National Express Reviews

1.6 Rating 323 Reviews
13 %
of reviewers recommend National Express
1.6
Based on 323 reviews
Shipping & Delivery
Delivery Methods
Own Driver
On-time Delivery
Greater than 26%
Customer Service
Communication Channels
Telephone, Email, Live Chat
Queries Resolved In
Over A Week
Customer Service
1.7 out of 5
Returns & Refunds
Refunds Process
Difficult
Read National Express Reviews

About National Express:

National Express coach & bus tickets for travel to over 900 destinations throughout the UK including London airports Heathrow, Gatwick & Stansted. National Express offer Britain’s only scheduled coach network reaching around 1000 destinations in England, Scotland and Wales.

Phone:

08717 818178

Location:

National Express House, Birmingham Coach Station, Mill Lane, Digbeth
Birmingham
B5 6DD7

Write Your review

Tell us how National Express made you happy
Help future customers by talking about customer service, price, delivery, returns & refunds.
Minimum 10 characters
Would you like to add a photos or videos?
Strengthen your review by uploading photos & videos.
Drag files here or browse
(Supported files: jpg, png, mpeg, ogg, mp4 & webm)
What's your name?
Leave this blank if you'd like to publish your review anonymously.
(Optional)
What's your email?
We need your email address to verify that your review is genuine
Please note that we may share your email with the company to verify your order.
National Express 1 star review on 24th April 2024
SELMAN AKSUNGER
National Express 1 star review on 23rd May 2023
Anonymous
National Express 1 star review on 23rd May 2023
Anonymous
National Express 1 star review on 9th July 2022
You Bus Smells Like Shit
Anonymous
Anonymous  // 01/01/2019
Charged me for trying to call customer service and drains my pay-as-you-go account. Never answered the phone. I was never reimburse for a ticket I couldn't use. Terrible company and I wouldn't use them if I had any choice guess but they have a monopoly. This is a terrible situation and needs to change.
Helpful Report
Posted 1 year ago
I went to see off a relative at Victoria Coach Station. The coach station was unbearably hot and extremely over crowded. There were many delays and people feeling ill from the heat. We were told to remain at the gates for 2 hours due to a delay and the heat was so intense due to the overcrowding and sun intensified by shining on us through the glass. Don’t go there unless it’s absolutely unavoidable.
Helpful Report
Posted 1 year ago
4 hour journey and the bus smells like dust and beer, unacceptable
National Express 1 star review on 9th July 2022
Helpful Report
Posted 1 year ago
The bus drive for the 426 coach to leeds at 7:30am on july 2nd 2022 was extremely rude and wouldn't allow us to eat our breakfast on the coach. There were no signs stating that food was not allowed on the coach, there were no announcements that food was not allowed on the coach, and on top of that, the bus attendant yelled at us as if we were trying to disturb everyone on board. Can't find anything on the national express website that states no food either. Your drivers should make it very clear about their food policy and now our food has been wasted and we are forced to get to leeds without breakfast which is medically nessecary for me. I would like a refund on the amount I spent on food since my partner and I can't even eat it. On top of that it seemed that it was more of a personal choice of the driver to not allow food rather than the coach policy from the way they communicated it
Helpful Report
Posted 1 year ago
Weak under any criticism, no star is worth it. An hour late and about to lose the airplane, such a thing is not possible. I will never travel with this company in my life
Helpful Report
Posted 1 year ago
Recently took a National Express Trip Exeter - London Victoria - Norwich and back. The outbound journey was comfortable, the drivers informative and just an hours delay that was clearly due to traffic conditions in London. The Norwich - London Victoria return leg was on time and a comfortable and enjoyable journey. I would have given 5 stars but the London Victoria to Exeter return leg (NX504 - PP19) let the otherwise very good service down. The air quality was appalling, the fans were switched to maximum and made lots of noise and it was obvious that the air was being recycled. It was very stuffy, clammy and unhealthy.
Helpful Report
Posted 1 year ago
Check out this job at National Express LTD: Customer Service Advisor - Complaints https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/3105766453 They are going to be very busy!
Helpful Report
Posted 1 year ago
NEVER again! I missed my coach due to a member of staff directing me to the wrong part of the coach station, and when I realised I RAN around to my bay just as the door was being shut. The member of staff wouldn’t let me through and just walked off. The coach driver saw me but shook his head, put on his seat belt and the coach departed. I asked what I should do and was told by another staff member to visit Gate 0 (National Express office), where staff there said it was my fault for arriving late and II must buy a new ticket! I was directed to vending machines but tickets are much cheaper online. My next coach (2 hours later) was cancelled. Staff mocked us when we asked for information and said they had no idea where the driver was and we should all remain waiting at the gate. There was nowhere to charge my phone and when I asked about the ticket was directed to customer services again as I ‘must have it printed to show to the driver’ if my phone died. I queued for ages and was told to print the ticket would cost me £3, but the staff member joked ‘as a favour I can print you two for the price one’. When I tried to complain I was told to wait in the bay or I might miss my coach. When I tried to speak to staff they just walked away and ignored me or stood in a group laughing. The cancelled coach was replaced 2 hours late by another coach. When I asked when we could board the staff member said ‘I am the manager, you won’t board if you don’t wait at the gate and listen to my staff. The driver is taking a break so you will be another 45 minutes’. When I asked who to complain to another staff member said ‘we don’t deal with that here’, I was told by other passengers that the company either don’t respond to complaint emails or take over two weeks. When I asked who I could call I was directed to this number 0871 781 8181 by yet another staff member and told (by a passenger) that the phone line is a premium number which costs 13p a minute (which it is!). When I finally boarded the coach the driver was moaning about so many passengers and people with coffee. The coach toilet was out of order and another passenger was to the coach wouldn’t stop for a travel sick child. I arrived at my destination hours late and missed the event I was travelling for. They are a bunch of c***s, and mark my word, somebody is going to BLOW THAT PLACE UP WITH THE WHOLE LOT OF THEM VERY SOON!!!
Helpful Report
Posted 1 year ago
Awful service...cancelled our journey to Heathrow 24 hrs before our flight (on my wedding day) ,then a massive mess up 24 hrs before coming back from our honeymoon, changing the journey/times and not even being clear with it instead email they sent,we weren't the only passengers confused and messed about. Megabus from now i i think, diabolical from national express.
Helpful Report
Posted 1 year ago
They don't usually turn up in time . Drivers never apologies to customer s when they finally turn up very late leaving please waiting in the cold . Also I wonder why we pay so much money to get coaches that don't even provide passengers an indoor sitting area to wait in the cold.? It's obvious they all about just the money they make out of customers but don't care at all about customer comfort. Also I'm seen toilets not working at all and the driver was so rude telling passengers he's not going stop to wait for anyone to use any toilet on the way with no apologies for the toilet being broken on the coach.
Helpful Report
Posted 1 year ago
The bad experience I had with National express was my worst ever I booked a ticket on the 28th of April at 02:40 to Heathrow airport. I was at the waiting point described in the ticket 40 minutes earlier and waited until 02:45 and suddenly the bus passed without stopping to pick me up. I waited in the street at night under severe cold until 5:00 until I found a private taxi with (400£, the cheapest I found) to catch my flight I contacted the company and haven’t got any response which is even worse Would not use/ recommend it at all What made it more worse the response of the National express team that they can’t issue a refund despite they are quite sure that the bus did not stop in the waiting point I was asked to wait at I was asked to wait at stand 10 where it’s not their normal stand I’ll file a law suit against them
Helpful Report
Posted 1 year ago
Please do not sign up for any discount offers. Before you know it natexpressrewards will be taking £15 a month from your bank account. Even worse they give your details to another company mytimerewards who take a further £15 a month without asking you. This is an absolute scam and national express should be ashamed of themselves.
Helpful Report
Posted 1 year ago
Unreliable service. National Express from LHR to Oxford was the cheapest service, there’s a reason for that. Arriving 35 minutes late with the driver explaining he was having his break! When inquiring whether this always happens we were told yes, I asked why this wasn’t factored into the timetable and he shrugged. The 4:25pm bus we booked a spot on was never going to arrive at 4:25pm, according to the driver. Would not recommend as it seems there is no certainty as to when they arrive. I will add I’m obviously not against anyone taking a break, but not factoring break times into a timetable is ridiculous.
Helpful Report
Posted 1 year ago
I have advance booked from New Zealand, months ahead of the travel date in September. I find they have charged my credit card twice and for 4 passengers not 3. They tell me they have not charged twice and they cant change the ticket to three! My bank clearly shows the payment and the ticket states 4 people. I now don't trust them, nearly 150 pounds to travel from Stanstead to Heathrow, what a rip off. We have international flights to catch and I am now worried the coach service wont run on time, given all the other comments on here. This company is behaving in an appalling manner and have effectively stolen from me. Disgraceful advertisement fro travel in the UK.
Helpful Report
Posted 1 year ago
Worst company in the world. They stole my money. Horrible service, terrible employees. I want back the money you stole from me. Pay attention to your credit cards, they will steal from you, and they will charge you more than once! Do not buy tickets from this company they are a fraud! They don't answer messages, I'll comment everything I can. Do not buy anything from this company! They charged me twice on my card for incompetence, they said it was a system error and they would get my money back. I ran out of money on my trip they charged me everything I had. I want my money back!
Helpful Report
Posted 2 years ago
Extremely disappointed with National Express. I have been a regular commuter with them fur over 12 years now and I have to sadly admit I saw their reliability, timetable, customer service and support going from great to bad snd now to worse! The new idea of combining coaches routes ( 3 in my case) to get more money but less options for customers is appalling. Results are lateness all the time, no space for customers luggage, twice in a row stuck half way thhrough the already long journey to work because the driver either had enough and left us stranded aying he was then sick and hid behind his coach and problems with spaces for luggage! Please listen to your loyal customers and bring back original coaches routes and timetables. The customer support is shocking and non existent as most of offices are shut now. Never thought I'd say that after many years of being a happy commuter with NX but I will soon start looking at other ways to commute if this doesn't improve.
Helpful Report
Posted 2 years ago
Always late,no refund, no warm drinks or food given as an apology. Disrespectful juvenile staff....cheap isn't cheerful...its nasty....avoid
Helpful Report
Posted 2 years ago
A long journey 6hrs plus and no stops for stretch of legs, get food or drink and to use Toilet!!! Not customer friendly as certain people need a toilet breat, I have health issues and need a loo!! I have been warned in past to Not use bus loo!! Only if brave!! But Your coaches have always stopped before in past!! It’s criminal. Elderly, men with prostate probs, arthritis, we need to stretch our limbs, eat, it’s very customer unfriendly and if I go too long without loo I’m ill I am on medication. No way will women or indeed some men use your coach loo, the rocking of the bus will cause accidents, soiled seats and floor!! It is a health hazard on its own! You should make this clear when people book and so are warned to bring food/drink and expect to end up having an accident!! I have a long onward journey after bus!! It’s unfair!! It’s inhumane!!
Helpful Report
Posted 2 years ago
Ok first of all, today March 19 22, the bus was meant to show up at Mile End at 11:57. Never showed. Waited for 40minutes afterwards. Ticket bought online so basically went down the drain as I had to find an alternative route. Second, two weeks ago same situation in Stratford. Bus is extremely late, national express personnel have no clue when it's coming. Said the app wasn't responding so they couldn't track the bus. Had to buy another ticket for a different service. The outcome of that was MISSING THE FLIGHT. Why are you even operating?
Helpful Report
Posted 2 years ago
National express is completely unreliable, travelling to Stansted Airport from any part of London with them has become just IMPOSSIBLE. Their coaches either don't show on time or they don't show up at all. Hundreds of passengers are missing their flights because of National Express disservice, many of those who making to the airport on time have no other choice but just change their route, catch a train or a taxi. National express management should inform their customers if they are still present in the market or not. If their business is not profitable anymore they should just file bankruptcy and move on. And they should stop waste public money for such an appalling service
Helpful Report
Posted 2 years ago
National Express is rated 1.6 based on 323 reviews