3 Chelmsford to Southend-on-Sea via Leigh-on-Sea, Prittlewell

Operated by First Essex. First bus 07:15, last bus 18:05. 12 journeys on weekdays. Fares: adult single £2.00 to £3.00 — more.

Next towards Southend-on-Sea from Bus Station (Stand 2): 07:15, 09:00

Next towards Chelmsford from Travel Centre (Stop C): 09:20

Wanted a different 3? 114 other bus routes are numbered 3 elsewhere in the UK — see every 3 bus timetable by area.

Timetable

Ends at Southend, Travel Centre · Monday to Friday · 6 journeys
Stop 07:1509:0011:1013:1015:5517:30
King Edward VI School (o/s) ····15:55·
Bus Station (Stand 2) 07:1509:0011:1013:1016:0017:30
H & M (Stop Db) 07:1709:0311:1313:1316:0317:33
Woodhill Road (adj) 07:2509:1011:2013:2016:1517:46
East Hanningfield Road (adj) 07:2909:1411:2413:2416:2017:51
The Windmill (opp) 07:3509:2011:3013:3016:2717:58
Hyde Hall (S-bound) ·09:2411:34··18:02
The Bell (o/s) 07:4009:2911:3913:3516:3218:07
School (o/s) 07:4309:3211:4213:3816:3618:11
The Hawk (opp) 07:4609:3511:4513:4116:4018:14
Bedloes Corner (S-bound) 07:5009:3911:4913:4516:4418:18
Wolsey Park North (S-bound) 07:53·····
The Sweyne Park School (o/s) 08:01·····
Hullbridge Road (opp) ·09:4511:5513:5116:5118:24
Railway Station (opp) 08:0409:4911:5913:5516:5518:28
High Street (NE-bound) 08:0709:5212:0213:5816:5818:31
The Woodmans Arms (o/s) 08:1810:0112:1114:0717:1118:47
Rivers Corner (E-bound) 08:2110:0412:1414:1017:1418:50
Morrisons (o/s) 08:2810:1012:2014:1617:2018:55
Thames Drive (opp) 08:3310:1512:2514:2117:2519:00
Post Office 08:4010:2012:3014:2617:3119:04
Blenheim Chase (N-bound) 08:4510:2512:3514:3117:3619:09
Southend Hospital South (Stop C) 08:5510:3212:4214:3817:4319:15
Victoria Station Interchange (Stop VE) 09:0510:4212:5214:4817:5319:23
Travel Centre (Stop C) 09:1010:4712:5714:5317:5819:26

Each column is one journey, headed by the time it sets off. A · means that journey does not stop there. Times are shown at the route's main timing stops — buses serve all stops in between. Switch a table to All stops for every stop it calls at, or open a stop's own page for live departures there.

The 3 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 →

Fares on the 3

Adult single £2.00 to £3.00 · Child single £1.50 to £3.00

First Bus's published fares on the Bus Open Data Service, in force from 28 August 2026. A fare stage is a group of neighbouring stops that are priced the same. Fares change — check with First Essex before you travel.

Tickets on the 3

First Essex publishes singles and season tickets on this route for adults and children.

Adult Weekly · Adult Single · Child Weekly · Child Single

Ticket types come from First Essex's own fares data on the Bus Open Data Service, last updated 4 September 2026. Prices for singles and returns are under Fares above; for the others, check with First Essex.

28–51% on time
average delay 8.6 min · the range 62 live GPS observations over 30 days can support

Christmas & bank holidays

These dates are not the usual timetable for the day they fall on. They come from the operator’s published data, which for Christmas and New Year is often late or incomplete, so check with First Essex before you travel. Everything above is an ordinary week.

Not published yet: Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, 28 December, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. Operators often publish festive timetables only a few weeks ahead, so check again nearer the date.

Route map

All stops on route 3

3 towards Southend-on-Sea

All 109 stops
  1. King Edward VI School (o/s) Chelmsford
  2. The Ship (o/s) Chelmsford City Centre
  3. Bus Station (Stand 2) Chelmsford City Centre
  4. Chelmsford Railway Station (Stand 11) Chelmsford City Centre
  5. Cathedral (Stop Cb) Chelmsford City Centre
  6. H & M (Stop Db) Chelmsford City Centre
  7. Parkway (Stop Ea) Chelmsford City Centre
  8. Army & Navy (SE-bound) Chelmsford
  9. Manor Farm Shop (o/s) Great Baddow
  10. Molrams Lane (opp) Great Baddow
  11. Woodhill Road (adj) Sandon
  12. Ladywell Lane (adj) Great Baddow
  13. Howe Green (SE-bound) Howe Green
  14. East Hanningfield Road (adj) Howe Green
  15. White Lodge (opp) Howe Green
  16. Southlands Chase (opp) Howe Green
  17. Nursing Home (o/s) Howe Green
  18. Butts Green Road (adj) Butts Green
  19. Great Claydons (opp) East Hanningfield
  20. The Three Horseshoes (o/s) East Hanningfield
  21. The Windmill (opp) East Hanningfield
  22. Hyde Hall (S-bound) Rettendon
  23. Creephedge Lane (adj) East Hanningfield
  24. The Firs (opp) Rettendon
  25. East Hanningfield Road (S-bound) Rettendon
  26. Bartletts Farm (opp) Rettendon
  27. Old Bell Lane (adj) Rettendon
  28. The Bell (o/s) Rettendon
  29. The Wheatsheaf (o/s) Rettendon
  30. Hoe Lane (opp) Rettendon
  31. White House Farm (o/s) Rettendon
  32. School (o/s) Rettendon
  33. The Turnpike north (S-bound) Rettendon
  34. The Turnpike south (SE-bound) Rettendon
  35. The Hawk (opp) Battlesbridge
  36. Antique Centre (adj) Battlesbridge
  37. Goose Cottages (opp) Battlesbridge
  38. Bedloes Corner (S-bound) Rawreth
  39. Wolsey Park North (S-bound) Rayleigh
  40. Wolsey Park Central (S-bound) Rayleigh
  41. Wolsey Park South (S-bound) Rayleigh
  42. Lower Barn Farm (o/s) Rawreth
  43. Electricity Board (o/s) Rayleigh
  44. Victoria Avenue (adj) Rayleigh
  45. Sir Walter Raleigh Drive (adj) Rayleigh
  46. The Sweyne Park School (o/s) Rayleigh
  47. Trenders Avenue (adj) Rayleigh
  48. ASDA (opp) Rayleigh
  49. Downhall Park Way (opp) Rayleigh
  50. Farm View (adj) Rayleigh
  51. Rawreth Lane (opp) Rayleigh
  52. Hullbridge Road (opp) Rayleigh
  53. Deepdene Avenue (opp) Rayleigh
  54. Cheapside East (opp) Rayleigh
  55. The Travellers Joy (o/s) Rayleigh
  56. Railway Station (opp) Rayleigh
  57. High Street (NE-bound) Rayleigh
  58. Bull Lane (adj) Rayleigh
  59. Websters Way (SW-bound) Rayleigh
  60. Eastwood Road (NW-bound) Rayleigh
  61. The Library (opp) Rayleigh
  62. The Paul Pry (opp) Rayleigh
  63. Great Wheatley Road (opp) Rayleigh
  64. The Weir (opp) Rayleigh
  65. Sainsburys Store (o/s) Thundersley
  66. Copper Beeches (o/s) Thundersley
  67. The Woodmans Arms (o/s) Thundersley
  68. Woodmans Arms (near) Thundersley
  69. The Deanes School (opp) Daws Heath
  70. Daws Heath Common (opp) Daws Heath
  71. Shops (o/s) Daws Heath
  72. Rivers Corner (E-bound) Daws Heath
  73. Fairmead Avenue (opp) Daws Heath
  74. Central Avenue (adj) Hadleigh
  75. Poors Lane (adj) Hadleigh
  76. Morrisons (o/s) Hadleigh
  77. Oak Road (adj) Hadleigh
  78. Broughton Road (adj) Hadleigh
  79. Woodfield Road (adj) Hadleigh
  80. Tattersall Gardens (opp) Leigh-on-Sea
  81. Thames Drive (opp) Leigh-on-Sea
  82. Canvey Road (opp) Leigh-on-Sea
  83. Hadleigh Road (SE-bound) Leigh-on-Sea
  84. Salisbury Road (E-bound) Leigh-on-Sea
  85. Grange Road (adj) Leigh-on-Sea
  86. Belton Way East (opp) Leigh-on-Sea
  87. Post Office Leigh-on-Sea
  88. Glendale Gardens (adj) Leigh-on-Sea
  89. Leigh Elms (N-bound) Leigh-on-Sea
  90. Bonchurch Park (near) Leigh-on-Sea
  91. Manchester Drive (N-bound) Leigh-on-Sea
  92. Blenheim Chase (N-bound) Leigh-on-Sea
  93. Elmsleigh Drive (E-bound) Leigh-on-Sea
  94. School Way (adj) Leigh-on-Sea
  95. Blenheim Park (o/s) Leigh-on-Sea
  96. Westcliff High Schools (Stop D) Leigh-on-Sea
  97. St Thomas Moore School (o/s) Leigh-on-Sea
  98. Mannering Gardens South (adj) Leigh-on-Sea
  99. Southbourne Grove (E-bound) Prittlewell
  100. Prittlewell School (opp) Prittlewell
  101. Southend Hospital South (Stop C) Prittlewell
  102. Highfield Gardens (Stop J) Prittlewell
  103. Gainsborough Drive (opp) Prittlewell
  104. Priory Park (NE-bound) Prittlewell
  105. Blue Boar (opp) Prittlewell
  106. Civic Centre (o/s) Southend-on-Sea
  107. Victoria Station Interchange (Stop VE) Southend-on-Sea
  108. Whitegate Road (Stop VR) Southend-on-Sea
  109. Travel Centre (Stop C) Southend-on-Sea

3 towards Chelmsford

All 104 stops
  1. The Sweyne Park School (o/s) Rayleigh
  2. Victoria Avenue (opp) Rayleigh
  3. Electricity Board (opp) Rayleigh
  4. Lower Barn Farm (opp) Rawreth
  5. Wolsey Park South (N-bound) Rayleigh
  6. Wolsey Park Central (N-bound) Rayleigh
  7. Wolsey Park North (N-bound) Rayleigh
  8. Travel Centre (Stop C) Southend-on-Sea
  9. Whitegate Road (Stop VS) Southend-on-Sea
  10. Chichester Road (Stop VM) Southend-on-Sea
  11. Victoria Station Interchange (Stop VH) Southend-on-Sea
  12. Civic Centre (opp) Southend-on-Sea
  13. Blue Boar (o/s) Prittlewell
  14. Priory Park (SW-bound) Prittlewell
  15. Gainsborough Drive (adj) Prittlewell
  16. Highfield Gardens (Stop L) Prittlewell
  17. Southend Hospital South (Stop B) Prittlewell
  18. Prittlewell School (o/s) Prittlewell
  19. Southbourne Grove (W-bound) Prittlewell
  20. Mannering Gardens South (opp) Leigh-on-Sea
  21. St Thomas Moore School (opp) Leigh-on-Sea
  22. Westcliff High Schools (Stop A) Leigh-on-Sea
  23. Blenheim Park (opp) Leigh-on-Sea
  24. School Way (opp) Leigh-on-Sea
  25. Blenheim Chase (S-bound) Leigh-on-Sea
  26. Manchester Drive (S-bound) Leigh-on-Sea
  27. Leigh Elms (S-bound) Leigh-on-Sea
  28. Glendale Gardens (opp) Leigh-on-Sea
  29. Leigh Church (o/s) Leigh-on-Sea
  30. Belton Way East (adj) Leigh-on-Sea
  31. Grange Road (opp) Leigh-on-Sea
  32. Salisbury Road (W-bound) Leigh-on-Sea
  33. London Road (NW-bound) Leigh-on-Sea
  34. Canvey Road (adj) Leigh-on-Sea
  35. Medway Crescent (W-bound) Leigh-on-Sea
  36. Thames Drive (adj) Leigh-on-Sea
  37. Tattersall Gardens (adj) Leigh-on-Sea
  38. Woodfield Road (opp) Hadleigh
  39. Broughton Road (opp) Hadleigh
  40. Church (W-bound) Hadleigh
  41. Morrisons (o/s) Hadleigh
  42. Rectory Close (opp) Hadleigh
  43. Scrub Lane (opp) Hadleigh
  44. Poors Lane (opp) Hadleigh
  45. Central Avenue (opp) Hadleigh
  46. Fairmead Avenue (adj) Daws Heath
  47. Rivers Corner (W-bound) Daws Heath
  48. Shops (opp) Daws Heath
  49. Daws Heath Common (adj) Daws Heath
  50. The Deanes School (o/s) Daws Heath
  51. The Woodmans Arms (opp) Thundersley
  52. Copper Beeches Thundersley
  53. Sainsburys Store (opp) Thundersley
  54. The Weir (o/s) Rayleigh
  55. Great Wheatley Road (adj) Rayleigh
  56. The Paul Pry (o/s) Rayleigh
  57. The Library (o/s) Rayleigh
  58. Railway Station (adj) Rayleigh
  59. The Travellers Joy (opp) Rayleigh
  60. Cheapside East (adj) Rayleigh
  61. Deepdene Avenue (adj) Rayleigh
  62. Brooklyn Drive (adj) Rayleigh
  63. Hullbridge Road (adj) Rayleigh
  64. Rawreth Lane (adj) Rayleigh
  65. Farm View (opp) Rayleigh
  66. Downhall Park Way (adj) Rayleigh
  67. ASDA (o/s) Rayleigh
  68. Trenders Avenue (opp) Rayleigh
  69. Bedloes Corner (N-bound) Rawreth
  70. Goose Cottages (o/s) Battlesbridge
  71. Antique Centre (opp) Battlesbridge
  72. The Hawk (o/s) Battlesbridge
  73. The Turnpike north (N-bound) Rettendon
  74. School (opp) Rettendon
  75. White House Farm (opp) Rettendon
  76. Hoe Lane (adj) Rettendon
  77. The Wheatsheaf (opp) Rettendon
  78. The Bell (opp) Rettendon
  79. Old Bell Lane (opp) Rettendon
  80. Hyde Hall (N-bound) Rettendon
  81. Mill Hill (N-bound) Rettendon
  82. Bartletts Farm (o/s) Rettendon
  83. East Hanningfield Road (N-bound) Rettendon
  84. The Firs (o/s) Rettendon
  85. Creephedge Lane (opp) East Hanningfield
  86. The Windmill (o/s) East Hanningfield
  87. The Three Horseshoes (opp) East Hanningfield
  88. Great Claydons (adj) East Hanningfield
  89. Cricket Ground (near) East Hanningfield
  90. Butts Green Road (opp) Butts Green
  91. Nursing Home (opp) Howe Green
  92. Southlands Chase (adj) Howe Green
  93. White Lodge (o/s) Howe Green
  94. Chalklands (adj) Howe Green
  95. East Hanningfield Road (opp) Howe Green
  96. Howe Green (NW-bound) Howe Green
  97. Woodhill Road (opp) Sandon
  98. Molrams Lane (adj) Great Baddow
  99. Manor Farm Shop (opp) Great Baddow
  100. Army & Navy (NW-bound) Chelmsford
  101. Parkway (Stop G) Chelmsford City Centre
  102. Retail Market (Stop 1) Chelmsford City Centre
  103. Chelmsford Railway Station (Stand 12) Chelmsford City Centre
  104. Bus Station (Stand 1) Chelmsford City Centre

Towns & areas on this route

Southend-on-SeaChelmsfordLeigh-on-SeaPrittlewellRayleighGreat BaddowRettendonChelmsford City CentreThundersleyHadleighSandonDaws Heath

Frequently asked questions

What time is the first 3 bus?

The first 3 departure on weekdays leaves at 07:15 (check the full timetable below for your stop, as times vary along the route — weekend times can differ).

What time is the last 3 bus?

The last 3 on weekdays leaves its first stop at 18:05. Always check the timetable for your specific stop — later stops are reached after this time.

How much does the 3 bus cost?

First Essex's published fares on the 3: adult single £2.00 to £3.00, child single £1.50 to £3.00. The 3 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. First Essex day and weekly tickets can work out cheaper if you travel more than twice a day.

Who runs the 3 bus?

The 3 is operated by First Essex.

Timetable data from First Essex via the DfT Bus Open Data Service (South East England feed). Check before you travel — services can change at short notice.