On the day fares
If you are new to our buses, or only use them occasionally, you'll want to buy your fares on the bus. Whatever your journey type, there will be a ticket for you! The fare you pay depends on which area you travel in.
For buses that run outside the simplyReading area, single and return fares depend on how many stops you travel - check out your service page for a table of fares for your route.
more ways to pay
You can pay on the bus by cash, contactless bank card or with our app! If you travel regularly with us, why not buy your tickets in advance and save?
For a guide to each ticket type and how they work, click here.
simplyReading
The simplyReading area is basically what most people would think of as 'Reading town.' If you travel outside of Reading, scroll down (or click the links) to see our other fare zones - simplyNetwork, simplyNewbury & Thatcham, simplyWokingham & Bracknell and simplySouthBracknell.
We have a flat-fare zone in the simplyReading area (most of our buses only run in the simplyReading area) meaning you pay the same fare regardless of how many stops you travel.
We also have an exact fare policy in this zone, meaning (on most routes) our drivers don't give change. This helps to keep buses on time and our drivers safe.
adult fares
| single | all day Reading All-Bus ticket |
60 minute transfer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| cash/contactless | £2.00 | £4.50 | £3.40 |
| app | £2.00 | £4.00 | £3.30 |
| tap on tap off | £2 | £4.00 | - |
Boost fares (18s & under)
Click here for information on Boost including terms and conditions of use.
| single | all day Reading All-Bus ticket |
Boost day ticket* | 60 minute transfer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| cash/contactless | £2.00 | £3.00 | - | £2.60 |
| app | £2.00 | £3.00 | £3.50 | £2.60 |
*boost day ticket is only available on the app for students aged 18 and over with a verified University of Reading ID
Reading All-Bus group ticket - up to 4 people
Valid for up to four people (any combination of adults and children) travelling together - valid all day on all buses (even those from other operators) within the simplyReading area. The ticket has a 'peak' price (Monday to Friday before 9.30am) and 'off-peak' price (Monday to Friday after 9.30am, all day weekends & public holidays.)
| off-peak | £5.50 |
|---|---|
| peak | £10 |
simplyWokingham & Reading
The simplyWokingham & Reading zone covers buses between Wokingham & Reading, but also includes buses from Arborfield, Shinfield, Spencers Wood, Burghfield Common, Henley on Thames and Sonning Common. For customers in these areas who travel to and from Reading, this means you don't need to buy a simplyNetwork ticket (unless you are travelling elsewhere of course!)
On bus, single fares are capped at £2 and return fares are capped at £4 regardless of journey length as part of the UK Governments Help for Households scheme. The fares below are the simplyWokingham & Reading zone wide fares for all day and weekly travel.
adult fares
|
all day |
7 days |
|
|
cash/contactless |
£6.50 |
- |
|
app |
£6.50 |
£23.00* |
*also avaliable on smartcard
Boost fares (18s & under)
Click here for information on Boost including terms and conditions of use.
|
all day |
7 days |
|
|
cash/contactless |
£5.00 |
- |
|
app |
£5.00 |
£17.50* |
*also avaliable on smartcard
simplyNetwork
Simply put, the simplyNetwork zone covers all our buses! If you travel outside of one of the 'urban' zones (Reading, Newbury/Thatcham, Wokingham/Bracknell) then you will need to get a simplyNetwork ticket.
On bus, single and return fares are capped at £2 regardless of journey length as part of the UK Governments Help for Households scheme. The fares below are the network wide fares for all day and weekly travel.
adult fares
|
all day |
7 days |
|
|
cash/contactless |
£8.50 |
- |
|
app |
£8.50 |
£28* |
*also avaliable on smartcard
Boost fares (18s & under)
Click here for information on Boost including terms and conditions of use.
|
all day |
7 days |
|
|
cash/contactless |
£5.70 |
n/a |
|
app |
£5.70 |
£21* |
*also avaliable on smartcard
simplyNetwork group ticket
Valid for up to four people (any combination of adults and children) travelling together - valid all day on all our buses. The ticket has a 'peak' price (Monday to Friday before 9.30am) and 'off-peak' price (Monday to Friday after 9.30am, all day weekends, school & public holidays.)
| peak | £21 |
|---|---|
| off-peak | £15.50 |
simplyNewbury & Thatcham
The simplyNewbury & Thatcham zone covers jet black 1 (between Newbury Bus Station and Colthrop Lane).
adult fares
|
all day |
7 days |
|
|
cash/contactless |
£5 |
- |
|
app* |
£5 |
£17.50 |
*for simplyNewbury & Thatcham app fares, please use the Newbury & District app.
Boost fares (18s & under)
Click here for information on Boost including terms and conditions of use.
|
all day |
7 days |
|
|
cash/contactless |
£3.50 |
- |
|
app* |
£3.50 |
£13.50 |
*for simplyNewbury & Thatcham app fares, please use the Newbury & District app.
simplyWokingham & Bracknell
The simplyWokingham & Bracknell area covers our leopard and lion routes in these areas. The boundary points are Robinson Crusoe on leopard 3 and Drome Path/Cavendish Gardens on the lion 4/X4.
adult fares
|
all day |
7 days |
|
|
cash/contactless |
£5.30 |
- |
|
app |
£5.30 |
£19.50 |
Boost fares (18s & under)
Click here for information on Boost including terms and conditions of use.
|
all day |
7 days |
|
|
cash/contactless |
£3.80 |
- |
|
app |
£3.80 |
£14.50 |
simplySouthBracknell
The simplySouthBracknell zone boundary point is John Nike/Peacock Farm on the lion.
adult fares
| all day | 7 days | |
|---|---|---|
| cash/contactless | £4.70 | £17 |
Boost fares (18s & under)
Click here for information on Boost including terms and conditions of use.
| all day | 7 days | |
|---|---|---|
| cash/contactless | £3.30 | £12.00 |
MyBus Oxfordshire
Customers who begin their journey in Oxfordshire on our pink 25 and aqua 28 routes can purchase the MyBus Oxfordshire ticket which allows for unlimited travel for bus services all across Oxfordshire for either 1 or 7 days.
| 1 day | 7 days | |
|---|---|---|
|
adult |
£6.50 | £25.00* |
|
young person |
£3.50 | £14.50* |
*only avaliable on our mobile app
This ticket is only valid for journeys that serve Oxfordshire and is made possible by the Oxfordshire Bus Enhanced Partnership using Bus using Bus Service Improvement (BSIP) funding provided by the Department for Transport.
dogs on buses
Dogs are welcome on all Reading Buses with a Doggy Rover Day Ticket, which allows unlimited travel on our network for your four-legged friend.
Guide dogs, hearing for the deaf dogs and accessibility dogs all travel free. Other small pets may be carried (they are not allowed on the seats) at a charge of £1.00. For your own comfort and theirs, we recommend that you travel off-peak whenever possible.