The definitive details of all bus, ferry, rail and hovercraft timetables this Christmas to make things stress-free

Working in partnership with Solent from First Bus and Stagecoach South, Portsmouth City Council is making it easier for people to reach family gatherings, festive events, and essential destinations like QA Hospital.

These services are part of the council’s commitment to improving public transport through the Portsmouth Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP), a £52 million government-funded programme designed to deliver faster, more reliable, and greener journeys.

Christmas Day bus services in Portsmouth

Solent from First Bus

• Routes 1, 2, 3, 7, and 8 will operate a special Christmas timetable.
• Services will run every hour, from 8am to 6pm.

Stagecoach South

• Routes 18, 20, 21, 22, 23 will operate a special Christmas timetable.
• Services will run to individual route timetables between 6am and 8pm with buses every hour

Additionally, buses will be running on Boxing Day to ensure people can travel around the city, and get to the football easier with Pompey playing Queens Park Rangers at Fratton Park.

Solent from First Bus will run a Sunday timetable on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, with an early finish at 6pm on New Year's Eve and limited services on New Year's Day. Stagecoach will run a Saturday timetable on New Year's Eve and a special hourly service on New Year's Day.

Cllr Peter Candlish, the city council’s cabinet member for transport, said: "Christmas is about bringing people together, and these services make that possible. Whether you’re visiting loved ones, heading to work, or enjoying festive events, we’re proud to keep Portsmouth connected."

Simon Goff, Managing director of Solent from First Bus: “We’re really pleased to be helping keep Portsmouth moving on Christmas Day. Whether people are off to see family, heading to work, or just getting around the city, we want their journeys to be as easy as possible.

“It’s great to team up with the council and our partners to make sure everyone can get to where they need to be this festive season.”

Marc Reddy, Managing director at Stagecoach South, said: “Our buses play a vital role in keeping communities connected during the festive season, whether people are visiting family, going shopping, or attending local events.

“These tailored timetables help ensure reliable journeys while supporting the changing travel needs over Christmas and New Year. We encourage customers to plan ahead and wish everyone a safe and enjoyable festive period.”

More information about bus travel over the festive period can be found on Portsmouth City Council’s website: https://travel.portsmouth.gov.uk/public-transport/public-transport-over-christmas-2025

Seasonal public transport service and Christmas Day timetable

Stagecoach 

• Christmas Eve  - Normal Saturday service with early finish, plus service 27 & special timetable on service 38.
• Christmas Day  - Special hourly service on routes 18, 20, 21, 22 and 23
• Boxing Day  - Special half hourly service on routes, 18, 20, 21, 22 and 23, hourly service on 700, plus service 725
• 27 December - Normal Saturday service
• 28 December - Normal Sunday service
• 29 December - Normal service
• 30  December - Normal Saturday service plus service 27 & special timetable on service 38. No late buses on service 21.
• 31 December  - Saturday service with an early finish plus service 27 & special timetable service on 38.
• New Year’s Day  - Special hourly service on routes 18, 20, 21,22, 23 and 725

Solent from First Bus

• Christmas Eve  - Normal Saturday service with early finish
• Christmas Day  - Special service on routes 1, 2, 3, 7 and 8
• Boxing Day  - Special service on routes E1/E2, 1, 2, 3, 7 and 8
• 27 December - Normal Saturday service
• 28 December - Normal Sunday service
• 29 December - Normal service
• 30  December - Normal Saturday service
• 31 December  - Normal Saturday service with early finish
• New Year’s Day  - Special service on routes 1, 2, 3, 7 and 8

Park & Ride 

• Christmas Eve  - Normal service
• Christmas Day  - No service
• Boxing Day  - Normal Sunday service
• 27 December - Normal Saturday service
• 28 December - Normal Sunday service
• 29 December - Normal service
• 30  December - Normal service
• 31 December  - Normal service
• New Year’s Day  - Normal service

Gosport Ferry 

• Christmas Eve  - 5.30am-11pm - Every 15 mins
• Christmas Day  - No service
• Boxing Day  - 8.45am-7.30pm - Every 15 mins
• 27 December - 5.30am-12am - Every 15 mins
• 28 December - 5.30am-12am - Every 15 mins
• 29 December - 5.30am-12am - Every 15 mins
• 30  December - 5.30am-12am - Every 15 mins
• 31 December  - 5.30am-11pm - Every 15 mins
• New Year’s Day  - 7.30am-11pm - Every 15 mins

Hayling Island Ferry 

• Christmas Eve  - Finish early 5pm
• Christmas Day   - No service
• Boxing Day   - No service
• 27 December  - No service
• 28 December  - No service
• 29 December  - No service
• 30  December  - No service
• 31 December   - No service
• New Year’s Day   - No service

Wightlink Ferry from Portsmouth Harbour to Ryde 

• Christmas Eve  - To Ryde: 6.50am- 6.55pm. From Ryde: 5.40am- 7.47pm
• Christmas Day  - No service
• Boxing Day  - To Ryde: 7.15am- 10.45 pm. From Ryde: 7.45am- 11.10pm
• 27 December - To Ryde: 7.15am- 10.45pm. From Ryde: 7.45am- 11.10pm
• 28 December - To Ryde 7:15am-10:45pm. From Ryde: 7:45am - 11:10pm
• 29 December -To Ryde 5:15am-10:45pm. From Ryde: 5:40am - 11:10pm
• 30  December - To Ryde 5:15am-10:45pm. From Ryde: 5:40am - 11:10pm
• 31 December  - To Ryde: 5.15am- 8.20pm. From Ryde: 5:40am- 8:52pm
• New Year’s Day  - To Ryde 7.15am-10.45pm. From Ryde: 7.45am - 11.10pm

Hovertravel from Clarence Pier 

• Christmas Eve  - To Ryde: 6.30am- 6.30pm. From Ryde: 6.30am- 6.40pm
• Christmas Day  - No service
• Boxing Day  - No service
• 27 December - To Ryde: 8.30am- 6.55pm. From Ryde: 8.15am- 6.40pm
• 28 December - To Ryde: 8.30am- 6.55pm. From Ryde: 8.15am- 6.40pm
• 29 December - To Ryde: 6:50am- 6:55pm. From Ryde: 6:30am- 6:40pm
• 30  December - To Ryde: 6:50am- 6:55pm. From Ryde: 6:30am- 6:40pm
• 31 December  - To Ryde: 6:50am- 6:55pm. From Ryde: 6:30am- 6:40pm
• New Year’s Day  - No service

Wightlink Ferry from Gunwharf to Fishbourne 

• Christmas Eve  - To Fishbourne:3am- 7pm. From Fishbourne:1am- 8pm
• Christmas Day  - No service
• Boxing Day  - To Fishbourne: 7am- 11.59pm. From Fishbourne: 8am- 11.05pm
• 27 December - To Fishbourne: 3am- 11.59pm. From Fishbourne: 1am - 11.05pm
• 28 December - To Fishbourne: 3am- 11.59pm. From Fishbourne: 1am - 11.05pm
• 29 December - To Fishbourne: 3am- 11.59pm. From Fishbourne: 1am - 11.05pm
• 30  December - To Fishbourne: 3am- 11.59pm. From Fishbourne: 1am - 11.05pm
• 31 December  - To Fishbourne: 3am- 11.59pm. From Fishbourne: 1am - 11.05pm
• New Year’s Day  - To Fishbourne: 3am- 11.59pm. From Fishbourne: 1am - 11.05pm

National Rail 

• Christmas Eve  - Early finish (10pm)
• Christmas Day  - No service
• Boxing Day  - No service
• 27 December - Normal service (timetable changes to London Waterloo)
• 28 December - Normal service (timetable changes to London Waterloo)
• 29 December - Normal service (timetable changes to London Waterloo)
• 30  December - Normal service (timetable changes to London Waterloo)
• 31 December  - Early finish (10pm) (timetable changes to London Waterloo)
• New Year’s Day  - Normal service (timetable changes to London Waterloo)