53 Bedford to Wootton via Cauldwell, Kempston
Operated by Grant Palmer. First bus 07:36, last bus 17:30. 34 journeys on weekdays. Fares: adult single £2.50 to £3.00 — more.
Wanted a different 53? 30 other bus routes are numbered 53 elsewhere in the UK — see every 53 bus timetable by area.
| Stop | 08:15 | 08:45 | 09:15 | 09:45 | 10:15 | 10:45 | 11:15 | 11:45 | 12:15 | 12:45 | 13:15 | 14:15 | 15:20 | 16:30 | 17:30 to Wootton |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bus Station (Stand D) | 08:15 | 08:45 | 09:15 | 09:45 | 10:15 | 10:45 | 11:15 | 11:45 | 12:15 | 12:45 | 13:15 | 14:15 | 15:20 | 16:30 | 17:30 |
| Kingsway Link (W-bound) | 08:18 | 08:48 | 09:18 | 09:48 | 10:18 | 10:48 | 11:18 | 11:48 | 12:18 | 12:48 | 13:18 | 14:18 | 15:23 | 16:33 | 17:33 |
| Bedford Hospital West (Stop B) | 08:21 | 08:51 | 09:21 | 09:51 | 10:21 | 10:51 | 11:21 | 11:51 | 12:21 | 12:51 | 13:21 | 14:21 | 15:26 | 16:36 | 17:36 |
| Saxon Centre (o/s) | 08:27 | 08:57 | 09:27 | 09:57 | 10:27 | 10:57 | 11:27 | 11:57 | 12:27 | 12:57 | 13:27 | 14:27 | 15:32 | 16:42 | 17:42 |
| Ibbett Close (opp) | 08:32 | 09:02 | 09:32 | 10:02 | 10:32 | 11:02 | 11:32 | 12:02 | 12:32 | 13:02 | 13:32 | 14:32 | 15:37 | 16:47 | 17:47 |
| St Mary's Road (adj) | 08:38 | 09:08 | 09:38 | 10:08 | 10:38 | 11:08 | 11:38 | 12:08 | 12:38 | 13:08 | 13:38 | 14:38 | 15:43 | 16:53 | 17:53 |
| Fields Road Surgery (opp) | 08:42 | 09:12 | 09:42 | 10:12 | 10:42 | 11:12 | 11:42 | 12:12 | 12:42 | 13:12 | 13:42 | 14:42 | 15:47 | 16:57 | 17:57 |
| Folkes Road (adj) | 08:44 | · | 09:44 | · | 10:44 | · | 11:44 | · | 12:44 | · | 13:44 | 14:44 | 15:49 | 16:59 | 17:58 |
| Burgoyne Avenue (opp) | 08:46 | 09:15 | 09:46 | 10:15 | 10:46 | 11:15 | 11:46 | 12:15 | 12:46 | 13:15 | 13:46 | 14:46 | 15:51 | 17:01 | · |
Each column is one journey, headed by the time it sets off; one that finishes short of the usual end says where ("to …") — not every journey on this route runs the whole way. 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.
Fares on the 53
Adult single £2.50 to £3.00
Adult single fare table, stage to stage
| £2.50 | Borough Hall | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £2.50 | £2.50 | South Wing Hospital | ||||||||
| £2.50 | £2.50 | £2.50 | The Keep | |||||||
| £2.50 | £2.50 | £2.50 | £2.50 | Spring Road | ||||||
| £2.50 | £2.50 | £2.50 | £2.50 | £2.50 | Margetts Road | |||||
| £2.50 | £2.50 | £2.50 | £2.50 | £2.50 | £2.50 | Saxon Centre | ||||
| £2.50 | £2.50 | £2.50 | £2.50 | £2.50 | £2.50 | £2.50 | LIDL / Ridge Road | |||
| £3.00 | £3.00 | £3.00 | £3.00 | £3.00 | £3.00 | £3.00 | £3.00 | Gibraltar Corner / Ibbett Close | ||
| £3.00 | £3.00 | £3.00 | £3.00 | £3.00 | £3.00 | £3.00 | £3.00 | £3.00 | Potters Cross | |
| £3.00 | £3.00 | £3.00 | £3.00 | £3.00 | £3.00 | £3.00 | £3.00 | £3.00 | £3.00 | Ashpole Avenue |
Read along the row of the stage you travel to, to the column below the stage you board at; the first stage is Bedford Bus Stn.
Grant Palmer's published fares on the Bus Open Data Service, in force from 25 September 2026. A fare stage is a group of neighbouring stops that are priced the same. Fares change — check with Grant Palmer before you travel.
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 Grant Palmer before you travel. Everything above is an ordinary week.
Not published yet: Christmas Day, Boxing Day, 28 December 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 53
53 towards Wootton
All 30 stops
- Bus Station (Stand D) Bedford
- St Paul's Square (Stop P1) Bedford
- Kingsway Link (W-bound) Cauldwell
- Borough Hall (opp) Cauldwell
- Bedford Hospital West (Stop B) Bedford
- Whitbread Avenue (opp) Kempston
- The Keep (o/s) Kempston
- Thornton Street (adj) Kempston
- Margetts Road (adj) Kempston
- Saxon Centre (o/s) Kempston
- St John's Homes (opp) Kempston
- War Memorial (opp) Kempston
- King William Road (opp) Kempston
- Lodge Avenue (adj) Kempston
- Hill Rise (adj) Kempston
- Ridgeways Farm (o/s) Gibraltar
- Ibbett Close (opp) Gibraltar
- Wootton Road (o/s) Gibraltar
- Keeley Corner (SW-bound) Wootton
- Elmsdale Road (adj) Wootton
- Potters Cross (adj) Wootton
- Tithe Barn Road (adj) Wootton
- St Mary's Road (adj) Wootton
- Squires Road (opp) Wootton
- Fields Road Surgery (opp) Wootton
- Folkes Road (adj) Wootton
- Lomax Gardens (opp) Wootton
- Steele Walk (opp) Wootton
- Buckworth Drive (adj) Wootton
- Burgoyne Avenue (opp) Wootton
53 towards Bedford
All 30 stops
- Fields Road Surgery (opp) Wootton
- Folkes Road (adj) Wootton
- Lomax Gardens (opp) Wootton
- Steele Walk (opp) Wootton
- Buckworth Drive (adj) Wootton
- Burgoyne Avenue (opp) Wootton
- Squires Road (nr) Wootton
- St Mary's Road (opp) Wootton
- Tithe Barn Road (opp) Wootton
- Potters Cross (opp) Wootton
- Elmsdale Road (opp) Wootton
- Keeley Corner (NE-bound) Wootton
- Wootton Road (opp) Gibraltar
- Ibbett Close (adj) Gibraltar
- Ridgeways Farm (opp) Gibraltar
- Hill Rise (opp) Kempston
- Lodge Avenue (opp) Kempston
- King William Road (adj) Kempston
- War Memorial (adj) Kempston
- St John's Homes (o/s) Kempston
- Saxon Centre (opp) Kempston
- Margetts Road (opp) Kempston
- The Keep (opp) Kempston
- Whitbread Avenue (adj) Kempston
- Bedford Hospital West (Stop A) Bedford
- Borough Hall (o/s) Cauldwell
- Bedford College (o/s) Cauldwell
- St Paul's Square (south side) Bedford
- Pilgrims House (o/s) Bedford
- Bus Station (Stand D) Bedford
Towns & areas on this route
Frequently asked questions
What time is the first 53 bus?
The first 53 departure on weekdays leaves at 07:36 (check the full timetable below for your stop, as times vary along the route — weekend times can differ).
What time is the last 53 bus?
The last 53 on weekdays leaves its first stop at 17:30. Always check the timetable for your specific stop — later stops are reached after this time.
How much does the 53 bus cost?
Grant Palmer's published fares on the 53: adult single £2.50 to £3.00. Most single fares in England are capped at £3 until 31 December 2026 (then £2 from 1 January 2027). Grant Palmer day and weekly tickets can work out cheaper if you travel more than twice a day.
Who runs the 53 bus?
The 53 is operated by Grant Palmer.
Timetable data from Grant Palmer via the Traveline National Dataset. Check before you travel — services can change at short notice.