Great British Bus Routes: 2024

17.9.24

840 Leeds-Whitby: Connections

Leeds - York - Malton - Whitby

Often cited as the most scenic bus route in Great Britain, the 840 runs from Yorkshire's metropolis to one of the nation's prettiest seaside towns, via historic York and the majestic North York Moors.

Read on for details of connecting services, or use these links for other aspects of the route:

Change in Leeds for:

First X6 to Bradford from Leeds Bus Station, Stand 15
Transdev 36 to Ripon via Harrogate from Leeds Bus Station, Stand 23
First X84 to Ilkley from Leeds Bus Station, Stand 20
Transdev X98/X99 to Wetherby from Leeds, Victoria, Stop A
Arriva 110 to Wakefield from Leeds Bus Station, Stand 7
Arriva 164 to Selby from Leeds Bus Station, Stand 5
Arriva 254 to Huddersfield from Leeds Bus Station, Stand 11
First 508 to Halifax from Leeds Bus Station, Stand 12/13
Trains from Leeds station

Change in Tadcaster for:

North Yorks 492 to Wetherby from Tadcaster Bus Station, Stand 3

Change in York for:

First 7 to York Designer Outlet from York Rail Station, Stop RH
First 9 to Monks Cross Shopping Park from York, Stonebow, Stop SA
Reliance 30/30X to Thirsk from York, Station Avenue, Stop RM
East Yorks X46/X47 to Hull via Beverley from York, Stonebow, Stop SC
East Yorks 82 to Ripon via Boroughbridge from York Rail Station, Stop RH
Connexions 412 to Wetherby from York Rail Station, Stop RH
Arriva 415 to Selby via York Designer Outlet from York, Piccadilly, Stop PG
Trains from York station

Change in Malton for:

Transdev Coastliner 843 to Scarborough from Malton Bus Station, Stand 1
Trains from Malton station

Change in Pickering for:

East Yorks 128 to Helmsley from Pickering, The Royal Oak
The North York Moors Railway from Pickering station

Change in Thornton-le-Dale for:

East Yorks 128 to Scarborough from Thornton Cross

The route also passes close to Goathland station on the North York Moors Railway and Sleights and Ruswarp national railway stations

Change in Whitby for:

Arriva X4/X4A to Middlesbrough via Redcar from Whitby Bus Station, Stand 2
Arriva X93/X94 to Middlesbrough via Guisborough from Whitby Bus Station
Arrive X93/X94 to Scarborough from Whitby Bus Station
Trains from Whitby station, including on the North York Moors Railway

The following routes run along part of the 840's route:

Transdev Coastliner 843 between Leeds and Malton
Connexions 13 between Copmanthorpe and York City Centre
First 3 between Askham Bar and York City Centre
East Yorks 81 between York City Centre and Malton via a different route
Moorsbus M6 between York and Pickering
Arriva 95/96 between Sleights and Whitby

All of the information in this post is correct at the time of writing, but please check the relevant links before travelling.

10.9.24

840 Leeds-Whitby: Fares

Leeds - York - Malton - Whitby

Read on for details of fares and tickets, or use these links for other aspects of the route:

So how much will it cost to travel on the 840?

Single Tickets

At the time of writing, single fares are capped at £2 for any distance, thanks to funding from the UK government. The current scheme is due to expire on 31st December 2024. If it is not extended, then commercial fares will apply, which are significantly higher.

Even if the national scheme ends, journeys wholly within West Yorkshire are capped under the separate, longer term, Mayor's Fares scheme, also at £2. That price is currently fixed until March 2025. The last stop in West Yorkshire on the 840/843 coming out of Leeds is Kiddal, Becca Lodge.

Transdev Day tickets

While single fares are capped at £2, most passengers are better off just buying single tickets each time they board a bus. But for reference, these are the day tickets on offer from Transdev...

The only day ticket that is valid throughout the route of the 840 is the Daytripper Plus at £22 for an adult. It's valid on all Transdev buses across the North. You can also buy a bundle of 10 tickets for £100.

For shorter journeys within specific zones, Transdev also offer these cheaper tickets:

West Yorkshire Plus 1 Day - £6 adult - valid on the 840/843 from Leeds to Kiddal, Lane End. Also valid on Transdev services throughout West Yorkshire and beyond to Rochdale, Colne, Skipton, Barnoldswick and Grassington. However, if you're not going to leave West Yorkshire, you'd be better off with the multi-operator West Yorkshire Day Saver at £5 for an adult.
Tadcaster-Leeds 1 Day - £10 adult - valid on the 840/843 from Leeds to Bilbrough, Little Chef/Travelodge
York Plus 1 Day - £9.50 adult - valid on the 840/843 from Stutton, Hazelwood Castle to Hazelbush, FERA and on all Transdev routes in the York Plus zone.
Malton-Pickering 1 Day - £10 adult - valid on the 840 from Barton Hill, A64 to Pickering, The Royal Oak
Thornton-Scarborough 1 Day - £15 adult - valid on the 840 from Malton Bus Station to Thornton-le-Dale, Thornton Cross and also on the 843 from Malton to Scarborough.

Multi-operator Day Tickets

WY Daysaver Bus - £5 adult - valid on the 840/843 from Leeds to Kiddal, Becca Lodge and on all buses throughout West Yorkshire, regardless of operator. There are also versions available that include train travel in West Yorkshire, the off-peak version costing £10.60.

All York Day - £4.80 adult - valid on the 840/843 from Askham Richard, Buckles Inn to Hazelbush, FERA and on all buses within the City of York, regardless of operator.

Longer

Use the links to the tickets above to see versions that are available for longer periods.

Plusbus

Available with train tickets, Plusbus is valid on the 840 for the following zones:

All of the information in this post is correct at the time of writing, but please check the relevant links before travelling.

1.9.24

840 Leeds-Whitby: Hiking

Leeds - York - Malton - Whitby

Read on for details of hiking routes along the way, or use these links for other aspects of the route:

Hiking

Trans Pennine Trail:

Connect in Leeds (use the Bus Station) and...

Askham Bar, York College

York City Centre

Leeds Country Way:

The path crosses the route on the A64 at Kiddal Bridge, but there is no stop there, so use the Kiddal Lane End stops instead and walk down Kiddal Lane, turning right onto the footpath across fields that brings you to the Leeds Country Way at Kiddal Bridge.

Ebor Way:

Connect from Tadcaster Bus Station and...

Oxton: Tadcaster Industrial Estate/Little Catterton Lane

Bilbrough: Little Chef/Travelodge

Copmanthorpe: Hallcroft Lane

York City Centre

York & Selby Path:

Askham Bar, York College

York City Centre

Minster Way:

Connect in York City Centre

Foss Walk:

Connect in York City Centre

Centenary Way:

Connect in York City Centre

Firby, Crambeck

Malton Bus Station

Wilberforce Way:

Connect in York City Centre

Tabular Hills Walk:

Saltergate: Hole of Horcum

Esk Valley Walk:

Sleights: Sleights Bridge

Ruswarp: Parish Church/School

Whitby Bus Station

Cleveland Way:

Connect at Whitby Bus Station

King Charles III England Coast Path:

Connect at Whitby Bus Station

All of the information in this post is correct at the time of writing, but please check the relevant links before travelling.

25.8.24

840 Leeds-Whitby: Shopping

Leeds - York - Malton - Whitby

Read on for details of major shopping destinations along the way, or use these links for other aspects of the route:

Major Shopping Centres and Retail Parks

Leeds City Centre, including Trinity Leeds

Killingbeck (Leeds): Asda, B&Q, B&M. Nearest stop: Killingbeck Asda

York City Centre, including the Coppergate Centre. Central York bus stop map

Shopping in Malton

Shopping in Pickering

Shopping in Whitby

Supermarkets

Tesco Extra Seacroft Green (Leeds) - use the Seacroft, The Green stops

Tesco Extra Askham Bar (York) - use the York College stops

Sainsbury's Tadcaster - use Tadcaster Bus Station

Sainsbury's York - use the Layerthorpe Asda stops

Asda Superstore Killingbeck (Leeds) - use the Killingbeck Asda stops

Asda Supermarket York Layerthorpe - use the Layerthorpe Asda stops

Asda Supermarket Malton - right opposite Malton Bus Station

Aldi Seacroft (Leeds) - use the Cross Gates Lane/Stocks Rise stops

Morrisons York Foss Islands Road - use the Layerthorpe Asda stops

Morrisons Malton - use the Railway Street stops

Lidl Norton - use Malton Bus Station

Lidl Pickering - use the Royal Oak stops

Co-op Supermarket Pickering - use the Royal Oak stops

Co-op Supermarket Whitby New Quay Road - next to Whitby Bus Station

Farm Shops

Cedarbarn Farm Shop, use the Pickering, Thornton Road Industrial Estate stops

Garden Centres

Leeds Garden Centre, use the Scholes, Stockheld Lane stops

Deans Garden Centre York, use the Stockton-on-the-Forest, Garden Centre stops

All of the information in this post is correct at the time of writing, but please check the relevant links before travelling.

12.8.24

840 Leeds-Whitby: Attractions

Leeds - York - Malton - Whitby

Read on for details of attractions along the way, or use these links for other aspects of the route:

Major destinations

Museums and galleries

Leeds City Museum (free entry), near Leeds Bus Station

Leeds Art Gallery (free entry), near Leeds Bus Station

Henry Moore Institute (free entry), near Leeds Bus Station

Royal Armouries Museum (free entry), near Leeds Bus Station

Maths City, near Leeds Bus Station

Yorkshire Museum, use the York, Rougier Street stops

National Railway Museum (free entry), use the York Rail Station stops

York Castle Museum, use the Low Ousegate or Micklegate stops

York Army Museum, use the Low Ousegate or Micklegate stops

Jorvik Viking Centre, use the Low Ousegate or Micklegate stops

Merchant Adventurers' Hall, use the Low Ousegate or Micklegate stops

York St Mary's Gallery, use the Low Ousegate or Micklegate stops

York Art Gallery, use the York, Rougier Street stops

York City Walls Experience, use the Micklegate or Rail Station stops

Malton Museum, use the Wells Lane stops

Eden Camp, use the Edenhouse Road stops

Beck Isle Museum, use the Pickering, Royal Oak stops

Whitby Museum, use Whitby Bus Station

Captain Cook Museum Whitby, use Whitby Bus Station

Whitby Lifeboat Museum (free entry), use Whitby Bus Station

Other tourist attractions

Goddards National Trust Garden, use the York, Cross Keys or Marriott Hotel stops

National Trust Treasurer's House, use the York, Stonebow stops

York Mansion House, use the York, Rougier Street stops

Fairfax House, use the Low Ousegate or Micklegate stops

Barley Hall, use the York, Stonebow stops

York Dungeon, use the Low Ousegate or Micklegate stops

York Minster, York City Centre

Flamingoland Resort, use the Kirby Misperton Roundabout stop

North Yorkshire Moors Railway, use the Royal Oak stops for Pickering Station, Goathland Bus Shelter for Goathland Station, Whitby Bus Station right next to Whitby Rail Station

Pickering Castle, use the Royal Oak stops

Mallyan Spout Waterfall, use the Mallyan Spout Hotel stop

Whitby Abbey, use Whitby Bus Station

Theatres

Leeds Playhouse, near Leeds Bus Station

Leeds Grand Theatre, near Leeds Bus Station

Carriageworks Theatre, use Leeds Bus Station

York Theatre Royal, York City Centre

Grand Opera House York, York City Centre

York Barbican, York City Centre

The Milton Rooms, use the Malton, Wells Lane stop

Kirk Theatre, use the Pickering, Royal Oak stops - CAUTION: The last bus back towards Malton is at 1945, but there are several hotels in Pickering, including a Premier Inn

Cinemas

Everyman Leeds, use Leeds Bus Station

Everyman York, York City Centre

Vue Leeds The Light, use Leeds Bus Station

City Screen Picture House, York City Centre

The Palace Cinema, use the Malton, Wells Lane stop

Whitby Pavilion, use Whitby Bus Station

Misc

Dogs Trust Leeds Rehoming Centre, use the Dogs Trust Leeds stops

All of the information in this post is correct at the time of writing, but please check the relevant links before travelling.

Welcome

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Buses are the most used mode of public transport, but you wouldn't think that from the portrayal they receive in the media. As good as trains are, buses reach more places. But finding out which bus goes where and which routes are really worth using can be difficult if you don't know where to look.

This new blog will profile Britain's most useful and/or scenic bus routes, one at a time. We will cover routes in all regions. Some will be chosen for the speed with which they connect two major places. Some will be chosen for the sheer beauty of the landscapes through which they pass, landscapes which really should be enjoyed from a bus window, where you can take it all in.

For each route, we will detail where it goes and what can be done in the places it links and passes through. We will also advise which day rover tickets are valid and where else such tickets can take you on connecting services. We certainly won't be ignoring the trains, as they are often the best way to connect to some of our best bus routes.

Above all, we will be honest about what we really think about the routes we cover and we will encourage you to be by leaving comments about your experiences on that route. This blog is completely independent of any bus operator or local authority.