Wealden District bus service changes
Changes to services in Wealden District: September 2025 update
Summary of changes, by route:
|
Service number |
Route |
Changes to current service |
Service provided by |
Date of change |
|
1 (Schooldays) |
Groombridge - Langton Green - Rusthall - Tunbridge Wells - St John’s Skinners School - Tunbridge Wells Boys Grammar School - Southborough - Tonbridge - Hillview School |
No change. |
Run by Hams Travel with funding from Kent County Council and ESCC |
|
|
1, 1A |
Shinewater - Langney - Seaside - Town centre - Old Town - District General Hospital - Hamlands |
No change to the service frequency. Stagecoach are putting an extra bus into the timetable schedule to reduce occurrences of buses running late due to traffic congestion. This means there will be some timetable changes as buses will have more time to complete their journeys. |
Commercial service provided by Stagecoach. |
21 September 2025 |
|
1B |
Roebuck Park - Anglesey Avenue - Hailsham - Stone Cross - Langney - Seaside - Eastbourne Town centre |
Revised route and timetable. Roebuck Park will be served by service 52 instead (see below). The 1B will continue to serve Anglesey Avenue by way of a one way loop from Hailsham Tesco, London Road, left into Anglesey Avenue, Hempstead Lane, right into London Road, then Hailsham High Street. There is no change to the 1B route between Hailsham town centre and Eastbourne town centre. Stagecoach are making this change to give buses more time to complete their journeys. This will reduce occurrences of buses running late due to traffic congestion. |
Commercial service provided by Stagecoach. The evening and Sunday service introduced in July 2023 is funded by UK Government until March 2026, following ESCC’s bid for Bus Service Improvement Plan funding. |
21 September 2025 |
|
5B |
Eastbourne Town centre - Bridgemere - Sovereign Harbour - Pevensey Bay |
No change to the Monday to Saturday evening journey which extends to Pevensey Bay (departing Eastbourne Cornfield Road at 22:45). |
Commercial service provided by Stagecoach.
|
|
|
6, 6A |
Langney Shopping Centre - Westham - Stone Cross - Dittons Wood - Polegate - Wannock - Willingdon - District General Hospital - Carew Road - Eastbourne Town centre |
Revised timetable to ensure a more even distribution of service 6 and 52 buses between Dittons Wood and Eastbourne (also see changes to service 52 below). |
Run by Stagecoach with funding from ESCC. The evening service introduced in July 2023 is funded by UK Government until March 2026, following ESCC’s bid for Bus Service Improvement Plan funding. The Sunday service is funded from Development Contributions. |
21 September 2025 |
|
8 |
Eastbourne Town centre - Lewes Road - District General Hospital grounds - Sainsbury’s Cross Levels Way - Winkney Farm - Langney - Pennine Way - Stone Cross - Westham - Pevensey - Beachlands |
Journeys after 6pm will run up to 5 minutes later. |
Run by Stagecoach with funding from ESCC. The evening service introduced in July 2023 is funded by UK Government until March 2026, following ESCC’s bid for Bus Service Improvement Plan funding. |
21 September 2025 |
|
11X (Sundays and Bank Holidays: Seasonal Service) |
Brighton - Saltdean - Peacehaven - Newhaven - Firle turning - Drusillas Zoo - Wilmington - Polegate - District General Hospital - Eastbourne |
The last day of operation in 2025 of this seasonal Sunday and public holiday service will be Sunday 31 August. |
Commercial service provided by Brighton & Hove Bus Company.
|
1 September 2025 |
|
12, 12A, 12X, N12 |
Brighton - Saltdean - Peacehaven - Newhaven - Seaford - Eastbourne |
No change. |
Commercial service provided by Brighton & Hove Bus Company. |
|
|
13X
|
Brighton - Saltdean - Peacehaven - Newhaven - Seaford - Beachy Head - Eastbourne |
The improved Summer service will end on 27 September. For the winter period a half-hourly Sunday and public holiday only service will be provided (in Winter 2024/25 the Sunday service was hourly). |
Commercial service provided by Brighton & Hove Bus Company. |
28 September 2025 |
|
24 (Tuesdays and Thursdays) |
Eastbourne - District General Hospital - Polegate - Wilmington - Drusillas Zoo |
Revised route and timetable for this Tuesday and Thursday service. The route is extended to additionally serve Alfriston. |
Provided by Cuckmere Buses with funding from ESCC. |
28 October 2025 |
|
25 (Saturday) |
Lewes - Glynde - Firle - Charleston Farmhouse - Selmeston - Alfriston - Wilmington - Polegate - Wannock - Willingdon village - District General Hospital - Eastbourne |
No change. |
Provided by Cuckmere Buses without funding from ESCC. |
|
|
26 (Sundays and Bank Holidays) |
Seaford - Alfriston - Drusillas Zoo - Wilmington - Polegate - Wannock - Willingdon village - District General Hospital - Eastbourne |
Usual seasonal timetable adjustments (16:50 from Seaford to run to Berwick Station instead of Eastbourne, and 18:00 from Eastbourne withdrawn for winter period). |
Provided by Cuckmere Buses without funding from ESCC. |
26 October 2025 |
|
28 |
Eastbourne - District General Hospital - Willingdon - Hailsham - Battle Road - Golden Cross - Laughton - Ringmer - Lewes - Universities - Brighton |
No change. |
Commercial service provided by Brighton & Hove Bus Company. The extended route between Broyle Estate and Eastbourne (except the evening and Sunday journeys between Hailsham and Eastbourne) is funded by UK Government until March 2026, following ESCC’s bid for Bus Service Improvement Plan funding. |
|
|
29, 29A, 29B, 29X |
Tunbridge Wells - Crowborough - Uckfield - Lewes - Universities - Brighton (29,29X) (a 29B return journey runs via Ringmer for King’s Academy) Heathfield - Framfield - Uckfield - Isfield - Lewes - Universities - Brighton (29A) |
No change. |
29 and 29X are commercial services provided by Brighton & Hove Bus Company. Service 29A to and from Heathfield is funded by UK Government until March 2026 following ESCC’s bid for Bus Service Improvement Plan funding. |
|
|
31, 31A, 31B |
Cuckfield - Haywards Heath - Princess Royal Hospital - Newick - Maresfield - Uckfield |
No change.
|
Run by Compass Travel with funding from ESCC and West Sussex County Council. |
|
|
36 (Saturday) |
Berwick Station - Polegate - Westham - Langney - Beachlands |
No change. |
Provided by Cuckmere Buses without funding from ESCC. |
|
|
37 (Saturday) |
Beachlands - Langney - Westham - Hailsham |
No change. |
Provided by Cuckmere Buses without funding from ESCC. |
|
|
39 (Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday Mondays) |
Eastbourne Towner - East Dean - Seven Sisters Country Park - Litlington - Alfriston - Charleston in Firle - Charleston in Lewes |
No change. |
Provided by Cuckmere Buses with funding from a consortium of local arts organisations led by Charleston. |
|
|
40 (Tuesday and Friday) |
Berwick-Wilmington-Litlington-Charleston Manor-Exceat-Seaford |
No change.
|
Provided by Cuckmere Buses with funding from ESCC. |
|
|
41 (Tuesday and Thursday) |
Eastbourne-Wannock-Jevington-Friston- East Dean-Eastbourne |
No change. |
Provided by Cuckmere Buses without funding from ESCC. |
|
|
42 (Wednesday)
|
Berwick - Chalvington - Horsebridge - Hailsham - Selmeston - Alfriston - Arlington - Milton Hide - Hailsham |
No change. |
Provided by Cuckmere Buses with funding from ESCC. |
|
|
43 (Monday) |
Berwick - Chalvington - Selmeston - Upper Dicker - Hailsham - Polegate - Stone Cross - Langney - Eastbourne |
Route changed in Eastbourne to avoid the closure of the seafront end of Terminus Road. Between Eastbourne Pier and Memorial Roundabout buses now run via Grand Parade and Devonshire Place. |
Provided by Cuckmere Buses without funding from ESCC. |
27 October 2025 |
|
44, 44A, 44B (Tuesday and Thursday) |
Berwick - Wilmington - Polegate - Stone Cross - Langney - Eastbourne |
Route changed in Eastbourne to avoid the closure of the seafront end of Terminus Road. Between Eastbourne Pier and Memorial Roundabout buses now run via Grand Parade and Devonshire Place |
Provided by Cuckmere Buses without funding from ESCC |
28 October 2025 |
|
47 (Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday Seasonal Service) |
Berwick - Alfriston - Seaford - Litlington - Wilmington - Berwick (circular service) |
The last day of 2025 operation of this seasonal service will be 26 October. |
Service run by Cuckmere Buses without funding from ESCC. |
27 October 2025 |
|
48 (Tuesday and Thursday) |
Eastbourne - Polegate - Hailsham - Deanland Wood Park |
Revised timetable for this Tuesday and Thursday service. Buses will depart from Deanland Wood for Hailsham and Eastbourne at 09:00 and 11:20. They will return from Hailsham Tesco at 11:00 and 14:59, and from Eastbourne at 14:30. |
Provided by Cuckmere Buses with funding from ESCC.
|
28 October 2025 |
|
49 (Wednesday Seasonal Service) |
Eastbourne - Langney - Westham - Pevensey - Wartling - Science Centre, Herstmonceux Castle |
No change. |
|
|
|
51 |
Eastbourne - District General Hospital - Willingdon - Polegate - Hailsham - Horam - Heathfield - Mayfield - Rotherfield - Town Row - Tunbridge Wells |
Stagecoach are introducing a revised Monday to Saturday timetable to address ongoing concerns about buses running late due to traffic congestion. This change will give buses more time to complete their journeys and help to ensure their following departures from Eastbourne or Tunbridge Wells also start on time. There are changes to the evening and Sunday timetable too. Service 51 will revert to its previous routing via Farmlands Way in the Willingdon area. |
Commercial service provided by Stagecoach. The evening and Sunday service improvements introduced in July 2023 are funded by UK Government until March 2026, following ESCC’s successful bid for Bus Service Improvement Plan funding. |
21 September 2025 |
|
52 |
Eastbourne - District General Hospital - Willingdon - Farmlands Way - Polegate - Dittons Wood - Hailsham - Roebuck Park |
Revised route and timetable. Nearly all journeys are extended to serve Roebuck Park, via Hawks Road in Hailsham, in place of service 1B (see above). The Sunday evening route with be via Anglesey Avenue. A service 52 journey suitable for Hailsham Community College pupils will depart from Roebuck Park at 08:09 (in place of service 54B), with a return bus departing from Hailsham Tesco towards Roebuck Park at 15:15 (in place of service 1B). Service 52 will now also run Sunday daytime, replacing the service 53A and 54A section of route along Farmlands Way and Dittons Wood (see below). |
Commercial service provided by Stagecoach.
|
21 September 2025 |
|
53, 53A |
Eastbourne - District General Hospital - Willingdon (route 53A via Farmlands Way) - Polegate (route 53A via Dittons Wood) - Hailsham - Herstmonceux - Ninfield - Sidley - Bexhill Hospital - Bexhill |
Revised route and timetable. Service 53 will run continue to run hourly, Monday to Saturday daytime. The evening and Sunday frequency is unchanged, though all buses will now run via the 53 route. The service 53A and 54A Sunday section of route along Farmlands Way and Dittons Wood is replaced by revised service 52 (see above). Service 6 will continue to serve Dittons Wood and the service 51 route is changed to run via Farmlands Way too (which it did before March 2025). |
Commercial service provided by Stagecoach. The evening and Sunday service improvements are funded by UK Government until March 2026, following ESCC’s bid for Bus Service Improvement Plan funding. |
21 September 2025 |
|
54, 54A, 54B |
Eastbourne - District General Hospital -Willingdon (route 54A via Farmlands Way) - Polegate (route 54A via Dittons Wood) - Hailsham - Battle Road (route 54B via Roebuck Park) - Golden Cross - East Hoathly - Uckfield - Manor Park |
Brighton & Hove Buses will be providing service 54 from 21 September, following Stagecoach’s decision to withdraw from running the service from 20 September. Brighton & Hove Buses will run a revised route and timetable, though similar in frequency to Stagecoach’s service. In Hailsham the 54 route will be via London Road instead of Hawkswood Road and Battle Road (service 28 will continue to serve these roads). All buses will run via the 54 route, including on Sundays. See changes to services 51 and 52 (above) for replacements to the section of 53A and 54A routes serving Dittons Wood and Farmlands Way. The morning 54B journey serving Roebuck Park, provided for pupils attending Hailsham Community College, is replaced by a new 52 journey (see above). |
Commercial service provided by Stagecoach until 20 September, then by Brighton & Hove Buses from 21 September. ESCC funds the extension of daytime journeys to serve the Nevill Road area of Uckfield. The service improvements are funded by UK Government until March 2026, following ESCC’s bid for Bus Service Improvement Plan funding. |
21 September 2025. |
|
57, 58 (Schooldays) |
Asda - Beachlands - Pevensey Bay - Westham - Stone Cross - Dittons Wood - Polegate - Willingdon School |
No change. |
Service 57 is a commercial service provided by Stagecoach. Service 58 is run by Stagecoach with funding from ESCC |
|
|
84 |
Crawley - Three Bridges - Turners Hill - Sharpthorne - Grinstead Lane - East Grinstead |
No change. |
Commercial services provided by Metrobus.
|
|
|
95 |
Little Common (school journeys) - Bexhill - Battle - Conquest Hospital |
No change. |
Run by Stagecoach with funding from ESCC. |
Temporary change from 1 September to 8 October 2025 |
|
99 |
Eastbourne - Pevensey - Bexhill - Hastings |
Route changed in Eastbourne to avoid the closure of the seafront end of Terminus Road. Between Eastbourne Pier and Memorial Roundabout buses now run via Grand Parade and Devonshire Place. |
Commercial service provided by Stagecoach. |
|
|
121 (Schooldays) |
Uckfield - Maresfield - Newick - Chailey School - Cooksbridge - Lewes |
No change. |
Run by Compass Travel with funding from ESCC. |
|
|
125 |
Lewes - Ringmer - Glynde - Firle - Alfriston - Wilmington - Polegate - Wannock - District General Hospital - Selmeston Road - Eastbourne |
No change. |
Run by Compass Travel with funding from ESCC. |
|
|
126 |
Seaford - Alfriston - Drusillas Zoo - Berwick Train Station |
No change.
|
Cuckmere Buses journeys run without funding from ESCC. Compass Travel journeys are provided with funding from ESCC. |
|
|
150 (Schooldays) |
Withyham - Hartfield - Upper Hartfield - Forest Row - Chelwood Gate - Danehill - Chailey School |
No change. |
Run by The Big Lemon with funding from ESCC. |
|
|
195 (Wednesday) |
Waldron - Heathfield - Bodle Street Green - Herstmonceux - Eastbourne |
Route changed in Eastbourne to avoid the closure of the seafront end of Terminus Road. Between Eastbourne Pier and Memorial Roundabout buses now run via Grand Parade and Devonshire Place |
Provided by Cuckmere Buses without funding from ESCC. |
29 October 2025 |
|
196 (Wednesday) |
Rushlake Green - Cowbeech - Herstmonceux - Eastbourne |
Route changed in Eastbourne to avoid the closure of the seafront end of Terminus Road. Between Eastbourne Pier and Memorial Roundabout buses now run via Grand Parade and Devonshire Place |
Provided by Cuckmere Buses without funding from ESCC. |
29 October 2025 |
|
224 (Monday, Wednesday & Friday) |
Wadhurst - Town Row - Rotherfield - Crowborough and Crowborough local service |
No change.
|
Run by North Wealden Community Transport with funding from ESCC. The Monday service is funded by a development contribution.
|
|
|
225 (Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday) |
Crowborough - Rotherfield - Heathfield - Rushlake Green - Brightling - Netherfield - Battle (Saturday: Heathfield – Rushlake Green only) |
No change. |
Tuesday and Thursday service run by North Wealden Community Transport with funding from ESCC. Saturday service run by Compass Travel. This improvement is funded by UK Government until March 2026, following ESCC’s bid for Bus Service Improvement Plan funding. |
|
|
226 (Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday) |
Crowborough - Rotherfield - Mayfield local service |
No change. |
Run by North Wealden Community Transport. Funded by ESCC, Rotherfield Parish Council, and Mayfield & Five Ashes Parish Council. |
|
|
227 (Schooldays) |
Five Ashes - Argos Hill - Rotherfield - Crowborough |
No change. |
Run by Compass Travel, with funding from ESCC. |
|
|
228 |
Crowborough and Jarvis Brook town service (school journeys serve Tunbridge Wells and Tunbridge Wells Boys Grammar School) |
No change. |
Run by Compass Travel with funding from ESCC and Kent County Council for the section of route between Crowborough and Tunbridge Wells. Funding from ESCC for the local Crowborough route. |
|
|
231 |
Heathfield - Burwash - Etchingham (plus Hurst Green -Uckfield schooldays only journeys) |
No change. |
Run by Compass Travel with funding from ESCC. The improvements are funded by UK Government until March 2026, following ESCC’s bid for Bus Service Improvement Plan funding. |
|
|
246 (Tuesday and Thursday)
|
Uckfield - Chelwood Gate - Sheffield Park - Fletching - Uckfield
|
No change. |
Run by Community Transport for the Lewes Area with funding from ESCC. The additional day of service is funded by UK Government until March 2026, following ESCC’s bid for Bus Service Improvement Plan funding. |
|
|
248
|
Uckfield - Buxted - Hadlow Down |
No change. |
Run by Community Transport for the Lewes Area with funding from ESCC. The improvements are funded by UK Government until March 2026, following ESCC’s bid for Bus Service Improvement Plan funding. |
|
|
249 (Monday, Wednesday and Friday) |
Fairwarp - High Hurstwood - Uckfield |
No change. |
Run by Community Transport for the Lewes Area with funding from ESCC. The improvements are funded by UK Government until March 2026, following ESCC’s bid for Bus Service Improvement Plan funding. |
|
|
251 (Schooldays) |
Heathfield - Mayfield - Rotherfield - Town Row - Tunbridge Wells - Boys Grammar School |
Minor timing changes to improve timekeeping. |
Run by Stagecoach with funding from Kent County Council and the East Sussex Bus Service Improvement Plan until March 2026. |
|
|
256 |
Tunbridge Wells - Bells Yew Green - Lamberhurst - Wadhurst |
No change. |
Run by Autocar with funding from ESCC and Kent County Council. |
|
|
258 (Schooldays) |
Bells Yew Green - Kilndown - Lamberhurst - Cousley Wood - Wadhurst Uplands Academy |
Revised route and timetable. The route of this Uplands Academy service will now be Kilndown, Horsmonden, Lamberhurst, Cousley Wood. Pupils entitled to free school transport, who live in the Bells Yew Green area, have a new travel arrangement organised by ESCC. |
Run by Hams Travel with funding from Kent County Council and a contribution from ESCC. |
1 September 2025 |
|
261 |
Uckfield - Maresfield - Nutley - Wych Cross - Forest Row -Ashurstwood - East Grinstead |
No change. |
Run by Compass Travel with funding from ESCC. The service improvements are funded by UK Government until March 2026 following ESCC’s successful bid for Bus Service Improvement Plan funding. |
|
|
266, 267, 268, 269 (Schooldays) |
Boreham Street - Windmill Hill - Herstmonceux - Magham Down/Hailsham - Hellingly - Horam - Heathfield Community College |
No change. |
Run by The Big Lemon with funding from ESCC. |
|
|
270 |
Brighton - Hassocks - Burgess Hill - Haywards Heath - Danehill - Chelwood Gate - Wych Cross -Forest Row - East Grinstead |
No change. |
Commercial service provided by Metrobus. The service improvements are funded by UK Government until March 2026, following ESCC’s successful bid for Bus Service Improvement Plan funding. |
|
|
286 (Schooldays) |
Coleman’s Hatch - Hartfield - Withyham - Groombridge - Langton - Speldhurst - Southborough - Tunbridge Wells |
No change |
Run by Arriva with funding from Kent County Council. |
|
|
291 |
Crawley - East Grinstead - Forest Row - Hartfield - Withyham - Groombridge - Tunbridge Wells |
No change. |
Commercial service provided by Metrobus. The improvements are funded by UK Government until March 2026, following ESCC’s bid for Bus Service Improvement Plan funding. |
|
|
318 (Schooldays) |
East Hoathly -Whitesmith - Chiddingly - Muddles Green - Halland - Shortgate - Ringmer King’s Academy |
No change. |
Run by Compass Travel with funding from ESCC.
|
|
|
320 (Schooldays) |
Ninfield - Claverham College |
No change. |
Run by Stagecoach with funding from ESCC. |
|
|
354 |
Ticehurst - Wadhurst rail link |
The County Council is reviewing the future of this service due to long-standing extremely low use of the service. |
Run by Autocar with funding from ESCC. |
|
|
356 (College Days) |
Little Common - Hooe - Claverham College |
No change. |
Run by Rambler Coaches with funding from ESCC. |
|
|
1066 |
Hastings - Battle - Whatlington or Mountfield - Robertsbridge - Hurst Green - Hawkhurst - Flimwell - Ticehurst - Wadhurst - Frant - Tunbridge Wells |
No change. |
Service run by Stagecoach with funding from ESCC and a contribution from Kent County Council. The improvements are funded by UK Government until March 2026, following ESCC’s bid for Bus Service Improvement Plan funding. |
Temporary change from 1 September to 8 October 2025 |
|
H1, H3, H4 (Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday) |
Hailsham town services |
No change. |
These services are operated by Cuckmere Buses with funding from Hailsham Town Council. |
|
|
U1-U5 (Schooldays) |
Uplands Academy services from John’s Cross, Hurst Green, Hawkhurst, Flimwell, Ticehurst, Burwash and Etchingham |
No change. |
Services provided by Hams Travel. All are run commercially apart from services U4 and U5, which are funded by ESCC. |
|
|
Eastbourne Sightseeing (Seasonal service) |
Eastbourne Pier - seafront - Beachy Head - Birling Gap - East Dean - town centre - Eastbourne Pier |
Revised timetable from 29 September, when the last journey from Eastbourne Pier will be 17:30 (the 18:00 and 18:30 journeys will not run). From Monday 3 November this seasonal service is withdrawn for the winter period. |
Commercial service provided by Brighton & Hove Buses. |
29 September & 3 November 2025 |