21 Central Reading ↔ Lower Earley
Operated by Reading Buses. First bus 04:00, last bus 03:25. 359 journeys on weekdays.
✅ The 21 is confirmed in the national fare cap — single fares cost at most £3
until 31 Dec 2026, then £2 from 1 January 2027. Source: GOV.UK.
Details →
Timetable
Times are shown at the route's main timing stops — buses serve all stops in between. For times at your exact stop, open the stop's own page.
towards Lower Earley · Monday to Friday towards Lower Earley · Saturday towards Lower Earley · Sunday towards Central Reading · Monday to Friday towards Central Reading · Saturday towards Central Reading · Sunday
| St Marys Butts (stop CR) | · | · | · | 04:47 | 04:47 | 04:50 | · | 05:50 | 05:50 | 05:50 | 06:20 | · | · | · | · | 06:50 | 06:50 | 06:54 | · | 07:23 | 07:24 | 07:45 | 07:50 | · | 07:53 | 07:53 | 07:55 | 08:13 | 08:13 | · | 08:33 | 08:33 | · | 08:50 | 08:53 | 08:53 | 09:08 | 09:10 | 09:10 | 09:13 | 09:13 | 09:29 | 09:29 | · | 09:41 | 09:48 | 09:48 | 10:01 | 10:11 | 10:11 | 10:23 | 10:31 | 10:31 | 10:44 | 10:51 | 10:51 | 11:04 | 11:07 | 11:07 | 11:25 | 11:27 | 11:27 | 11:46 | 11:47 | 11:47 | 12:06 | 12:07 | 12:07 | 12:26 | 12:27 | 12:27 | 12:46 | 12:47 | 12:47 | 13:06 | 13:07 | 13:07 | 13:26 | 13:27 | 13:27 | 13:46 | 13:47 | 13:47 | 14:06 | 14:07 | 14:07 | 14:26 | 14:27 | 14:27 | · | 14:46 | 14:47 | 14:47 | 15:06 | 15:07 | 15:07 | 15:26 | 15:27 | 15:27 | 15:37 | 15:46 | 15:47 | 15:47 | 15:47 | 16:03 | 16:03 | 16:03 | 16:06 | 16:26 | 16:26 | 16:26 | 16:26 | 16:46 | 16:50 | 16:50 | 16:50 | 17:00 | 17:06 | 17:10 | 17:10 | 17:26 | 17:34 | 17:34 | 17:46 | 17:53 | 17:53 | 18:06 | 18:10 | 18:10 | 18:20 | 18:26 | 18:30 | 18:30 | 18:46 | 18:50 | 18:50 | 19:06 | 19:09 | 19:09 | 19:23 | 19:43 | · | · | 20:19 | · | · | 20:56 | 20:56 | 20:58 | 21:22 |
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| Blagrave Street (stop EK) | 04:00 | 04:00 | 04:00 | 05:00 | 05:00 | 04:59 | 05:30 | 06:00 | 06:00 | 05:59 | 06:30 | 06:30 | 06:40 | 06:50 | 06:50 | 07:10 | 06:59 | 07:05 | 07:20 | 07:30 | 07:40 | 07:52 | 07:59 | 07:50 | 08:00 | 08:00 | 08:02 | 08:20 | 08:20 | 08:19 | 08:40 | 08:40 | 08:39 | 08:59 | 09:00 | 09:00 | 09:15 | 09:20 | 09:20 | 09:25 | 09:21 | 09:40 | 09:40 | 09:37 | 09:55 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:15 | 10:20 | 10:20 | 10:35 | 10:40 | 10:40 | 10:55 | 11:00 | 11:00 | 11:15 | 11:20 | 11:20 | 11:35 | 11:40 | 11:40 | 11:55 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:15 | 12:20 | 12:20 | 12:35 | 12:40 | 12:40 | 12:55 | 13:00 | 13:00 | 13:15 | 13:20 | 13:20 | 13:35 | 13:40 | 13:40 | 13:55 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:15 | 14:20 | 14:20 | 14:35 | 14:40 | 14:40 | 14:30 | 14:55 | 14:55 | 14:55 | 15:15 | 15:15 | 15:15 | 15:35 | 15:35 | 15:35 | 15:45 | 15:55 | 15:55 | 15:55 | 15:55 | 16:15 | 16:15 | 16:15 | 16:15 | 16:35 | 16:35 | 16:35 | 16:35 | 16:55 | 16:55 | 16:55 | 16:55 | 17:05 | 17:15 | 17:17 | 17:17 | 17:35 | 17:40 | 17:40 | 17:55 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:15 | 18:20 | 18:20 | 18:30 | 18:35 | 18:40 | 18:40 | 18:55 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:15 | 19:30 | 19:30 | 19:33 | 20:00 | 20:00 | 20:00 | 20:30 | 20:30 | 20:30 | 21:00 | 21:00 | 21:05 | 21:30 |
| Reading University (Inside) | 04:09 | 04:10 | 04:09 | 05:09 | 05:09 | 05:09 | 05:39 | 06:09 | 06:09 | 06:09 | 06:40 | 06:40 | 06:51 | 07:01 | 07:01 | 07:21 | 07:09 | 07:16 | 07:32 | 07:41 | 07:57 | 08:11 | 08:09 | 08:01 | 08:17 | 08:19 | 08:21 | 08:40 | 08:38 | 08:29 | 08:56 | 08:54 | 08:49 | 09:09 | 09:15 | 09:15 | 09:30 | 09:35 | 09:35 | 09:40 | 09:32 | 09:54 | 09:55 | 09:48 | 10:06 | 10:14 | 10:14 | 10:26 | 10:34 | 10:34 | 10:46 | 10:54 | 10:54 | 11:09 | 11:14 | 11:14 | 11:29 | 11:34 | 11:34 | 11:49 | 11:54 | 11:54 | 12:09 | 12:14 | 12:14 | 12:29 | 12:34 | 12:34 | 12:49 | 12:54 | 12:54 | 13:09 | 13:14 | 13:14 | 13:29 | 13:34 | 13:34 | 13:49 | 13:54 | 13:54 | 14:09 | 14:14 | 14:14 | 14:29 | 14:34 | 14:34 | 14:49 | 14:54 | 14:54 | 14:44 | 15:09 | 15:10 | 15:09 | 15:29 | 15:30 | 15:29 | 15:49 | 15:55 | 15:54 | 16:05 | 16:09 | 16:13 | 16:12 | 16:15 | 16:33 | 16:32 | 16:33 | 16:29 | 16:53 | 16:52 | 16:53 | 16:49 | 17:09 | 17:12 | 17:13 | 17:13 | 17:23 | 17:29 | 17:34 | 17:35 | 17:49 | 17:57 | 17:58 | 18:08 | 18:15 | 18:14 | 18:28 | 18:35 | 18:34 | 18:45 | 18:48 | 18:55 | 18:54 | 19:08 | 19:12 | 19:12 | 19:28 | 19:42 | 19:42 | 19:46 | 20:13 | 20:12 | 20:12 | 20:43 | 20:42 | 20:42 | 21:12 | 21:12 | 21:17 | 21:42 |
| Marefield (opp 31) | 04:20 | 04:21 | 04:20 | 05:20 | 05:20 | 05:20 | 05:50 | 06:20 | 06:20 | 06:20 | 06:51 | 06:51 | 07:03 | 07:13 | 07:13 | 07:33 | 07:20 | 07:28 | 07:44 | 07:53 | 08:09 | 08:24 | 08:20 | 08:13 | 08:32 | 08:32 | 08:34 | 08:53 | 08:53 | 08:40 | 09:08 | 09:08 | 09:00 | 09:20 | 09:28 | 09:28 | 09:43 | 09:48 | 09:48 | 09:53 | 09:43 | 10:09 | 10:09 | 09:59 | 10:17 | 10:29 | 10:29 | 10:37 | 10:49 | 10:49 | 10:57 | 11:09 | 11:09 | 11:23 | 11:29 | 11:29 | 11:43 | 11:49 | 11:49 | 12:03 | 12:09 | 12:09 | 12:23 | 12:29 | 12:29 | 12:43 | 12:49 | 12:49 | 13:03 | 13:09 | 13:09 | 13:23 | 13:29 | 13:29 | 13:43 | 13:49 | 13:49 | 14:03 | 14:09 | 14:09 | 14:23 | 14:29 | 14:29 | 14:43 | 14:49 | 14:49 | 15:03 | 15:09 | 15:09 | 14:59 | 15:23 | 15:24 | 15:24 | 15:43 | 15:44 | 15:44 | 16:03 | 16:09 | 16:09 | 16:19 | 16:23 | 16:27 | 16:27 | 16:30 | 16:48 | 16:47 | 16:47 | 16:43 | 17:07 | 17:07 | 17:08 | 17:03 | 17:23 | 17:27 | 17:27 | 17:28 | 17:38 | 17:43 | 17:49 | 17:49 | 18:02 | 18:12 | 18:12 | 18:22 | 18:29 | 18:29 | 18:42 | 18:49 | 18:49 | 18:59 | 19:02 | 19:09 | 19:09 | 19:22 | 19:26 | 19:26 | 19:42 | 19:57 | 19:56 | 20:00 | 20:27 | 20:25 | 20:25 | 20:57 | 20:55 | 20:55 | 21:24 | 21:24 | 21:30 | 21:55 |
| Hawkedon Way (adj) | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | 19:12 | 19:12 | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
Route map
All stops on route 21
21 towards Lower Earley
- St Marys Butts (stop CR) Reading Town Centre
- West Street (stop CU) Reading Town Centre
- Blagrave Street (stop EK) Reading Town Centre
- Market Place (stop MA) Reading Town Centre
- Crown Street (S-bound) Katesgrove
- London Street Foot (S-bound) Reading Town Centre
- Kendrick Student Village (adj) The Mount
- Crown Place Passage (adj) The Mount
- Morgan Road (adj) The Mount
- Vicarage Road (opp) The Mount
- Christchurch Green (SE-bound) University of Reading
- Reading University (Inside) University of Reading
- Pepper Lane University (Adj) University of Reading
- Harcourt Drive (Opp) Earley
- Wychwood Crescent (Adj 114) Earley
- Brerewood (opp) Earley
- Chalfont Way Circle (S-bound) Lower Earley
- Rosemary Avenue (adj) Lower Earley
- Ryhill Way (opp) Lower Earley
- Chatton Close Asda (adj) Lower Earley
- Faygate Way (opp) Lower Earley
- Beech Lane (Adj) Lower Earley
- Marefield (opp 31) Lower Earley
- Chilcombe Way (adj) Lower Earley
- Felixstowe Close (adj) Lower Earley
- Easington Drive (Adj) Lower Earley
- Kitwood Drive (opp) Lower Earley
- Hawkedon Way (adj) Lower Earley
21 towards Central Reading
- Marefield (opp 31) Lower Earley
- Chilcombe Way (adj) Lower Earley
- Kitwood Drive (opp) Lower Earley
- Felixstowe Close (adj) Lower Earley
- Easington Drive (Adj) Lower Earley
- Hawkedon Way (adj) Lower Earley
- Sellafield Way (opp) Lower Earley
- Marefield (opp) Lower Earley
- Beech Lane (opp) Lower Earley
- Chatton Close Asda (opp) Lower Earley
- Faygate Way (adj) Lower Earley
- Ryhill Way (adj) Lower Earley
- Rosemary Avenue (opp) Lower Earley
- Chalfont Way Circle (N-bound) Lower Earley
- Wychwood Crescent (opp) Earley
- Brerewood (Adj 10) Earley
- Harcourt Drive (Adj) Earley
- Pepper Lane University (Opp) University of Reading
- Reading University University of Reading
- Chancellors Way (opp) University of Reading
- Christchurch Green (W-bound) University of Reading
- Vicarage Road (adj) The Mount
- Morgan Road (opp) The Mount
- Crown Place Passage (opp) The Mount
- Kendrick Student Village (opp) The Mount
- Crown Street (adj) Katesgrove
- London Street Foot (N-bound) Reading Town Centre
- Kings Road (Stop MH) Reading Town Centre
- Minster Street (Stop MP) Reading Town Centre
- St Marys Butts (stop CR) Reading Town Centre
- West Street (stop CU) Reading Town Centre
- Blagrave Street (stop EK) Reading Town Centre
Service history & registered changes
- ✏️ Changed effective 1 Sept 2026 Reading Station → Lower Earley
- ❌ Withdrawn effective 30 Aug 2026 Norfolk & Norwich Hospital → Old Caton, Morrisons
- 🆕 Registered effective 1 Jun 2026 Operating between Reading Station and Lower Earley given service number 21 effective from 01 June 2026. To amend Timetable.
- 🆕 Registered effective 31 May 2026 Operating between Canvey Island, Essex and Southend Travel Centre, Southend on Sea, Essex given service number 21 / 21S effective from 31 May 2026. To amend Route, Stopping Places and Timetable.
From official Traffic Commissioner registrations. All service changes →
Towns & areas on this route
Frequently asked questions
What time is the first 21 bus?
The first 21 departure on weekdays leaves at 04:00 (check the full timetable below for your stop, as times vary along the route — weekend times can differ).
What time is the last 21 bus?
The last 21 on weekdays leaves its first stop at 03:25. Always check the timetable for your specific stop — later stops are reached after this time.
How much does the 21 bus cost?
The 21 is confirmed by GOV.UK as part of the national fare cap, so a single costs at most £3 until 31 December 2026, then £2 from 1 January 2027. Reading Buses day and weekly tickets can work out cheaper if you travel more than twice a day.
Who runs the 21 bus?
The 21 is operated by Reading Buses.
Timetable data from the operator via the DfT Bus Open Data Service. Check before you travel — services can change at short notice.