501 Stoke-on-Trent circular via Hanley, Festival Park
Operated by First Potteries. First bus 09:15, last bus 15:45. 14 journeys on weekdays. Fares: adult single £2.40 to £3.00 — more.
Wanted a different 501? 15 other bus routes are numbered 501 elsewhere in the UK — see every 501 bus timetable by area.
| Stop | 09:15 | 10:15 | 11:15 | 12:15 | 13:15 | 14:15 | 15:15 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stoke-on-Trent rail station (adj) | 09:15 | 10:15 | 11:15 | 12:15 | 13:15 | 14:15 | 15:15 |
| bus station (stand P) | 09:25 | 10:25 | 11:25 | 12:25 | 13:25 | 14:25 | 15:25 |
| Waterworld (adj) | 09:40 | 10:40 | 11:40 | 12:40 | 13:40 | 14:40 | 15:40 |
| Marks & Spencer (adj) | 09:50 | 10:50 | 11:50 | 12:50 | 13:50 | 14:50 | 15:50 |
| Stoke-on-Trent rail station (adj) | 10:05 | 11:05 | 12:05 | 13:05 | 14:05 | 15:05 | 16:05 |
Each column is one journey, headed by the time it sets off. 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.
Fares on the 501
Adult single £2.40 to £3.00
Adult single fare table, stage to stage
| £2.40 | Festival Park, Any Point | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £2.40 | £2.40 | Stoke Rail Station | ||
| £2.40 | £2.40 | £3.00 | Stoke Rail Station ( IN ) | |
| £2.40 | £2.40 | £2.40 | £2.40 | Wolstanton Retail Park |
Read along the row of the stage you travel to, to the column below the stage you board at; the first stage is Hanley (City Centre).
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 Potteries before you travel.
Tickets on the 501
First Potteries publishes singles on this route for adults and young people.
Adult Single · Young Person Single
Ticket types come from First Potteries'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 Potteries.
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 Potteries before you travel. Everything above is an ordinary week.
Not published yet: Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, 28 December, 29 December, 30 December, New Year's Eve, New Year's Day and 2 January. Operators often publish festive timetables only a few weeks ahead, so check again nearer the date.
Route map
All stops on route 501
501 towards Stoke-upon-Trent
All 17 stops
- Stoke-on-Trent rail station (adj) Stoke-upon-Trent
- bus station (stand P) Hanley
- John Street (stop J1) Hanley
- Greyhound Way (adj) Cobridge
- Stadium Court (adj) Festival Park
- Morrisons supermarket (opp) Festival Park
- Home Bargains (opp) Festival Park
- Festival Way (adj) Festival Park
- Double Tree Hotel (adj) Festival Park
- Waterworld (adj) Festival Park
- canal bridge (adj) Festival Park
- Fowlea Road (adj) Festival Park
- OverclockersUK (opp) Festival Park
- Spitfire island (opp) Festival Park
- Asda Supermarket (adj) Wolstanton
- Marks & Spencer (adj) Wolstanton
- Stoke-on-Trent rail station (adj) Stoke-upon-Trent
501 inbound
All 16 stops
- Stoke-on-Trent rail station (opp) Stoke-upon-Trent
- Asda Supermarket (adj) Wolstanton
- Marks & Spencer (adj) Wolstanton
- OverclockersUK (adj) Festival Park
- Fowlea Road (opp) Festival Park
- Shelton Boulevard (adj) Festival Park
- canal bridge (adj) Festival Park
- Waterworld (opp) Festival Park
- Double Tree Hotel (opp) Festival Park
- Festival Way (adj) Festival Park
- Morrisons supermarket (adj) Festival Park
- Stadium Court (opp) Festival Park
- Greyhound Way (opp) Cobridge
- John Street (stop J1) Hanley
- bus station (stand W) Hanley
- Stoke-on-Trent rail station (opp) Stoke-upon-Trent
Towns & areas on this route
Frequently asked questions
What time is the first 501 bus?
The first 501 departure on weekdays leaves at 09:15 (check the full timetable below for your stop, as times vary along the route — weekend times can differ).
What time is the last 501 bus?
The last 501 on weekdays leaves its first stop at 15:45. Always check the timetable for your specific stop — later stops are reached after this time.
How much does the 501 bus cost?
First Potteries's published fares on the 501: adult single £2.40 to £3.00. The 501 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 Potteries day and weekly tickets can work out cheaper if you travel more than twice a day.
Who runs the 501 bus?
The 501 is operated by First Potteries.
Timetable data from First Potteries via the DfT Bus Open Data Service (West Midlands feed). Check before you travel — services can change at short notice.