81A Manningtree to Colchester via Ardleigh, Mile End
Operated by Central Connect. First bus 07:13, last bus 19:20. 8 journeys on weekdays. Fares: adult single £1.50 to £3.00 — more.
Wanted a different 81A? 5 other bus routes are numbered 81A elsewhere in the UK — see every 81A bus timetable by area.
| Stop | 07:13 | 17:20 to The Marlborough Head | 18:42 to The Heath | 19:20 to Osborne Street |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Station (inside) | 07:13 | 17:20 | 18:42 | 19:20 |
| Summers Park (adj) | 07:15 | 17:23 | 18:44 | 19:22 |
| The Heath (N-bound) | 07:26 | 17:32 | 18:53 | 19:31 |
| The Marlborough Head (opp) | 07:32 | 17:37 | · | 19:36 |
| The Shepherd & Dog (opp) | 07:43 | · | · | 19:46 |
| The Water Tower (opp) | 07:55 | · | · | 19:54 |
| Groves Close (Stop B) | 08:04 | · | · | 19:59 |
| Osborne Street (Stop Aa) | 08:15 | · | · | 20:09 |
| Norman Way Schools (o/s) | 08:25 | · | · | · |
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.
Fares on the 81A
Adult single £1.50 to £3.00
Adult single fare table, stage to stage
| £1.50 | Dedham | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £2.50 | £2.50 | Langham | ||||
| £2.50 | £2.50 | £1.50 | Mile End | |||
| £3.00 | £2.50 | £2.50 | £1.50 | Colchester North Station | ||
| £3.00 | £3.00 | £2.50 | £2.50 | £1.50 | Colchester | |
| £1.50 | £2.50 | £2.50 | £3.00 | £3.00 | – | Manningtree |
Read along the row of the stage you travel to, to the column below the stage you board at; the first stage is Lawford.
Transport Made Simple's published fares on the Bus Open Data Service, in force from 4 September 2026. A fare stage is a group of neighbouring stops that are priced the same. Fares change — check with Central Connect before you travel.
Tickets on the 81A
Central Connect publishes singles on this route for adults and young people.
Adult Single · Young Person Single
Ticket types come from Central Connect's own fares data on the Bus Open Data Service, last updated 7 September 2026. Prices for singles and returns are under Fares above; for the others, check with Central Connect.
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 Central Connect before you travel. Everything above is an ordinary week.
Not published yet: Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, 28 December, 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.
- Tuesday, 29 December 2026 towards Colchester: 4 journeys, first 07:13 towards Manningtree: 4 journeys, first 09:45
- Wednesday, 30 December 2026 towards Colchester: 4 journeys, first 07:13 towards Manningtree: 4 journeys, first 09:45
Route map
All stops on route 81A
81A towards Colchester
All 41 stops
- Station (inside) Manningtree
- Summers Park (adj) Lawford
- Lawford Place (opp) Lawford
- Church Hill (opp) Lawford
- Hungerdown Lane (adj) Lawford
- Garden City (adj) Lawford
- Bargate Lane (opp) Lawford
- Home Farm Lane (adj) Ardleigh
- The Heath (N-bound) Dedham Heath
- The Anchor (o/s) Dedham Heath
- Coopers Lane (adj) Dedham
- Kiln Cottages (N-bound) Dedham
- Forge Street (opp) Dedham
- The Marlborough Head (opp) Dedham
- Monks Lane (opp) Dedham
- Birchwood Corner (N-bound) Langham
- Birchwood Road (opp) Langham
- St Margaret's Cross (W-bound) Langham
- School (opp) Langham
- The Shepherd & Dog (opp) Langham
- Chapel Road (opp) Langham
- Runkins Corner (S-bound) Langham
- Cuckoo Point (opp) Severalls Park
- Julian Avenue (adj) Mile End
- Maximus Drive (adj) Mile End
- The Water Tower (opp) Mile End
- Olympic Boulevard (W-bound) Mile End
- Hospital Path (adj) Colchester
- Bruff Close (W-bound) Colchester
- Groves Close (Stop B) Colchester
- Railway Station Layby (Stand F) Colchester
- The Albert (o/s) Colchester
- Causton Road (adj) Colchester
- Middleborough (S-bound) Colchester
- High Street (Stop Fb) Colchester City Centre
- Osborne Street (Stop Aa) Colchester City Centre
- Essex County Hospital (o/s) Colchester
- Beverley Road (adj) Colchester
- The Avenue (adj) Colchester
- Park Road (adj) Colchester
- Norman Way Schools (o/s) Colchester
81A towards Manningtree
All 40 stops
- Osborne Street (Stop Aa) Colchester City Centre
- Head Street (Stop Ec) Colchester City Centre
- Middleborough (N-bound) Colchester
- Causton Road (opp) Colchester
- The Albert (opp) Colchester
- Railway Station Layby (Stand Ea) Colchester
- Bruff Close (E-bound) Colchester
- Hospital Path (opp) Colchester
- Olympic Boulevard (E-bound) Mile End
- The Water Tower (o/s) Mile End
- Julian Avenue (opp) Mile End
- Matchett Drive (adj) Mile End
- Cuckoo Point (adj) Severalls Park
- Runkins Corner (N-bound) Langham
- Chapel Road (adj) Langham
- The Shepherd & Dog (o/s) Langham
- School (o/s) Langham
- St Margaret's Cross (E-bound) Langham
- Birchwood Road (E-bound) Langham
- Birchwood Corner (S-bound) Langham
- Monks Lane (adj) Dedham
- Rye Farm (E-bound) Dedham
- Duck Lane (opp) Dedham Heath
- The Heath (N-bound) Dedham Heath
- The Anchor (o/s) Dedham Heath
- Coopers Lane (adj) Dedham
- Kiln Cottages (N-bound) Dedham
- Forge Street (opp) Dedham
- The Marlborough Head (opp) Dedham
- Rye Farm (E-bound) Dedham
- Duck Lane (opp) Dedham Heath
- Home Farm Lane (opp) Ardleigh
- Bargate Lane (adj) Lawford
- Garden City (opp) Lawford
- Hungerdown Lane (opp) Lawford
- Church Hill (adj) Lawford
- Lawford Place (o/s) Lawford
- Summers Park (opp) Lawford
- Railway Station (o/s) Manningtree
- Station (inside) Manningtree
Towns & areas on this route
Frequently asked questions
What time is the first 81A bus?
The first 81A departure on weekdays leaves at 07:13 (check the full timetable below for your stop, as times vary along the route — weekend times can differ).
What time is the last 81A bus?
The last 81A on weekdays leaves its first stop at 19:20. Always check the timetable for your specific stop — later stops are reached after this time.
How much does the 81A bus cost?
Central Connect's published fares on the 81A: adult single £1.50 to £3.00. Most single fares in England are capped at £3 until 31 December 2026 (then £2 from 1 January 2027). Central Connect day and weekly tickets can work out cheaper if you travel more than twice a day.
Who runs the 81A bus?
The 81A is operated by Central Connect.
Timetable data from Central Connect via the DfT Bus Open Data Service (South East England feed). Check before you travel — services can change at short notice.