Lothian’s special timetables for the Christmas and Hogmanay period are now available to help customers plan ahead for their festive journeys across Edinburgh and the Lothians, whether travelling to visit friends and family, or heading out on the town to celebrate the season.
Service Diversion information
Due to various festive events taking place in the city centre resulting in road closures, bus services may be subject to diversions. Notably, there are service diversions in place for the Torchlight Procession on Friday 29 December and on Hogmanay (Sunday 31 December).
All diversion information can be found on our Service Alerts page or the homepage of our mobile app.
Summary of Services
A quick summary of service levels over the festive period can be found below.
A Weekday Service will be in effect on Lothian Buses, Airlink, East Coast Buses, Lothian Country and NightBus/NightHawk services.
A Saturday Service will be in effect on Lothian Buses, Airlink, East Coast Buses, Lothian Country and NightBus/NightHawk services.
A Special Service will be in operation on Monday 25 December (Christmas Day) on Lothian Buses, Airlink, East Coast Buses and Lothian Country services.
Airlink services will operate up to every 30 minutes.
Nightbus/Nighthawk services will not run.
A Special Service will operate on Boxing Day (Tuesday 26 December) on Lothian Buses, East Coast Buses, and Lothian Country services.
Airlink will operate a Sunday Service (night-time journeys will not run).
No service will operate on Nightbus/NightHawk.
A Saturday Service will operate on Wednesday 27 December on Lothian Buses, Airlink, East Coast Buses and Lothian Country services.
Please note that Service 15, Service 45 and Service 47B will operate to a Public Holiday timetable.
Nightbus/NightHawk services will not operate.
A Saturday Service will operate on Thursday 28 December on Lothian Buses, Airlink, East Coast Buses, and Lothian Country services.
Please note that Service 15, Service 45 and Service 47B will operate to a Public Holiday timetable.
Nightbus/NightHawk services will operate to Weekday timetables.
A Saturday Service will operate on Friday 29 December on Lothian Buses, Airlink, East Coast Buses, and Lothian Country services.
Please note that Service 15, Service 45 and Service 47B will operate to a Public Holiday timetable.
Nightbus/NightHawk services will operate to Weekday timetables.
A Saturday Service will operate on Saturday 30 December on Lothian Buses, Airlink, East Coast Buses, and Lothian Country services.
Nightbus/NightHawk services will operate to Saturday timetables on the morning of 30 December.
Please note that there will be diversions in the city centre for the Torchlight Procession. Details will be available on the Service Updates pagecloser to the time of the event.
A Special Service will operate on Sunday 31 December (Hogmanay) on Lothian Buses, Airlink, East Coast Buses and Lothian Country.
Nightbus/NightHawk services will operate a Sunday timetable on the morning of 31 December.
Services will finish earlier than normal, with last journeys through the city centre at approximately 2130 hrs.
Please note that diversions will be in place across the city centre for Hogmanay celebrations in the capital. Details will be available on our Service Alerts page and homepage of the mobile app.
Airlink’s last departure from Edinburgh Airport will be at 0050 hrs, and the last departure from the city centre will be at 0009 hrs.
A Special Service will operate on Monday 1 January 2024 (New Year’s Day) on Lothian Buses, East Coast Buses, and Lothian Country services.
Airlink will operate a normal service (no night-time journeys) with the first service departing the city centre at 0400 hrs, and the first departure from Edinburgh Airport at 0430 hrs.
A Hogmanay Special service will operate for Nightbus/NightHawk services.
A Sunday Service will be in operation on Tuesday 2 January 2024 on Lothian Buses, Airlink, East Coast Buses and Lothian Country services.
Nightbus/Nighthawk services will not run.
A Saturday Service will operate on Wednesday 3 January 2024 on Lothian Buses and Airlink services.
East Coast Buses and Lothian Country services will operate to a Weekday Service (with the exception of school services which will not run).
Nightbus/NightHawk services will not run.
Please note that Service 15, Service 45 and Service 47B will operate to a Public Holiday timetable.
A Saturday Service will operate on Thursday 4 January 2024 on Lothian Buses and Airlink services.
East Coast Buses, Lothian Country and Nightbus/NightHawk services will operate to a Weekday Service (with the exception of school services which will not run).
Please note that Service 15, Service 45 and Service 47B will operate to a Public Holiday timetable.
A Saturday Service will operate on Friday 5 January 2024 on Lothian Buses and Airlink services.
East Coast Buses, Lothian Country and Nightbus/NightHawk services will operate to a Weekday Service (with the exception of school services which will not run).
Please note that Service 15, Service 45 and Service 47B will operate to a Public Holiday timetable.
A Saturday Service will operate on Saturday 6 January 2024 on Lothian Buses, Airlink, East Coast Buses, Lothian Country and NightBus/NightHawk services.
Festive Opening Hours
Waverley Bridge TravelHub will be open to customers over the festive period as follows:
| Friday 22 December | 0830 – 1730 |
| Saturday 23 December | 0830 – 1630 |
| Sunday 24 December | Closed |
| Monday 25 December | Closed |
| Tuesday 26 December | Closed |
| Wednesday 27 December | 0830 – 1630 |
| Thursday 28 December | 0830 – 1630 |
| Friday 29 December | 0830 – 1630 |
| Saturday 30 December | 0830 – 1630 |
| Sunday 31 December | Closed |
| Monday 1 January | Closed |
| Tuesday 2 January | Closed |
| Wednesday 3 January | 0830 – 1730 |
Shandwick Place TravelHub will be open to customers over the festive period as follows:
| Friday 22 December | 0830 – 1730 |
| Saturday 23 December | Closed |
| Sunday 24 December | Closed |
| Monday 25 December | Closed |
| Tuesday 26 December | Closed |
| Wednesday 27 December | 0830 – 1630 |
| Thursday 28 December | 0830 – 1630 |
| Friday 29 December | 0830 – 1630 |
| Saturday 30 December | Closed |
| Sunday 31 January | Closed |
| Monday 1 January | Closed |
| Tuesday 2 January | Closed |
| Wednesday 3 January | 0830 – 1730 |
Musselburgh TravelHub will be open on Saturday 23 December between 0900 – 1600 hours, and will be closed thereafter for the duration of the festive period, reopening on Saturday 6 January 2024.
Enquiries for lost property must be submitted via our dedicated Lost Property form. Collection of items is by pre-arranged appointment only.
When the department is closed, customers are advised to call our enquiry line on 0131 555 6363.
The department will be open over the festive period as follows:
| Friday 22 December | 1000 – 1700 |
| Saturday 23 December | Closed |
| Sunday 24 December | Closed |
| Monday 25 December | Closed |
| Tuesday 26 December | Closed |
| Wednesday 27 December | 1000 – 1630 |
| Thursday 28 December | 1000 – 1630 |
| Friday 29 December | 1000 – 1630 |
| Saturday 30 December | Closed |
| Sunday 31 December | Closed |
| Monday 1 January | Closed |
| Tuesday 2 January | Closed |
| Wednesday 3 January | 1000 – 1700 |
Lothian CoffeeHub (located within Shandwick Place TravelHub) serves a wide range of local and Scottish produce, hot drinks, cakes, snacks and meals. The CoffeeHub is fully accessible and includes free WiFi and charging points. Lothian CoffeeHub will be open to customers over the festive period as follows:
| Friday 22 December | 0830 – 1600 |
| Saturday 23 December | Closed |
| Sunday 24 December | Closed |
| Monday 25 December | Closed |
| Tuesday 26 December | Closed |
| Wednesday 27 December | Closed |
| Thursday 28 December | Closed |
| Friday 29 December | Closed |
| Saturday 30 December | Closed |
| Sunday 31 December | Closed |
| Monday 1 January | Closed |
| Wednesday 2 January | 0830 – 1600 |
Edinburgh Bus Tours will operate daily throughout the festive period, including on Christmas Day (CitySightseeing Tour only). It’s a fantastic way to take in the atmosphere across Edinburgh, to see the lights and displays, and for hopping on and off to explore Christmas markets and other attractions.
Check out tour offerings and tickets on the Edinburgh Bus Tours website.
The Edinburgh Bus Tours hub at Waterloo Place will be open over the festive period as follows:
| Friday 22 December | 0830 – 1600 |
| Saturday 23 December | 0830 – 1600 |
| Sunday 24 December | 0830 – 1500 |
| Monday 25 December | 0830 – 1500 |
| Tuesday 26 December | 0900 – 1500 |
| Wednesday 27 December | 0830 – 1600 |
| Thursday 28 December | 0830 – 1600 |
| Friday 29 December | 0830 – 1600 |
| Saturday 30 December | 0830 – 1500 |
| Sunday 31 December | 0830 – 1500 |
| Monday 1 January | 1000 – 1500 |
| Tuesday 2 January | 1000 – 1600 |
| Wednesday 3 January | 0830 – 1600 |
Plan your travel with our mobile app!
To plan your travel across Edinburgh and the Lothians over the festive period, download our mobile app!
You’ll have access to live bus times and service diversion information, all at your fingertips, for the latest news while you’re on the move. Download at the link below or search ‘Transport for Edinburgh’ in the App Store or Google Play.
