Ticket types
Essex Bus Tickets and Payment Methods
We've got a wide range of Essex bus tickets available to suit your needs, whether you travel every day or only now and then, on your own or with the family, we have just the ticket for you.
We are now accepting Contactless Payments including Apple Pay and Google Pay on all our Essex services. You can buy single, FirstDay and FirstWeek tickets from the driver.
If you’re a regular traveller you could save time and money with one of our multi-journey tickets which offer great value for money.
Our best prices are on mobile - download the FIrst Bus App for the cheapest and most convenient way to buy tickets:
Travel Alerts
ALL Colchester services | Head Street, Colchester | OVERNIGHT road closures
Head Street, Colchester is closed for overnight roadworks from Monday 24th March to Wednesday 26th March 2025.
The road will be closed from 20:00hrs each evening and is to re-open from 05:00hrs each morning.
- From 20:00hrs on Monday 24th March to 05:00hrs on Tuesday 25th March 2025.
- From 20:00hrs on Tuesday 25th March to 05:00hrs on Wednesday 26th March 2025.
Due to the location of the road closure the following bus services will be placed on diversion:
*ALL services will be unable to serve bus stops on Head Street.*
Bus No. |
Direction of route: |
Diversion route: |
S1 |
To Highwoods |
The S1 service will divert via Crouch Street, Balkerne Hill and Middleborough. |
S2 |
To Highwoods |
The S2 service will divert via Balkerne Hill and Middleborough. |
S3 |
To West Bergholt |
The S3 service will divert via Crouch Street, Balkerne Hill and Middleborough. |
S6 / S7 |
To High Street |
The S6/S7 services will divert via Butt Road, Southway, Balkerne Hill, Middleborough and North Hill. |
1A |
To Greenstead |
The 1A service will divert via Balkerne Hill, Middleborough and North Hill. |
2A |
To Great Horkesley |
The 2A service will divert via Crouch Street, Balkerne Hill and Middleborough. |
68 |
To Highwoods |
The 68 service will divert via Crouch Street, Balkerne Hill and Middleborough. |
75 |
To Osborne Street |
The 75 service will divert via Crouch Street, Balkerne Hill and Middleborough. |
87 |
To North Station/Great Horkesley |
The 87 service will divert via Balkerne Hill, Middleborough and North Hill. |
88/88A/88B |
To Osborne Street |
The 88, 88A and 88B services will divert via Balkerne Hill, Middleborough and North Hill. |
102** |
To Harwich |
The 102 service will divert via Stanwell Street, St Botolph's Circus, Magdalen Street and Brook Street. |
371 / X71 |
To Osborne Street |
The 371 and X71 services will divert via Balkerne Hill, Middleborough and North Hill. |
X20 |
To Osborne Street/North Station |
The X20 service will divert via Balkerne Hill and Middleborough. |
**The 102 service will be unable to serve the following bus stops: Head Street, The George, Greyfriars (in both directions) and The Surgery (in both directions).
We apologise for the disruption to your bus journey.
Service 102/104 | Mayes Lane, Harwich | Road closure
Mayes Lane, Harwich is closed for roadworks from Monday 17th March on Monday 7th April 2025.
Due to the location of the roadworks the 102/104 services will divert, in both directions, via Oakley Road (B1414).
The following stops will not be served in both directions:
- Bay View Crescent
- C of E Primary School
- Church
- Michaelstowe Drive
- Clayton Road
- Valley Road
We apologise for the disruption to your bus journey.
MULTIPLE services | Brentwood Half Marathon 2025 | Sunday 23rd March 2025
The Brentwood Half Marathon is taking place on Sunday 23rd March 2025.
Whilst the event is in progress, traffic management will be enforced to ensure the safety of race participants:
SHORT TRAFFIC HOLDS:
There will be short traffic holds, to allow race participants to safely cross the road.
The following roads will have short traffic holds (between the hours of 08:00 and 13:00):
- Shenfield Road
- Ongar Road
- Doddinghurst Road
ROAD CLOSURE(S):
Bus: | Planned Diversion: |
37 |
Doddinghurst Road will be closed from 08:00hrs to 13:00hrs. Bus services will be permitted through the road closure. There will be short traffic holds, to allow race participants to safely cross the road so there will likely be delays to service. |
80A & 80C |
Shenfield Road (between Wilsons Corner and Middleton Hall Lane) will be closed from 09:00hrs to 10:40hrs. No Access. Towards Brentwood - The 80A and 80C services will divert, after serving Middleton Hall Lane, via Middleton Hall Lane and Ingrave Road. There will likely be delays to service. |
351 |
Shenfield Road (between Wilsons Corner and Middleton Hall Lane) will be closed from 09:00hrs to 10:40hrs. No Access. Service 351 will divert in both directions via Middleton Hall Lane and Ingrave Road. There will likely be delays to service. |
Good luck to all Brentwood Half Marathon 2025 participants.
Service 31/331 | Maldon Road, Danbury | OVERNIGHT road closures
Maldon Road, Danbury will be closed for overnight roadworks from Monday 17th March to Saturday 22nd March 2025.
The road is to be closed from 19:00hrs each evening and is to re-open from 05:00hrs each morning.
Due to the location of the road closure the 31 and 331 services will divert in both directions via Burnham Road/Chelmsford Road (B1010), Baron's Lane, Fambridge Road and Limebrook Way.
The following stops will not be served in both directions:
- Oak Corner/Bryant's Lane
- Post Office Road
- Rectory Lane
- Woodham Mortimer Church
- Lodge Road
- Limebrook Farm
- Ben Cobey Avenue
We apologise for the disruption to your bus journey.
Service 37/351 | High Street, Brentwood | EMERGENCY road closure
High Street, Brentwood is closed for emergency roadworks, due to a burst water main, from Tuesday 4th March to Friday 21st March 2025.
Due to the location of the road closure, the 37 and 351 services will divert in both directions via Weald Road, Western Road and William Hunter Way - the 351 service will also divert via Ongar Road.
The following bus stop(s) will not be served in both directions:
- Crown Street
- Brentwood High Street
We apologise for the disruption to your bus journey.
Service 170/370 | Great Leighs Bypass Roundabout South, Chelmsford | OVERNIGHT road closures
Great Leighs Bypass Roundabout South, Chelmsford is closed for overnight roadworks from Monday 24th March to Thursday 27th March 2025.
The road is to be closed from 21:00hrs each evening and is to re-open from 05:00hrs each morning.
Due to the location of the road closure the 170 and 370 services will be placed on diversion:
Towards Braintree
The 170 and 370 services will divert via Great Leighs Bypass before returning to normal line of route on London Road.
The following bus stop(s) will be not be served:
- Dog & Partridge
- Shimbrooks
- Main Road
- St Annes Castle
- Rochester Farm
- Deres Bridge
Towards Chelmsford
Normal line of route - No diversion - All bus stops served.
We apologise for the disruption to your bus journey.
Service 5A/1A | Bromley Road/Hawthorn Avenue, Colchester | Road closure
Bromley Road/Hawthorn Avenue, Colchester will be closed for roadworks from Monday 24th February to Monday 31st March 2025.
Due to the location of the road closure the S5 and 1A services will be placed on diversion:
S5 & 1A
Towards Greenstead: Service S5 and 1A will divert, after serving St Andrews Gardens, via Saint Andrew's Avenue, Avon Way and Hawthorn Avenue before terminating journey at Greenstead Library.
Towards Colchester City Centre: Service S5 and 1A will commence journeys at Greenstead Library and will divert via Hickory Avenue, Forest Road, Hawthorn Avenue, Avon Way and Saint Andrew's Avenue before returning to normal line of route at St Andrews Gardens.
The following bus stop(s) will not be served in both directions:
- Fairfield Gardens
- Dilbridge Road
- Goring Road East
- Hazelton Road
- Bromley Road
- Hazlemere School
- Sir Charles Lucas School
We apologise for the disruption to your bus journey.
*UPDATED* Service S1/S9/16A | Old Heath Road, Colchester | Road closure
- UPDATE 26/02/2025: The diversion route(s) have been revised due to obstructions on original diversion route.
- UPDATE 24/02/2025: The diversion route(s) have been revised and Service 16A added to diversion route.
Old Heath Road, Colchester is closed from Monday 24th February to Friday 25th April 2025.
Due to the location of the road closure the S1, S9 and 16A services will be placed on diversion:
S1
The S1 service will divert in both directions via Roberts Road, Mersea Road, Abbot's Road and Old Heath Road.
The following bus stops will not be served in both directions:
- Garrison Church (towards Wivenhoe only)
- Recreation Ground
- Worsnop House
- Scarletts Road
- Barn Hall Avenue
- Old Heath Post Office
S9
The S1 service will divert in both directions via Roberts Road, Mersea Road and Abbot's Road.
The following bus stops will not be served in both directions:
- Garrison Church (towards Rowhedge only)
- Recreation Ground
- Worsnop House
- Scarletts Road
- Barn Hall Avenue
- Old Heath Post Office
- Abbot's Road
16A
Towards Napier Road: The 16A service will divert after serving Lookers Garage via Roberts Road and Mersea Road, Normandy Avenue, Stalin Road, Roosevelt Way, Barn Hall Avenue, Old Heath Road, Abbot's Road and Mersea Road.
Towards St Helena School: The 16A service will divert after serving Canwick Grove via Old Heath Road, Abbot's Drive, Mersea Road and Robert's Road.
The following bus stops will not be served in both directions:
- Garrison Church (towards Napier Road only)
- Recreation Ground
- Worsnop House
- Scarletts Road
- Barn Hall Avenue (towards Colchester City Centre only)
We apologise for the disruption to your bus journey.
Service 102 | Brook Street, Dedham | Road closure
Brook Street, Dedham will be closed from Monday 24th February to Friday 28th March 2025.
Due to the location of the road closure the 102 service will divert in both directions via Long Road West and Coggeshall Road.
The following bus stop(s) will not be served in both directions:
- The Marlborough Head
- Forge Street
- Kiln Cottages
- Coopers Lane
- The Anchor
- The Heath
We apologise for the disruption to your bus journey.
Service 370 | Courtauld Road, Braintree | Road closure
Courtauld Road, Braintree is closed from Monday 17th February to Friday 21st March 2025.
Due to the location of the road closure the 370 service will divert in both directions via Coggeshall Road, Braintree Bypass and Broad Road.
The following bus stop(s) will not be served in both directions:
- Courtauld Road
- Julien Court Road
- Old Court Hotel
- Braintree College
- Eagle Lane
- Boleyns Avenue
- Gauden Road
- Deanery Corner
- Alms Houses
- Rose & Crown
- Bocking Village Hall
- Windmill Gardens
- The Lillies
We apologise for the disruption to your bus journey.