56 Colchester to Layer-de-la-Haye via Shrub End
Operated by First Essex. First bus 06:24, last bus 23:10. 58 journeys on weekdays. Today, a Sunday: first 08:55, last 19:14. Fares: adult single £2.30 to £2.50 — more.
Wanted a different 56? 29 other bus routes are numbered 56 elsewhere in the UK — see every 56 bus timetable by area.
| Stop | 08:55 | 09:55 | 10:55 | 11:55 | 12:55 | 13:55 | 14:55 | 15:55 | 16:55 | 17:55 | 18:55 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Osborne Street (Stop Af) | 08:55 | 09:55 | 10:55 | 11:55 | 12:55 | 13:55 | 14:55 | 15:55 | 16:55 | 17:55 | 18:55 |
| Turnstile Square (opp) | 09:01 | 10:01 | 11:02 | 12:02 | 13:02 | 14:02 | 15:02 | 16:02 | 17:02 | 18:02 | 19:02 |
| Hazell Avenue (N-bound) | 09:07 | 10:07 | 11:09 | 12:09 | 13:09 | 14:09 | 15:09 | 16:09 | 17:08 | 18:08 | 19:08 |
| The Fox (o/s) | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
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 56
Adult single £2.30 to £2.50 · Child single £1.50 to £2.00
Adult single fare table, stage to stage
| £2.30 | Salisbury Ave (top) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £2.50 | £2.30 | Drury Arms | |||||
| £2.50 | £2.50 | £2.30 | Boadicea Way | ||||
| £2.50 | £2.50 | £2.50 | £2.30 | Cath Hunt Way | |||
| £2.50 | £2.50 | £2.50 | £2.30 | £2.30 | ShrbEnd Hazel Ave | ||
| £2.50 | £2.50 | £2.50 | £2.50 | £2.50 | £2.50 | Layer Rd Gosbecks Rd | |
| £2.50 | £2.50 | £2.50 | £2.50 | £2.50 | £2.50 | £2.50 | Layer de la Haye |
Read along the row of the stage you travel to, to the column below the stage you board at; the first stage is Colc town 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 Essex before you travel.
Tickets on the 56
First Essex publishes singles on this route for adults and children.
Adult Single · 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.
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, 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.
- Monday, 28 December 2026 towards Layer-de-la-Haye: 11 journeys, first 08:55 towards Colchester: 11 journeys, first 09:14
- Tuesday, 29 December 2026 towards Layer-de-la-Haye: 28 journeys, first 06:55 towards Colchester: 31 journeys, first 06:24
- Wednesday, 30 December 2026 towards Layer-de-la-Haye: 28 journeys, first 06:55 towards Colchester: 31 journeys, first 06:24
Route map
All stops on route 56
56 towards Layer-de-la-Haye
All 25 stops
- Osborne Street (Stop Af) Colchester City Centre
- St John's Street (Stop Cd) Colchester City Centre
- Crouch Street (Stop Da) Colchester City Centre
- Maldon Court (o/s) Colchester
- Salisbury Avenue (Opp) Colchester
- Hamilton Road (opp) Colchester
- Drury Arms (opp) Colchester
- Turnstile Square (opp) Colchester
- Rainsborowe Road (opp) Colchester
- Boadicea Way South (opp) Shrub End
- Layer Road (S-bound) Shrub End
- Catherine Hunt Way (opp) Shrub End
- John Kent Avenue (NE-bound) Shrub End
- Iceni Way (NW-bound) Shrub End
- Alderman Blaxhill School (o/s) Shrub End
- Paxman Avenue (W-bound) Shrub End
- Hazell Avenue (N-bound) Shrub End
- Centurion Way (opp) Shrub End
- Kingsford Cross Roads (S-bound) Shrub End
- Greenways (opp) Layer-de-la-Haye
- Playing Fields (opp) Layer-de-la-Haye
- Kingsford Farm (opp) Layer-de-la-Haye
- The Folly (adj) Layer-de-la-Haye
- Old Forge Road (opp) Layer-de-la-Haye
- The Fox (o/s) Layer-de-la-Haye
56 towards Colchester
All 29 stops
- The Fox (o/s) Layer-de-la-Haye
- New Cut (adj) Layer-de-la-Haye
- Les Bois (opp) Layer-de-la-Haye
- The Folly (opp) Layer-de-la-Haye
- Kingsford Farm (adj) Layer-de-la-Haye
- Playing Fields (adj) Layer-de-la-Haye
- Greenways (adj) Layer-de-la-Haye
- Kingsford Cross Roads (N-bound) Shrub End
- Centurion Way (adj) Shrub End
- Hazell Avenue (opp) Shrub End
- Paxman Avenue (E-bound) Shrub End
- Alderman Blaxhill School (opp) Shrub End
- Iceni Way (SE-bound) Shrub End
- John Kent Avenue (SW-bound) Shrub End
- Catherine Hunt Way (adj) Shrub End
- Layer Road (N-bound) Shrub End
- Boadicea Way South (adj) Shrub End
- Rainsborowe Road (adj) Colchester
- Turnstile Square (adj) Colchester
- Drury Arms (o/s) Colchester
- Hamilton Road (adj) Colchester
- Salisbury Avenue (adj) Colchester
- Police Station (o/s) Colchester
- Head Street (Stop Ea) Colchester City Centre
- High Street (Stop Fb) Colchester City Centre
- Osborne Street (Stop Ab) Colchester City Centre
- Osborne Street (Stop Af) Colchester City Centre
- High Street (Stop Fc) Colchester City Centre
- Queen Street (Stop Jc) Colchester City Centre
Towns & areas on this route
Frequently asked questions
What time is the first 56 bus?
The first 56 departure on weekdays leaves at 06:24 (check the full timetable below for your stop, as times vary along the route — weekend times can differ).
What time is the last 56 bus?
The last 56 on weekdays leaves its first stop at 23:10. Always check the timetable for your specific stop — later stops are reached after this time.
How much does the 56 bus cost?
First Essex's published fares on the 56: adult single £2.30 to £2.50, child single £1.50 to £2.00. The 56 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 56 bus?
The 56 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.