*UPDATED 29th August 2022*
The 51 provides a link through the picturesque Cotswolds between regency town Cheltenham and railway-town Swindon. It runs hourly Monday to Saturday daytimes and is operated by Stagecoach.
Places served
The following stop is Gladstone Street on Manchester Road:
Aldi supermarket Swindon Latham Road, use the Groundwell West stops
Buses in both directions serve this stop on Calcutt Street, near the junction with High Street:
Buses towards Swindon stop here, near the Cross on Station Road:
Buses to Cheltenham stop over the road and nearer the junction known as the Cross:
Buses towards Cheltenham stop at Bingham House on Dyer Street:
Buses towards Swindon stop at The Forum on South Way:
Buses in both directions serve this stop on Calcutt Street, near the junction with High Street:
Buses towards Swindon stop here, near the Cross on Station Road:
Buses to Cheltenham stop over the road and nearer the junction known as the Cross:
Buses towards Cheltenham stop at Bingham House on Dyer Street:
Buses towards Swindon stop at The Forum on South Way:
M&S Foodhall Cirencester
Buses to Swindon stop on the right, buses to Cheltenham in the distance on the left on the A435 near the Bathurst Arms:
Buses to Cheltenham stop on the right and buses to Swindon stop in the lay-by on the left on the A435:
Buses to Swindon start from stop 1 on the Promenade:
The next stop is opposite the Rotunda on Montpellier Walk:
Timetables
See the full timetable on one of the following websites:
Here are your links for live scheduled departure times from major stops towards Cheltenham:
...and back towards Swindon:
Tickets
The cheapest day ticket that is valid throughout route 51 is the Stagecoach West Gold Dayrider at £7.30 for an adult when bought on the Stagecoach app. It's 20p more to buy it on the bus. It is valid on all Stagecoach buses in this area:
Look up single and return fares on Stagecoach's website. Currently a single from Cheltenham to Swindon is £4.70 and a return is £7.50 (for which you'll get a Stagecoach West Gold Dayrider, described above).
If you'll be connecting in Swindon to/from another bus company's services and will only be using the 51 as far as Cirencester, then a Wiltshire Day Rover at £9.50 is the ticket you need. It's valid on all buses in Wiltshire, regardless of operator, and can even get you as far as Southampton on selected routes.
Plusbus tickets are valid on the 51 for local journeys within Swindon (valid to Groundwell West) and Cheltenham (valid to Cowley Turn). They can only be bought with rail tickets to/from each town.
Connections
See Stagecoach's local route maps here.
Change in Swindon for these major destinations:
Connect in Cheltenham for these major destinations:
The 51 passes within walking distance of the following railway station:
Alternatives
Stagecoach 53 provides some additional journeys between Swindon and Cricklade.
For end-to-end journeys between Cheltenham and Swindon, you could take the train. Fares here. An adult off peak (after 0930 weekdays, all day weekends) single is currently £10.60 and a day return is £10.70.
Long Distance Footpaths
Discover more bus routes across the South West of England here.
All of the information in this post is correct at the time of writing, but please check the relevant links before travelling.
Buses to Swindon stop on the right, buses to Cheltenham in the distance on the left on the A435 near the Bathurst Arms:
Buses to Cheltenham stop on the right and buses to Swindon stop in the lay-by on the left on the A435:
Buses to Swindon start from stop 1 on the Promenade:
The next stop is opposite the Rotunda on Montpellier Walk:
Timetables
See the full timetable on one of the following websites:
Here are your links for live scheduled departure times from major stops towards Cheltenham:
- Swindon Bus Station, Bay 16
- Cricklade, High Street
- South Cerney, Cross
- Cirencester, Bingham House
- North Cerney, Bathurst Arms
...and back towards Swindon:
- Cheltenham, Promenade Stop 1
- North Cerney, Bathurst Arms
- Cirencester, The Forum
- South Cerney, Cross
- Cricklade, High Street
Tickets
The cheapest day ticket that is valid throughout route 51 is the Stagecoach West Gold Dayrider at £7.30 for an adult when bought on the Stagecoach app. It's 20p more to buy it on the bus. It is valid on all Stagecoach buses in this area:
Look up single and return fares on Stagecoach's website. Currently a single from Cheltenham to Swindon is £4.70 and a return is £7.50 (for which you'll get a Stagecoach West Gold Dayrider, described above).
For shorter journeys:
- The Swindon Dayrider, at £4.00, is valid on the 51 between Swindon Bus Station and Groundwell West, plus on all Stagecoach and Swindon Bus Company buses in their Swindon zone.
- The Swindon Plus Dayrider at £4.80 is valid on the 51 between Swindon Bus Station and Cricklade, plus on all Stagecoach and Swindon Bus Company buses in their Swindon Plus zone.
- The Stagecoach Cheltenham Dayrider at £3.80 on the Stagecoach app (20p more to buy it on the bus) is valid on the 51 between Cheltenham and Cowley Turn and on all Stagecoach buses in their Cheltenham zone.
- The Stagecoach Cheltenham and Gloucester Plus Dayrider at £5.30 on the Stagecoach app (20p more to buy it on the bus) is also valid on the 51 between Cheltenham and Cowley Turn and on all Stagecoach buses in their Cheltenham and Gloucester zone.
If you'll be connecting in Swindon to/from another bus company's services and will only be using the 51 as far as Cirencester, then a Wiltshire Day Rover at £9.50 is the ticket you need. It's valid on all buses in Wiltshire, regardless of operator, and can even get you as far as Southampton on selected routes.
Plusbus tickets are valid on the 51 for local journeys within Swindon (valid to Groundwell West) and Cheltenham (valid to Cowley Turn). They can only be bought with rail tickets to/from each town.
Connections
See Stagecoach's local route maps here.
Change in Swindon for these major destinations:
- Oxford on Stagecoach S6
- Devizes & Trowbridge on Stagecoach 49
- Chippenham on Stagecoach 55
- Salisbury on Salisbury Reds X5
Connect in Cheltenham for these major destinations:
- Gloucester on Stagecoach Gold 94/94X
- Stroud on Stagecoach 66
- Tewkesbury on Stagecoach 41/42/43/43A
The 51 passes within walking distance of the following railway station:
Alternatives
Stagecoach 53 provides some additional journeys between Swindon and Cricklade.
For end-to-end journeys between Cheltenham and Swindon, you could take the train. Fares here. An adult off peak (after 0930 weekdays, all day weekends) single is currently £10.60 and a day return is £10.70.
Long Distance Footpaths
- Thames Path passes through Cricklade
- Thames & Severn Way passes through Cricklade, Latton, South Cerney, Siddington
- Monarch's Way passes through Cirencester, Baunton, North Cerney
- Macmillan Way Cross Cotswold Pathway passes near Rendcomb
- Gloucestershire Way passes through Coberley
- Cotswold Way passes through Seven Springs
- Cheltenham Circular Footpath passes through Charlton Kings
Discover more bus routes across the South West of England here.
All of the information in this post is correct at the time of writing, but please check the relevant links before travelling.
