Travel Portsmouth

Jingle all the way, Portsmouth buses running on Christmas Day

Portsmouth passengers will find it easier to travel this Christmas Day, with a number of special bus services in operation.  

In collaboration with bus providers Stagecoach South and Solent from First Bus, Portsmouth City Council has compiled a festive public transport timetable designed to help local residents and visitors get into the city for celebrations, travel to and from QA Hospital, and reconnect families across the city on Christmas Day.  

This initiative is part of the council’s ongoing efforts, supported by the Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP), a £52 million investment in government funding aimed at transforming bus travel in Portsmouth. This investment is designed to create faster, more reliable services for both residents and visitors, and to encourage more people to use the bus.   

Christmas day bus services in Portsmouth (25 December 2025) 

First Solent  

  • Routes 1, 2, 3, 7, and 8 will operate a special Christmas timetable
  • Services will run every hour, from 8am to 6pm

Stagecoach South  

  • Routes 18, 20, 21, 22, 23 will operate a special Christmas timetable 
  • Services will run to individual route timetables between 6am and 8pm with buses every hour  

Additionally, buses will be running on Boxing Day to ensure people can travel around the city, and get to the football with ease. Solent from First Bus will run a Sunday timetable on New Year’s Eve (31 December 2025) and New Year’s Day (1 January 2026), with an early finish at 6pm on New Year’s Eve and limited services on New Year’s Day. Stagecoach will run a Saturday timetable on New Year’s Eve and a special hourly service on New Year’s Day. 

Find out more about public transport options over the festive period on the service providers’ websites and in the timetable below. 

Christmas EveChristmas DayBoxing Day27 December28 & 29 December30 December31 DecemberNew Years Day
StagecoachNormal Saturday service with early finish (8pm) , plus service 27 & special timetable on service 38.Special service on routes 18, 20, 21, 22 and 23 Special half hourly service on routes, 18, 20, 21, 22 and 23, hourly services on 700, plus service 725Saturday service * Normal Sunday service * Normal Saturday service, plus service 27 & special timetable on service 38. No late buses on service 21.Saturday service with an early finish , plus service 27 & special timetable service on 38.Special hourly service on routes 18, 20, 21,22 and 23, plus service 725
First Solent Normal Saturday service with early finish (8pm)  Special service on routes 1, 2, 3, 7 and 8  Special service on routes E1/E2, 1, 2, 3, 7 and 8  Saturday service  *  Saturday / Sunday service  *  Saturday service  Normal Sunday service with early finish  Special service on routes 1, 2, 3, 7 and 8 
Park and RideNormal service   No serviceNormal Sunday service   Normal service   Normal service   Normal service   Normal service   Normal Sunday service  
Gosport Ferry 5:30am-11pm    every 15 minsNo service8:45am-7:30pm Every 15 mins5:30am-12am    every 15 mins5:30am-12am   every 15 mins5:30am-12am   every 15 mins5:30am-11:00pm    every 15 mins7:30am-11:00pm    every 15 mins
Hayling Island FerryFinish early 5pm  No serviceNo serviceNo serviceNo serviceNo serviceNo serviceNo service
Wightlink Ferry from Portsmouth Harbour to Ryde   To Ryde: 6:50am- 6:55pm From Ryde: 5:40am- 7:47pmNo serviceTo Ryde:  7:15am- 10:45 pm   From Ryde:  7:45am- 11:10 pmTo Ryde:  7:15am- 10:45pm    From Ryde:  7:45am- 11:10pm  To Ryde 7:15am- 10:45pm From Ryde: 7:45am - 11:10pm To Ryde 5:15am- 10:45pm From Ryde: 5.40am - 11:10pm To Ryde:  5:15am- 8:20pm    From Ryde:  5:40am- 8:52pm    To Ryde:  7:15am- 10.45pm    From Ryde:  7:45am- 11:10pm   
Hovertravel from Clarence Pier   To Ryde:  6:30am- 6:30pm    From Ryde:  6:30am- 6:40pm  No service  No service  To Ryde:  8:30am- 6:55pm    From Ryde:  8:15am- 6:40pm  To Ryde:  8:30am- 6:55pm    From Ryde:  8:15am- 6:40pm  To Ryde:  6:50am- 6:55pm    From Ryde:  6:30am- 6:40pm  To Ryde:  6:50am- 6:55pm    From Ryde:  6:30am - 6:40pmNo service  
Wightlink Ferry from Gunwharf to Fishbourne   To Fishbourne: 3:00am- 7:00pm    From Fishbourne:1:00am- 8:00pmNo serviceTo Fishbourne: 7:00am- 11:59pm    From Fishbourne: 1am- 11:00pmTo Fishbourne: 3am- 11:59pm    From Fishbourne: 1am - 11:00pm  To Fishbourne: 3:00am- 11:59pm    From Fishbourne: 1am- 11pm  To Fishbourne: 3am- 11:59pm    From Fishbourne: 1am- 11pmTo Fishbourne: 3am- 11:59pm    From Fishbourne: 1am- 11pm  To Fishbourne: 3am- 11:59pm    From Fishbourne: 1am- 11pm 
National Rail   Early finish (10pm)  No service  Normal service  Normal service  Normal service  Normal service  Early finish  (10pm)  Normal service 
Voi rental e-scooters and e-bikes A safety test pass will be required to take out a rental e-scooter or e-bike, between 9:00pm and 4:00am A safety test pass will be required to take out a rental e-scooter or e-bike, between 9:00pm and 4:00am A safety test pass will be required to take out a rental e-scooter or e-bike, between 9:00pm and 4:00am A safety test pass will be required to take out a rental e-scooter or e-bike, between 9:00pm and 4:00am A safety test pass will be required to take out a rental e-scooter or e-bike, between 9:00pm and 4:00am A safety test pass will be required to take out a rental e-scooter or e-bike, between 9:00pm and 4:00am Scooters will be unavailable between 9pm – 8am New Years DayScooters will become available again at 8:00am, a safety test will be in place between 9pm-4am