540 London - Burnley
Operated by National Express. First bus 04:40, last bus 22:00. 30 journeys on weekdays. Fares: set by the operator — more.
Night bus — overnight departures 22:00–02:15. Friday–Sunday nights. Nights are the night you set out on, so a 01:30 bus on Saturday morning counts as Friday. All night buses.
Wanted a different 540? 3 other bus routes are numbered 540 elsewhere in the UK — see every 540 bus timetable by area.
| Stop | 07:30 | 09:00 to Liverpool | 10:00 | 11:30 | 14:30 to Burnley | 17:00 to Liverpool | 20:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Victoria Coach Station (north-east bound) | 07:30 | 09:00 | 10:00 | 11:30 | 14:30 | 17:00 | 20:00 |
| Finchley Road Station (Stop CL) | · | · | 10:30 | · | · | · | · |
| Golders Green Station (Stop GE) | · | 09:40 | · | 12:15 | 15:15 | 17:55 | · |
| Milton Keynes Coachway (Bay 4) | 09:05 | 10:45 | 11:40 | 13:25 | 16:30 | 19:10 | 21:35 |
| Raby Street (Stop C) | 11:55 | · | 14:25 | 16:15 | 19:15 | 21:55 | 00:15 |
| Manchester Central Coach Station | 12:10 | 14:00 | 14:40 | 16:30 | 19:40 | 22:20 | 00:30 |
| Oldham Bus Station (Stand A) | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| Rochdale Interchange (Stand C) | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| Broadgreen Interchange (Stop A) | · | 14:45 | · | · | · | 23:10 | · |
| Liverpool ONE Bus Station (Stand 1) | · | 15:05 | · | · | · | 23:30 | · |
| Bolton Interchange (Stand G) | · | · | · | · | 20:10 | · | · |
| Nell Street (Stop H) | · | · | · | · | 20:20 | · | · |
| Circus (by) | · | · | · | · | 20:35 | · | · |
| School Stand (Stop C1) | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| Bus Station (Stand 1) | · | · | · | · | 20:55 | · | · |
| Bus Station (Stand 4) | · | · | · | · | 21:10 | · | · |
| Croft Street Schools (by) | · | · | · | · | 21:25 | · | · |
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.
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 National Express before you travel. Everything above is an ordinary week.
Not published yet: Christmas Day. Operators often publish festive timetables only a few weeks ahead, so check again nearer the date.
- Monday, 28 December 2026 towards Burnley: 13 journeys, first 07:30 towards Victoria: 17 journeys, first 05:10
- New Year's Day — Friday, 1 January 2027 towards Burnley: 7 journeys, first 07:30 towards Victoria: 9 journeys, first 05:15
Route map
All stops on route 540
540 towards Burnley
All 17 stops
- Victoria Coach Station (north-east bound) Belgravia
- Finchley Road Station (Stop CL) Finchley Road
- Golders Green Station (Stop GE) Golders Green
- Milton Keynes Coachway (Bay 4) Brook Furlong
- Raby Street (Stop C) Moss Side
- Manchester Central Coach Station Manchester City Centre
- Oldham Bus Station (Stand A) Oldham
- Rochdale Interchange (Stand C) Rochdale
- Broadgreen Interchange (Stop A) Old Swan
- Liverpool ONE Bus Station (Stand 1) Liverpool
- Bolton Interchange (Stand G) Bolton
- Nell Street (Stop H) Astley Bridge
- Circus (by) Darwen
- School Stand (Stop C1) Blackburn Town Centre
- Bus Station (Stand 1) Blackburn Town Centre
- Bus Station (Stand 4) Accrington
- Croft Street Schools (by) Burnley
540 towards Victoria
All 17 stops
- Liverpool ONE Bus Station (Stand 1) Liverpool
- Broadgreen Interchange (Stop D) Oak Vale Park
- Rochdale Interchange (Stand C) Rochdale
- Oldham Bus Station (Stand A) Oldham
- Croft Street Schools (by) Burnley
- Nell Street (Stop J) Astley Bridge
- Bolton Interchange (Stand G) Bolton
- Bus Station (Stand 4) Accrington
- Bus Station (Stand 1) Blackburn Town Centre
- Town Centre (Stand 1) Darwen
- Manchester Central Coach Station Manchester City Centre
- Raby Street (Stop D) Moss Side
- Milton Keynes Coachway (Bay 4) Brook Furlong
- Golders Green Station (Stop GE) Golders Green
- Finchley Road Station (Stop CH) Finchley Road
- Marble Arch (Stop RH) Marble Arch
- London Victoria Coach Station Arrivals (westbound) Victoria
Towns & areas on this route
Frequently asked questions
What time is the first 540 coach?
The first 540 departure on weekdays leaves at 04:40 (check the full timetable below for your stop, as times vary along the route — weekend times can differ).
What time is the last 540 coach?
The last 540 on weekdays leaves its first stop at 22:00. Always check the timetable for your specific stop — later stops are reached after this time.
How much does the 540 coach cost?
This is a long-distance coach service, so the England £3 bus fare cap does not apply — nor do local bus tickets or passes. Coach operators set their own fares and price by demand, so booking further ahead is usually much cheaper than buying on the day.
Who runs the 540 coach?
The 540 is operated by National Express.
Timetable data from National Express via the DfT Bus Open Data Service (South East England feed). National Express last updated their Bus Open Data publications on 21 September 2026. Check before you travel — services can change at short notice.