Kent buses

County advice overview

There are various bus companies operating in Kent. All timetables and routes can be accessed online. 

You can check bus accessibility and mobility equipment criteria before you travel, by contacting your local bus company or via their website. You can also check for delays or route updates.

You can view a list of Kent bus operators and contact details on the Kent County Council website. 

Key tips

If you are no longer driving, one of your transport options is to use the bus. Consider in advance if your nearest bus stop and your destination stop are accessible, especially if you have reduced mobility or are travelling with a scooter or wheelchair.

Bus routes

Buses can only stop at marked bus stops, so be sure where you are getting off in advance. There are often announcements, both spoken and on a screen, and you can ask the driver to let you know when your stop is approaching.

Plan ahead by finding route information and timetables online or by phoning your local authority or bus company.

Bus stops

Your nearest bus stop should provide seating and shelter. In the bigger towns and cities, it may also include live information on when the next bus is due.

Tickets

You may want to think about buying your ticket, what it will cost, can you pay by cash or card and can you buy it in advance online. Online tickets for buses are often non-refundable if you cannot make your journey.

Remember that your local Hubs Mobility Advice Service can signpost you to the correct travel operator and mobility organisations.

Operators

Stagecoach

Areas covered: Ashford, Canterbury, Dover & Deal, Faversham, Sittingbourne, Maidstone, Folkestone & Hythe, Herne Bay, Whitstable and Thanet.
Contact: 0345 241 8000 or stagecoachbus.com  

Arriva

Areas covered: Dartford, Gravesend, Maidstone, Medway, Maidstone, Swale, Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells.
Contact: 0344 800 4411 or arrivabus.co.uk

Chalkwell 

Areas covered: Swale including Sittingbourne, Faversham, Chatham, Isle of Sheppey and Sheerness.
Contact: chalkwell.co.uk

Nu-Venture Buses

Areas covered: Maidstone, Malling and Medway.
Contact: 01622 882288 or nu-venture.online

Kent County Council

KCC are running 4 pilot schemes that consist of six new or amended routes for rural areas. Each link below has area-specific information with service times and costs. 

• Maidstone feeder service
• Sandwich taxi-bus
• Tenterden hopper service.
• West Malling 58 feeder service

The schemes run Monday to Saturday (excluding bank holidays) and only except cash payments.

Help with cost

Disabled Person’s Bus Pass and Older Person’s Bus Pass

You can apply for a concessionary travel pass if you have reached the state pension age or have an eligible disability. 

This will allow free off-peak travel on local Kent bus services, between 9:30am and 11:00pm, Monday to Friday, and all day at weekends and public holidays.

You can apply online for a concessionary bus pass, and find further information, on the Kent County Council website.

Residents in Medway should apply for a bus pass on the Medway Council website.

If you are unable to apply online, you can call 03000 41 83 83, apply by post or at certain libraries. Full details can be found via this link.

Local bus companies also provide concessionary travel advice online

• Stagecoach
• Arriva

Special assistance

Journey Assistance Cards are available if customers need a bit more help with using the buses. They make it easier for bus drivers to know which type of help is required. The assistance cards can be used at any time of day.

Stagecoach

You can apply for a Journey Assistance Card on the Stagecoach website.

Arriva

Download a Journey Assistance Card on the Arriva website.

Travelling with mobility equipment

All local bus services should now provide wheelchair-accessible buses with low floors and a ramp which the driver can extend to help you get on and off.

There will also be a dedicated area for a passenger to sit in a wheelchair.

The Stagecoach app shows which buses have guaranteed wheelchair access.

Travelling with a mobility scooter

Bus companies have different rules about the size and type of scooters that they will allow on board. 

In general, scooters should be no more than 600mm wide and 1000mm long and be able to turn in a space of 1200mm. Always contact your local bus company before travelling, to check the rules in your area and to find out if your scooter will be accepted.

You can find further information, regarding travelling with mobility equipment, on individual bus operator websites.

• Stagecoach
• Arriva

Assistance dogs

All recognised guide dogs and assistance dogs are allowed to travel for free on buses.

Routes and timetable links

Stagecoach

Provide a journey planner, maps and timetables.

Arriva

Provide a journey planner, and ‘Find my Bus’ service.

Chalkwell Buses 

• Bus routes and times – Sittingbourne.
• Bus routes and times – the Isle of Sheppey.

Nu-Venture Buses

Timetables and route planning.