Which features are offered on the bus?
Are you looking for more information about the comfort and services available on the coach? Do you want to know if WiFi or electrical outlets are available to use? With CheckMyBus you’ll learn all about the amenities available on the coach – from the air-conditioning to restrooms, to leg-room and accessibility.
Is there a Media Center available? Are snacks and drinks available to purchase and is a seat- reservation possible?
Comfort and Service on Board Intercity Buses
Inexpensive intercity bus travel is no longer a new topic. Due to several marketing campaigns from the UK bus providers, such as National Express and megabus UK, the image of inexpensive intercity coach travel has been rooted in most people’s mind. However, a common question that goes hand in hand with low price is quality. To create a positive image, most major UK bus companies are making serious efforts to enhance their services. They’re adding a variety of attractive facilities. Apart from the free luggage policy and convenient on-board restroom, some great features like power sockets, extra leg room, soft reclining seats and most importantly, free and fast Wi-Fi await you! CheckMyBus gives you an overview over amenities aboard the intercity bus. Let’s take a look!
What Amenities Can I Expect On the Bus?
A coach can take you from city to city, as well as from country to country. However, it might take some time before you reach your destination. Thus, on board amenities hugely influence the comfort and satisfaction of passengers’ intercity bus ride. Most coach providers in the UK have already realized that service quality is an indispensable element for every coach trip.
Therefore, they have enhanced the service level of the intercity coach itself. A lot of UK bus providers use modernised coach models. The newer buses share some great characteristics: a longer coach body increases on-board space, ensuring XXL legroom and higher flexibility of the reclining seats. Moreover, the enlarged compartment area allows you to take some luggage items in the cabin. Bulky luggage, such as bicycles or skis can be stored on the bus as well, however most companies will ask you to register oversized items when booking your ticket.
Different types of coaches
National Express, for instance, uses six bus types, among which Caetano Levante, the model exclusively used by National Express, is operating on the main coach lines and is the size of 12.6 m with 8 m³ of free luggage compartment. The Oxford Tube, among other coach providers, operates double decker buses which offer passengers a greater view of London and Oxford. Besides, it has specified space for wheel chair devices and low floor step free entrance, which provides great convenience for disabled passengers when getting on board.
Feel at home on the coach
With all these features granted, lighting system and air conditioning above your head included, travelling by coach can be as agreeable as resting on your couch at home! Moreover, major bus providers always attempt to bring passengers clean and safe coach travel experiences by maintaining the cabinet and on-board restroom clean and fresh. On top of that, children booster seats are frequently applied on the buses of National Express, making sure that passengers will have a comfortable and secure coach journey!
What Entertainment Options are Available on Board?
The major UK bus providers consider passenger experience an essential advantage. Consequently, they will make every effort to achieve in order to maintain ridership. Providing a pleasant coach experience, however, also means constantly adapting to the customers’ needs, which might change over time. Nowadays, for instance, entertainment is one of the major concerns of the bus companies.
One simple way of catering to modern passengers’ wishes is to have free, reliable and fast Wi-Fi on board. Nowadays, there are 40 million people in the UK using internet on a daily basis. Over 60% of them use their mobile devices to access online content. Hence, most of the coach providers in the UK aim to equip their buses with standard 4G/3G Wi-Fi network. This includes megabus, National Express and many others.
Moreover, this free service offers a big advantage to students and business travellers as they can continue with their work before they reach their desired destinations.
Entertainment on European Buses
The German coach company FlixBus, for example, offers a Media Centre on board of their coaches. This allows passengers to access a wide array of tv shows, film, music and e-books. Furthermore, these can be easily streamed on the customer’s own smartphone or tablet. Thanks to this feature, taking the coach is basically as comfortable and enjoyable as going by plane. National Express has a similar feature as well. In November 2016, the coach company launched VUER (short for View – Unwind – Enjoy – Relax), an infotainment system, which gives passengers access to films, tv shows magazines and even Sky Sports News.
Concerned about consuming all the battery before reaching your destination? Free power sockets on board keep passengers’ devices 100% charged during the whole trip so that you can sit back and enjoy, footloose and fancy free. All in all, free Wi-Fi service combined with charging facilities are the perfect combination for making every coach trip as enjoyable as possible.
Can I Bring Food and Beverage on Board?
To allow more flexibility, the major UK bus providers allow them to take their own food and drinks aboard. Plus, bus providers like National Express normally make stops at service stations during a long distance trip. Here, passengers can purchase food and beverages. In spite of this availability, passengers must be aware that the food they bring on the coach should be cold and not emit any smell that might disturb other passengers on board. In addition, hot drinks should have a lid and the general beverage must be non-alcoholic.
What Additional Services and Facilities are Available?
For passengers who travel at night, megabus UK has recently brought out a new overnight sleeper coach between London and Glasgow. This new night bus service travels usually between 23:00 and 8:00 on seven nights per week. Buses are equipped with bunks for each passenger, which have a reading light, curtains, pillows, quilts as well as blankets. In addition, the sleeper coaches also provide passengers with access to an on-board restroom, free Wi-Fi, food and beverages. There is also an overnight pack available. This includes a toothbrush, toothpaste, a bottle of water, an eye mask and a luggage label. The goal is to help passengers enjoy a sound sleep while travelling from city to city.
48 Comments
Shirley Peters
We are looking to travel from Glasgow to Birmingham Airport. Our luggage allowance for flying is 23kg suitcase plus 10kg hand luggage per person. Is this weight allowance permitted on National Express services?
CheckMyBus-Support
Hi Shirley,
Thank you for your message. With National Express, you can travel with two pieces of luggage which way no more than 20 kg each, and one piece of small hand luggage. The hand luggage will depend on the size of the item and whether it can be comfortably stored on board. As your suitcase would be outside the weight limit, you may have to pay an added fee to be able to transport the item. We suggest getting in touch with National Express directly to get a better idea of what you may have to pay.
Best regards,
Your CheckMyBus Support Team
Pam
May I take my dog on the coach bus from Belfast, NI to Cairnryan, Scotland?
CheckMyBus-Support
Dear Pam,
Thank you for your message. We can see that the ferry company that provides that route (stenaline) allows small pets to travel as long as they are enclosed and secured for the duration of the crossing in a pet carrier case (max. size: 80cm x 52cm x 52cm). Please also notice that pets cannot be taken out of the container anywhere onboard (including the outer decks). We also recommend you to contact the ferry-bus company you are going to travel to Scotland and confirm this information with them directly.
We hope you have a great trip to Scotland!
Best regards,
Your CheckMyBus Support Team
Michael Nield
I have a medical condition and need the toilet facilities. I recently travelled from London city centre by coach and the next stop was at Corley Services 3.1/2 hours later
Granted there was a toilet on board but it was difficult for me to use.
We passed services on the way but the driver did not stop.
what is the rule in time whereby the coach must stop to give passengers a comfort stop. I would hope for no longer than 2 hours.
CheckMyBus-Support
Dear Michael,
Thank you for your message. After driving more than 4.5 hours, a driver must take a break of 45 minutes. However, different coach companies have different regulations regarding this. To know for sure how long the coach will stop at a rest station, we suggest contacting the bus provider you plan to travel with directly. If you have any further questions, please feel free to get in touch with us again.
Best regards,
Your CheckMyBus Support Team
Sarah Diamond
Dear ChechMyBus – Support,
In July we are planning on travelling from Vilamoura to Lisbon using one of your bus services. I was wondering during this journey you get a toilet break?
Thanks
Sarah
CheckMyBus-Support
Dear Sarah,
Thank you for your message. Many of the bus connections from Vilamoura to Lisbon have a change-over, where you should be able to use the toilet in the rest room. The trip’s duration is about 3.5 hours and many of the buses also have a toilet on board for emergencies. If you have any further questions, please feel free to get in touch with us again.
Best regards,
Your CheckMyBus Support
Divya
Hi, I am planning to make a trip from Halifax to London in May 2019 by National express. I will have my 6 year old son traveling along with me. I may be taking a night service from Hx, reaching London at around 6AM, the next day, would the coaches provide reasonable comfort for sleep? Also, do they mandate carrying car seats for 6 year olds??
CheckMyBus-Support
Dear Divya,
Thank you for your message. National Express boasts having comfortable seats with leg room and air conditioning. Six-year-olds are not required to have car seats. However, if you do need a booster seat, you should be able to receive one from the driver. In this case, we suggest getting in contact with National Express prior to your journey. If you have any further questions, please feel free to get in touch with us again.
Best regards,
Your CheckMyBus Support
Crystal
I will be traveling to Plymouth from London on the 7th of April 2019 with National Express, will there be wifi and am I allowed to take food onto the coach with me? Thank you
CheckMyBus-Support
Dear Crystal,
If you are travelling with a big coach company, such as National Express or megabus, there should be free wi-fi and generally you can bring cold food, such as sandwiches and crisps as well as lidded drinks, such as coffee. If you have any further questions, please feel free to get in touch with us again.
Best regards,
Your CheckMyBus Support
Assia
Please let me know what is the price to birmingham for day trip and what time does it run from morning and the cost where to catch the bus from coventry
CheckMyBus-Support
Dear Assia,
Thank you for your message. It costs about £4.00 to travel from Coventry to Birmingham, and there are regular connections between the two throughout the day. Morning connections depart at 8:15, 945, 10:35 and 11:05. Buses depart from the Coventry Pool Meadow Bus Station on Fairfax St. If you have any further questions, please feel free to get in touch with us again.
Best regards,
Your CheckMyBus Support
Cherry Hankin
I am planning a bus trip from London to Norwich in June. The journey takes over 3 hours and I wonder if there will be any stops long the route, and if so, where and for how long?
CheckMyBus-Support
Dear Cherry,
Thank you for your message. Please note that CheckMyBus is an intercity bus price comparison portal and doesn’t operate buses directly. We suggest contacting the bus company, such as megabus or National Express directly to see when bus stops are for the journey.
Best regards,
Your CheckMyBus Support
Ian
I am planning a trip to London travelling by National Express coach from Swansea. What is the best seat for legroom on these coaches.
I am prepared to book a premium seat but do these have extra legroom?
CheckMyBus-Support
Dear Ian,
Thank you for your message. Unfortunately, premium seating is exclusive to select connections between Bristol and London at this time. You should be able to reserve your seat for trips to London, however. Typically, the first row of seats tends to provide the most amount of leg room for passengers. If you have any further questions, please feel free to get in touch with us again.
Best regards,
Your CheckMyBus Support
Elisa
We are planning a trip from London to Cardiff on December 26,2018 and return on December 30. Since we couldn’t find a train at this time of year and we are seniors, our questions are:
1- How comfortable the Express bus is since the trip is around 3 hours;
2- How many stops are planned for this trip?
3- Which stop will be the best one as we will be staying at Radisson Blu Cardiff City Centre.
Thank you,
Elisa
CheckMyBus-Support
Dear Elisa,
Thank you for your message. Depending on which coach you plan to travel with, there are a variety of amenities that will make your journey as pleasant as possible. With companies, such as National Express, you can book a premium seat for an extra fee to have a table as well as extra legroom for maximum comfort. The connection between Cardiff and London is generally a direct connection with no changes for the duration of the trip, however again this may vary from company to company depending on which you book. If you are staying at the Radisson Cardiff City Centre, than the closest station would be the University of Cardiff, which is just a fifteen minute walk or a short taxi ride again. The Cardiff Coach Station also isn’t too far and is a roughly 25 minute walk away, and is also easily accessible via taxi. If you have any further questions, please feel free to get in touch with us again.
Best regards,
Your CheckMyBus Support