Bus from Lancaster City Centre to Preston City Centre
8 direct routes · 64–80 min · first bus 05:51, last bus 22:02 (weekdays).
Next buses to Preston City Centre as of 12:35
Scheduled times at the boarding stop in Lancaster City Centre, from the operators' timetables — they update automatically. Open the stop for live tracking.
Direct routes
| Route | Operator | Journey time | Weekday journeys | Days | First | Last | Board at | Get off at | Calls at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 41 | Stagecoach Cumbria and Lancashire | ~79 min | 16 | Sat 15 · Sun 13 | 07:27 | 22:02 | Infirmary (opp) | Aqueduct Street (opp) | Bailrigg, Lancaster University, Galgate, Hampson Green, Bay Horse, Forton & 6 more |
| 40 | Stagecoach Cumbria and Lancashire | ~69 min | 13 | Sat 12 · no Sunday buses | 05:51 | 16:48 | Infirmary (opp) | Aqueduct Street (opp) | Bailrigg, Lancaster University, Galgate, Hampson Green, Bay Horse, Forton & 6 more |
6 occasional services — once or twice a day · 941, 940, 181, 40C, 828, X8
Often school, college or market-day journeys — check the route before relying on one.
| Route | Operator | Journey time | Weekday journeys | Days | First | Last | Board at | Get off at | Calls at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 941 | Stagecoach Cumbria and Lancashire | ~74 min | 2 | weekdays only | 15:47 | 15:47 | Infirmary (opp) | Bus Station (Stand 12) | Bailrigg, Lancaster University, Galgate, Hampson Green, Bay Horse, Forton & 6 more |
| 940 | Stagecoach Cumbria and Lancashire | ~64 min | 1 | weekdays only | 15:53 | 15:53 | Infirmary (opp) | Aqueduct Street (opp) | Bailrigg, Lancaster University, Galgate, Hampson Green, Bay Horse, Forton & 6 more |
| 181 | National Express | ~35 min | 1 | Sat 1 · Sun 1 | 02:45 | 02:45 | Bus Station Night Std (adj) | Bus Station (Stand A) | — |
| 40C | Stagecoach Cumbria and Lancashire | ~80 min | 1 | weekdays only | 07:22 | 07:22 | Infirmary (opp) | Aqueduct Street (opp) | Bailrigg, Lancaster University, Galgate, Hampson Green, Bay Horse, Forton & 6 more |
| 828 | National Express | ~35 min | 1 | Fridays only | 02:40 | 02:40 | Bus Station Night Std (adj) | Bus Station (Stand A) | — |
| X8 | Stagecoach Cumbria and Lancashire | ~39 min | 1 | Saturdays only | 18:20 | 18:20 | Bus Station (Stand 5) | Bus Station (Stand 3) | — |
Times are for the first boarding point in Lancaster City Centre on each route's weekday timetable — open the route for the full timetable, live map and every stop.
The same number runs elsewhere in the UK — see every 41 bus, 40 bus, 941 bus, 940 bus, 181 bus, 40C bus, 828 bus or X8 bus timetable.
Fares from Lancaster City Centre to Preston City Centre
- £3.00 adult single on the 41 and 40 (Stagecoach Cumbria and Lancashire)
- £8.00 adult single on the X8 (Stagecoach Cumbria and Lancashire) — at most £3.00 if in the fare cap
Between the stops in the table above. The operators' own published fares, from the Bus Open Data Service; check with the operator before you travel.
Frequently asked questions
Which bus goes from Lancaster City Centre to Preston City Centre?
8 routes run directly from Lancaster City Centre to Preston City Centre: the 41 (Stagecoach Cumbria and Lancashire), the 40 (Stagecoach Cumbria and Lancashire), the 941 (Stagecoach Cumbria and Lancashire), the 940 (Stagecoach Cumbria and Lancashire), the 181 (National Express), the 40C (Stagecoach Cumbria and Lancashire), the 828 (National Express), the X8 (Stagecoach Cumbria and Lancashire). The most frequent is the 41, 16 times each weekday — board at Infirmary (opp) and get off at Aqueduct Street (opp), about 79 minutes.
How long does the bus take from Lancaster City Centre to Preston City Centre?
Between 64 minutes on the 940 and 80 on the 40C, depending on which route you catch and on traffic. It calls at Bailrigg, Lancaster University, Galgate, Hampson Green and other stops on the way.
What time is the first and last bus from Lancaster City Centre to Preston City Centre?
On weekdays the first direct bus leaves around 05:51 and the last around 22:02. Check the route timetables for weekends.
How much is the bus from Lancaster City Centre to Preston City Centre?
Adult singles from Lancaster City Centre to Preston City Centre: £3.00 on the 41 and 40 (Stagecoach Cumbria and Lancashire); £8.00 on the X8 (Stagecoach Cumbria and Lancashire). The X8 costs at most £3.00 if it takes part in the England fare cap. Prices are the operators' own published fares on the Bus Open Data Service — check with the operator before you travel. Most single fares in England are capped at £3 until 31 December 2026, then £2 from 1 January 2027.