653 Battle Hill Drive-Birkdale Close ↔ Freeman Hospital Grounds
Operated by Gateshead Central Buses. First bus 06:51, last bus 18:16. 24 journeys on weekdays.
💷 Most single fares in England are capped at £3 until 31 Dec 2026, then £2 —
check with Gateshead Central Buses whether this route takes part.
Details →
Timetable
Times are shown at the route's main timing stops — buses serve all stops in between. For times at your exact stop, open the stop's own page.
towards Freeman Hospital Grounds · Monday to Friday towards Freeman Hospital Grounds · Saturday towards Battle Hill Drive-Birkdale Close · Monday to Friday towards Battle Hill Drive-Birkdale Close · Saturday
| Interchange (Stand C) | 06:51 | 07:51 | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battle Hill Drive-Birkdale Close (E-Bound) | · | · | 08:45 | 09:45 | 10:45 | 11:45 | 12:45 | 13:45 | 14:45 | 15:45 | 16:45 | 17:45 |
| Prospect Avenue-Fitzsimmons Avenue (S-Bound) | · | · | 08:47 | 09:47 | 10:47 | 11:47 | 12:47 | 13:47 | 14:47 | 15:47 | 16:47 | 17:47 |
| High Street West (W-Bound) | 06:52 | 07:52 | 08:52 | 09:52 | 10:52 | 11:52 | 12:52 | 13:52 | 14:52 | 15:52 | 16:52 | 17:52 |
| Benfield Road - Appletree Gardens (N-Bound) | 06:57 | 07:57 | 08:57 | 09:57 | 10:57 | 11:57 | 12:57 | 13:57 | 14:57 | 15:57 | 16:57 | 17:57 |
| Etherstone Avenue (SW-Bound) | 07:01 | 08:01 | 09:01 | 10:01 | 11:01 | 12:01 | 13:01 | 14:01 | 15:01 | 16:01 | 17:01 | 18:01 |
| High Heaton (N-Bound) | 07:04 | 08:04 | 09:04 | 10:04 | 11:04 | 12:04 | 13:04 | 14:04 | 15:04 | 16:04 | 17:04 | 18:04 |
| Dovedale Gardens - Teviotdale Gardens (W-Bound) | 07:06 | 08:06 | 09:06 | 10:06 | 11:06 | 12:06 | 13:06 | 14:06 | 15:06 | 16:06 | 17:06 | 18:06 |
| Freeman Hospital Grounds (SE-Bound) | 07:09 | 08:09 | 09:09 | 10:09 | 11:09 | 12:09 | 13:09 | 14:09 | 15:09 | 16:09 | 17:09 | 18:09 |
Route map
All stops on route 653
653 towards Freeman Hospital Grounds
- Interchange (Stand C) Wallsend
- Battle Hill Drive-Birkdale Close (E-Bound) Battle Hill
- Prospect Avenue-Fitzsimmons Avenue (S-Bound) Wallsend
- Prospect Avenue-High View (S-Bound) Wallsend
- Prince Road (SW-Bound) Wallsend
- Station Road-Queens Crescent (SE-Bound) Wallsend
- Station Road-North Road (SE-Bound) Wallsend
- Station Road -Town Centre (S-Bound) Wallsend
- High Street West-Lilac Road (W-Bound) Wallsend
- High Street West (W-Bound) Wallsend
- Shields Road-Briarwood Crescent (W-Bound) Walkerville
- Shields Road-Walker Grove (W-Bound) Walkergate
- Benfield Road - Appletree Gardens (N-Bound) Walkergate
- Benfield Road-Hospital (N-Bound) Walkergate
- Benfield Road-School (NW-Bound) Walkergate
- Benfield Road-Bosworth Gardens (NW-Bound) Heaton
- Red Hall Drive-Martello Gardens (N-Bound) Cochrane Park
- Etherstone Avenue (SW-Bound) Cochrane Park
- Etherstone Avenue-Sports Ground (W-Bound) Cochrane Park
- Etherstone Avenue-Cemetery (W-Bound) Cochrane Park
- Benton Road-Craster Terrace (N-Bound) High Heaton
- High Heaton (N-Bound) High Heaton
- Dovedale Gardens - Teviotdale Gardens (W-Bound) High Heaton
- Dovedale Gardens (W-Bound) High Heaton
- Newton Road-Denewell Avenue (SW-Bound) High Heaton
- Freeman Road-Hambledon Gardens (N-Bound) High Heaton
- Cleveland Gardens (S-Bound) High Heaton
- Freeman Hospital (B) High Heaton
- Freeman Hospital Grounds (SE-Bound) High Heaton
653 towards Battle Hill Drive-Birkdale Close
- Freeman Hospital Grounds (SE-Bound) High Heaton
- Freeman Road-Hambledon Gardens (S-Bound) High Heaton
- Newton Road-Football Ground (E-Bound) High Heaton
- Cleveland Gardens (N-Bound) High Heaton
- Dovedale Gardens (E-Bound) High Heaton
- Dovedale Gardens - Swaledale Gardens (E-Bound) High Heaton
- High Heaton (S-Bound) High Heaton
- Etherstone Avenue-Cemetery (NE-Bound) Cochrane Park
- Etherstone Avenue-Henderson Hall (E-Bound) Cochrane Park
- Red Hall Drive - Felixstone Avenue (S-Bound) Cochrane Park
- Red Hall Drive-Warwick Hall Walk (S-Bound) Cochrane Park
- Benfield Road-Coast Road (S-Bound) Cochrane Park
- Benfield Road-Rothbury Terrace (SE-Bound) Heaton
- Benfield Road-School (SE-Bound) Walkergate
- Benfield Road-Hospital (S-Bound) Walkergate
- Benfield Road - Appletree Gardens (S-Bound) Walkergate
- Shields Road-Westbourne Avenue (NE-Bound) Walkergate
- Shields Road-Briarwood Crescent (NE-Bound) Walkerville
- Shields Road-Oaktree Avenue (E-Bound) Walkerville
- High Street West-The Avenue (E-Bound) Wallsend
- Station Road -Town Centre (N-Bound) Wallsend
- High Street West (E-Bound) Wallsend
- Interchange (Stand C) Wallsend
- Station Road-North Road (NW-Bound) Wallsend
- Prince Road (NE-Bound) Wallsend
- Station Road-The Drive (NW-Bound) Wallsend
- Prospect Avenue-High View (N-Bound) Wallsend
- Prospect Avenue-Selby Gardens (N-Bound) Wallsend
- High Farm (W-Bound) Wallsend
- Coast Road-Mulcaster Gardens (NE-Bound) Hadrian Lodge
- Coast Road-Station Road (SW-Bound) Wallsend
- Mullen Road - Allendale Avenue (E-Bound) High Farm
- Battle Hill Drive-Birkdale Close (E-Bound) Battle Hill
Service history & registered changes
- 🆕 Registered effective 22 Mar 2026 Operating between Battle Hill Drive and Freeman Hospital given service number 653 effective from 22 March 2026. To amend Route and Timetable.
From official Traffic Commissioner registrations. All service changes →
Towns & areas on this route
Frequently asked questions
What time is the first 653 bus?
The first 653 departure on weekdays leaves at 06:51 (check the full timetable below for your stop, as times vary along the route — weekend times can differ).
What time is the last 653 bus?
The last 653 on weekdays leaves its first stop at 18:16. Always check the timetable for your specific stop — later stops are reached after this time.
How much does the 653 bus cost?
Most single fares in England are capped at £3 until 31 December 2026 (then £2 from 1 January 2027). Gateshead Central Buses day and weekly tickets can work out cheaper if you travel more than twice a day.
Who runs the 653 bus?
The 653 is operated by Gateshead Central Buses.
Timetable data from the operator via the DfT Bus Open Data Service. Check before you travel — services can change at short notice.