the best discount codes from our carefully selected travel providers, we have a dedicated team of bargain hunters constantly on the lookout. From flights and hotels to holiday packages and travel gear, we recommend bookmarking our dedicated deals page to access the latest and greatest money-saving discount codes. We only highlight offers from our favourite and trusted retailers and brands.
Why you can trust us
The Independent has been a trusted consumer champion since 1986, using years of expertise to advocate for our readers by finding the best deals and discounts. Whether you’re planning a holiday or taking advantage of major shopping events like Amazon Prime Day, Black Friday, or the Boxing Day sales, our skilled team is dedicated to helping you save money. We strive to present the very best deals from brands we love ourselves.
*See the National Express website for full terms and conditions for all offers featured on this page. Information verified and correct at time of last publication date.
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