Reading Festival
Reading Festival returns on Wednesday 20 August with the music starting Friday 22 August.
Once again we are expecting tens of thousands of Festival goers to descend on Reading for what is set to be another stunning line-up in 2025.
We'll be running our shuttle buses to and from the festival site all weekend long to help keep the town moving and get the excited hordes to the music!
Service 98 will run direct between Reading Station North and the Festival site - just a short walk from the red wristband exchange and entrance. Buses will run super frequently throughout the Festival so there's never a long wait.
Service 97 will run direct between the Festival site and Sainsbury's Friar Street - perfect for stocking up on those essential festival supplies or for checking out what bars and shops Reading has to offer.
buy your bus tickets on our app
The easiest and most hassle-free way to buy tickets for our shuttle buses is to download the Reading Buses app. On the app you'll be able to buy our great value weekend ticket so you wont need to worry about carrying any money - simply buy your ticket, activate it when you are ready to travel and get on board! Your ticket will allow you unlimited travel to and from town on our 97 and 98 festival buses all weekend.
Single tickets can also be brought on our buses when boarding, simply tap your contactless credit or debit card (or phone with Apple or Google Pay) as you board.
weekend bus ticket - just £6.50
If you're planning to make several journeys over the weekend, our weekend festival bus ticket is a great way to save money.
Available exclusively on the Reading Buses app it allows you to travel as many times as you want all Festival Weekend on the 97 and 98 for just £6.50! Buy and download the mTicket to your app and then scan it under the reader every time you board.
Download the app for free by clicking on one of the buttons below.
single ticket - just £1.50
Our Festival shuttles are just £1.50 for each journey to make things nice and simple. Just tap your contactless credit or debit card (or phone with Apple or Google Pay) as you board.
The Reading Festival Weekender ticket is only valid on service 97 and 98 and no other Reading Buses services. It does not grant you entry to Reading Festival.
Where to catch the buses
From Reading Station, service 98 leaves from Station North stop ND. If you are leaving from the town centre itself, then catch service 97 from Friar Street stop FH. You can download a PDF of the above map here.
Coming back from the site, buses leave from Thameside Promenade - just a short walk from the red gate entrance. Just follow the signs (or the crowds!)
Bus times for the festival
Wednesday 20 August
It's early bird camping day on the Wednesday as festival goers start to filter into the town.
Thursday 21 August
Thursday usually sees the bulk of the weekend campers appear as they look to claim the best spots on the campsite!
For campers, this is the perfect time to take advantage of our 97 service to Sainsbury's and town centre and stock up on your essentials.
Friday 22 August
The first day of the festival proper! Hozier and Chappell Roan take to the two main stages, and there are plenty of other acts to get excited about, including The Kooks, The Linda Lindas, Badger, Red Rum Club and more!
Saturday 23 August
Saturday sees Bring me the Horizon and Limp Bizkit on the main stages, with other great acts appearing around the site such as Enter Shikari, Wunderhorse and Bakar.
Sunday 24 August
The final day of the festival and it's the turn of Travis Scott and D-Block Europe to take to the main stages. You can also catch Amyl and the Sniffers, Suki Waterhouse, Waterparks and much more!
Our shuttle buses will run super-frequently right the way through the night (and through into Monday) so you can just rock up to the bus stop and be sure a bus will be there soon!
Monday 25 August
The Monday usually sees the last of the weekend campers leaving and our buses will run until around 2pm to help get people home.