WESTlink is a different type of bus service which operates in the vast majority of the West of England, outside of Bristol and Bath city centres.

It runs without a fixed timetable or route, and can be booked by people through the Westlink app or by phone.

Passengers can get on or off at existing bus stops (over 1,800), a number of “virtual stops”, as well as at a number of easy to reach places. If you want to travel further, you can connect to major bus and rail services.

Where does Westlink operate?

Zones explained


Plan your journey with Westlink

Journey planner

You can use our journey planner to see if your travel options could include Westlink. Press the button below, input your start / end locations and date / time of travel to see all options available to you.

Plan your journey

Interactive map

You can also use our interactive online map to quickly check if your start and end locations are within any of the zones, and if you have any pick-up / drop-off points nearby (bus stops).

View interactive zone map


Fares & Pricing

Single fares are available at £2 for adults and £1 for children. Young children that are able to sit on an paying adult’s lap travel for free.

All concessionary and older person’s bus passes will be accepted from 9am Monday to Friday and all day Saturday.

NEW: AvonRider multi operator tickets can now be purchased (and are accepted) on Westlink services.


£2 Adult Single


£1 Child Single


£7 Adult AvonRider


Birthday Bus Pass

The Birthday Bus Pass is accepted on the Westlink service. You can receive one month of free Westlink rides for your birthday month, and under 21’s receive 2 months of free Westlink rides, their birthday month, and the month after.

You will need to look on the back of your actual Birthday Bus Pass, where you will find a specific Westlink code. Please enter this code in the ‘Promo’ section of the app to enable the free rides. Or call the booking phone number to apply this code.

Apply for your Birthday Bus Pass

AvonRider information

Customers must select AvonRider as a payment option through the app or call centre but will not be charged at this point.

When they board the bus they will either:

  • show a valid AvonRider ticket (purchased on another service) to the driver
  • purchase an AvonRider ticket from the driver from the on board ticket machine
  • payment on bus is by contactless bank card/ApplePay or AndoidPay
  • cash can be accepted but only for the day ticket (exact fare should be provided as no change can be given)

Avon Rider tickets allow unlimited travel on registered bus services across the whole West of England area and are available to purchase on participating operators vehicles. For more information visit our AvonRider page.

AvonRider prices:

  • Day: Adult £7; Student/Child £6.30; Group (up to 5 people of all ages) £14
  • Week: Adult £30; Student/Child £27
Find out more about AvonRider tickets

How to book Westlink

Booking is available via the mobile app, website or on the phone.

Journeys can be booked on-demand or on the day before travel from 07:00.

You can book multiple journeys, which means you can book your return journey just after booking your first journey.


Book via the mobile app

The Westlink mobile app is available for Android and iOS smartphones. Just search for Westlink in the app store or press the buttons below.

Via the mobile app, you are able to choose your start location and destination. The app will automatically assign the best pick-up and drop-off points to your journey.

You can pay by card when booking, or change your payment method to cash on the bus (exact change only), AvonRider or Concessionary Travelcard, if you have one. You’ll need to show the driver your Concessionary Travelcard.

Get it on Google Play
Download on the App Store

Book via the web app

You are also able to book online via a web app. The web app works similarly to the the mobile app, except you access it via your browser.

Via the web app, you are able to choose your start location and destination. The app will automatically assign the best pick-up and drop-off points to your journey.

You can pay by card when booking, or change your payment method to cash on the bus (exact change only), AvonRider or Concessionary Travelcard, if you have one. You’ll need to show the driver your Concessionary Travelcard.

Book online now

Book over the phone

If you are unable to book your journey using the mobile or web apps, you can also book over the phone with the operator.

As with the apps, the booking advisor will assign the best pick-up and drop-off points for you, based on your journey’s start location and destination.

You can pay by bank card over the phone, or choose to pay with cash on the bus (exact change only), AvonRider or Concessionary Travelcard, if you have one. You’ll need to show the driver your Concessionary Travelcard.

Lines are open Monday to Saturday between 05:30 and 21:30. Closed on Sundays & Public Holidays.

Call 0117 457 8561


Frequently asked questions

  • Yes but only if you have a disability or unable to walk to your nearest bus stop. If this is the case, you can request this in the mobile app by clicking on the three back lines at the top right of the screen, then select “concessions” and turn on the “additional mobility needs” button. Alternatively please advise the call centre when booking a journey.

  • If you no longer need to travel, please cancel your booking asap in the app or by calling us on 0117 457 8561 as this will free up a seat for another passenger.

  • If you cancel your booking you will not be charged. Payment is taken once your journey has ended.

  • No, if you’ve already boarded the bus and started your journey you won’t be able to. If you want to change your destination before you travel, you will need to cancel and book a new journey.

  • If you have the Westlink app you will be able to see the vehicle in real time or our call operators will be able to check for you if you’ve booked by phone. You can also receive an automated message to your mobile through SMS or phone call. Please specify your communication method with your call centre agent.

  • The app will tell you your estimated time of arrival when you book a journey. This will also update as your journey progresses (for example if your bus gets stuck in traffic).

  • When you book your journey, you can specify that you need to depart or arrive by a certain time. To get to an appointment we would suggest you use the arrive by option when booking. If a vehicle is available you will be offered a ride that will arrive up to 30 minutes before your requested arrival time. (e.g. for a 3pm appointment you will arrive between 2.30-3pm).

  • Yes, you will need to add this on to your journey booking through the “Special Settings” or “Concessions” menu item.

  • Yes, you can pre-book more than one journey in advance.

  • We’re sorry to hear you’d like to file a complaint. We aim to provide the best service possible and will welcome any feedback to help us improve our service to passengers.

    To send us your complaint, please call 0117 457 8561 or email [email protected]. Have the following information ready, so that we are able to assist:

    • Date of travel
    • Time of travel
    • Details of what happened

    Our team will come back to you as soon as possible.

  • The new zones are needed in order to provide a more punctual and reliable service. Passengers fed back that Westlink buses aren’t always available when needed. One reason for this is that the buses were often being used to make long journeys with just one person on board.  The new smaller zones will reduce long trips and increase availability for more people whilst also connecting passengers to main bus or train services for onward travel.

  • We will continue to review Westlink and welcome everyone’s feedback so we can meet the needs of as many of our residents as possible.  We can make further changes to the zones but these will need to coincide with our twice-annual bus service change dates (April and September). Please do get in touch on [email protected] if you have suggestions.

  • We designed the new zones of operation using data from a number of sources including volume and location of demand, time parameters from booking to pick-up, journey times and feedback from passengers and other stakeholders.

  • The changes to zones does mean that some journeys are no longer possible. The smaller zones should mean that more people can share Westlink buses as intended. We’ve designed the new zones to allow passengers to travel to key locations and interchange points (where they can connect to main bus or train services for onward travel), as well as into shared zones, meaning that journeys onto a further Westlink could be possible.

  • From soon after the April service change, it will be possible to use a pre-purchased (day or week) AvonRider ticket or purchase one on Westlink. At a cost of £7, this will save an adult passenger £1 over purchasing four single tickets.

  • We are hoping that these changes will reduce the amount of denied booking requests. Vehicles should be more readily available to book because they are restricted to smaller operating zones.

  • We appreciate that the overall Westlink map may look complicated. However, when using the app, you will only see the zone which you are in and any shared zones that it is possible to travel to. We have also produced more detailed maps for each of zones.

  • Virtual bus stops are locations where we’ve assessed that it is safe for you to be picked up or dropped off by WESTlink. These locations are mainly in rural areas are not marked with a bus stop sign or shelter, but are shown on the app.

    If you do not have a physical or virtual bus stop near your location please email [email protected] and we will investigate if a virtual bus stop can be identified. If your request is within the North Somerset area, please email [email protected] instead.


Customer assistance

For assistance, feedback, complaints or compliments, our customer advisors are available to help with any query you may have. Phone lines are open Monday to Saturday between 05:30 and 21:30. Closed on Sundays & Public Holidays.


Funded by UK Government
North Somerset Council