Lothian Buses Reviews 327

TrustScore 2 out of 5

1.9

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Review summary

Based on reviews, created with AI

Most reviewers were unhappy with their experience overall. Many people expressed dissatisfaction with the service, citing frequent delays and buses running off-schedule, which often led to missed connections and being late for work. Customers also reported issues with the staff, particularly bus drivers, who were often described as rude, unhelpful, and dismissive, sometimes even refusing to stop for passengers or provide assistance to those with disabilities. Some people were dissatisfied with the customer service at the Waverley Travel Hub, finding staff unhelpful and inflexible regarding card top-ups and inquiries. Additionally, several reviewers mentioned problems with the delivery service, experiencing buses that were either significantly late or too early, and a general lack of communication regarding schedule changes or bus stop closures.

What people talk about most

Service

Consumers find service to be negative, with many expressing disappointment and frustration. Reviewers... See more

Staff

Customers consistently note negative experiences with staff, particularly bus drivers. Many reviewers... See more

Location

Customers had ambiguous experiences with location. Many reviewers expressed frustration with bus stop... See more

Delivery service

Clients share negative opinions on delivery service, with many expressing frustration over late arrivals and... See more

Customer service

People report negative experiences with customer service. Many reviewers describe interactions with rude... See more

Based on these reviews

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

Due to an accident, I am disabled and required the assistance of a mobility aid in the form of a 4 wheel zimmer. The relatively new 100 seater (route 11) buses are totally impractical, apart from a... See more

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

Why have a timetable for the 31 bus route. Every second bus is cancelled. And every other bus arrives late/early. I will revert to using my car adding to congestion/environmental decline etc etc. this... See more

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

Travelling back to the airport during a summer heatwave. I was on the bus for an hour. The temperature outside was 25° but inside the AC was turned off and felt like 40°. I've always had a positiv... See more

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

Not punctual. I miss what I have to do, get late to work etc regularly because buses run late. The system of letting everyone out, then letting everyone in one by one takes indeed lots of time. D... See more


Company details

  1. Transportation Service
  2. Bus and Coach Company
  3. Taxi Service

Information provided by various external sources

Public Transport Operator of the Year 2018 We’re here to help Mon-Fri 0800-1800 AND Sat & Sun 0830 -1430 We don’t respond to expletive laden or offensive tweets


Contact info

1.9

Poor

TrustScore 2 out of 5

327 reviews

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Rated 2 out of 5 stars

Ice cold buses

Ice cold buses, ridiculous. I would put the overpaid boses on these freezing buses every day for hours, there would be heating in a second. Stop saving our money on our heating on our buses you greedy plums.

January 8, 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

GET REAL

What a lot of sad people reviewing here about buses running late. Have they ever seen the amount of road works and diversions throughout Edinburgh and you still want your bus on time. I am amazed hw the drivers cope at times. Get real!!!

March 11, 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Terrible bus service, do not use

Buses never on time, always delayed, overall terrible bus service which always causes massive delays to journeys. Buses can also sometimes come way too early which means you need to wait half an hour for the next bus

March 13, 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Frequent Delays and Infrequent Service

I am currently at one of the Lothian bus stops where one of their busses is already over 10 minutes late and not scheduled to show up for at least another five. The only bus that I can use for my daily journey is regularly late and only runs an hourly service for the majority of the day which means delays often have a large knock on effect.

March 12, 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Patience and Good Humour.

I've used this bus service now for over three years and drivers are so often polite and patient. Do they have a regular supply of patience pills? Today's just one more example of a bus driver waiting just those few moments longer while the old man (me) and the old dog try to trot to the bus stop. But I see this on almost ever journey, good humour, careful driving and unending patience. This has to be part of the culture. Well done Lothian Buses!

March 1, 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 2 out of 5 stars

Tracker doesn't work and bus service is bad.

What happened to Lothian buses? Before the so called pandemic, the bus service was great, After it, it's gone to pot and now a bus pass is £80.00. I think they have a bit of a cheek to raise prices when the service is not very good. I've always loved Lothian buses and have always thought they were great but not now. Nearly every night it's a long wait and I thought buses were meant to be every 15 minutes. I always have to get another bus and walk for miles to get home when I should be able to hop on a bus and get straight home. I'm pained to have to write this but It's getting stressful just trying to get a bus.

February 24, 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Awesome new fleet

I loved the service and am very impressed with the introduction of the Volvo Mcv BZL DD electric bus. Seats are comfortable and the red lights were nice

December 20, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Does the 141 exist

Does the 141 exist? Should have been 2 141’s go through the bush campus while waiitng. Then had to get a 37 to gowkley moss, crossed over in time for a 47 who saw me (with pram) and drove off. Now an 1hr after I shoul have been home, I’be still got 40 mins until I’m home and a freezing baby.

January 28, 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

What happens if you give a bus company a monopoly

Constant bus stop closures – just once in my life, I want to see their main bus stop in the city centre operational.
Bus fares for which you need to take out a mortgage.
And bus drivers that must count among the absolutely absolutely rudest people on this green earth.
Avoid if you can – but since they're exploiting their monopoly to the max, you probably can't.

January 18, 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 2 out of 5 stars

Not punctual

Not punctual. I miss what I have to do, get late to work etc regularly because buses run late. The system of letting everyone out, then letting everyone in one by one takes indeed lots of time. Drivers change in the middle of the road making delays even longer. Once our bus for some reason was staying at a stop for an hour or so just behind the other broken bus. I arrived super late for my assignment.
Traffick light system in Edinburgh is indeed appalling, however it's not LB fault. It's one of big reasons for delays.
Wifi doesn't always work. Getting down from second floor is really dangerous while the bus is moving.
Separate thing is that topping up bus card is possible only in their office, not even at the machine as it normally works in many countries. And the offices shut at 5.30 pm lol
If there are trouble makers on bus drivers don't care. Someone was smoking a cigarette and driver didn't say anything.
I'm am really considering to stop using public trans in Edinburgh and switch to cycling

December 21, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

What a truly terrible service the 46…

What a truly terrible service the 46 bus is.
For a bus that takes people to & from the RIE it's awful.
Turns up at random times if it bothers to turn up at all..
Bus operator of the year ?
Compared to what?
Wagons in the Wild West.
The form asks the date of your experience, sadly not an option for selecting every day.

December 4, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Unreliable timetable and useless app

What a horrible company and totally useless app.

You might think that the app would tell you the time a bus will be in a stop, because each bus it is supposed to share their location. Be sure that the bus will be 3 stops ahead at the time that is shown on the app.

Previous app worked much much better. After having used the latest version for months, I can still say that it is totally useless, worse than useless. Unreliable.

Some drivers are very unhelpful and don’t know where the rout of the bus goes when it is diverted.

They are lucky that there is no other bus company because many would never use them again.

November 28, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Law unto themselves

Law unto themselves,ZERO customer service. Passengers regularly say thank you driver but drivers rarely acknowledge their passengers.Staff don't have any customer service nous and honestly their personal hygiene is disgusting. There's no competition here in Edinburgh, hence Lothian buses are a law unto themselves and continue to get away with atrocious and unprofessional behavior!

November 24, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

What’s the point? They haven’t even claimed this page!

What’s the point? They haven’t even claimed this page! That tells you all you need to know about Lothian Buses.
North Leith Sands tonight, below 0 temps. Waited an hour for either a 16 or 17.
The 17 starts its route just around the corner at Ocean Terminal so no real excuse! Lots of annoyed people waiting to get to the airport. I hope they all complain!

November 21, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

I've took the bus 14 number from…

I've took the bus 14 number from pennywell cottages to greendykes terminal bus was delayed by 4 minutes that's completely ok I sat in the bus at 2pm I don't know how the driver is driving it's so slow even though this is not even rush hour there is not much traffic but I think driver is unable to drive this from 4 minutes he delayed the bus for almost 21 minutes. It's so frustrating.

November 18, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Rude behaving

How would you feel if you wave for a bus, the bus pulls in, and then the driver speed up without you in the bus?
Isn't that rude?

November 18, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Cuz i lost my bus card and i found it…

Cuz i lost my bus card and i found it again but i applied for new card so my card has been blocked so today i was going to school and i was late the bus driver didn't show kindness but an other lady helped me heartless driver don't have heart for kids and edution just I'm from another country

November 6, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Bus service 12 at 13:12 failed to stop

Bus service 12 at 13:12 failed to stop for me. Standing at the Exchange bus stop, saw the bus, stuck my arm out and the driver just sped past me. This is the 2nd time this week! It is absolutely shocking that your bus drivers don't have the competence to stop at a bus stop. Also, after the alleged "timetable adjustments" the X18 from armadale to Edinburgh is still severely delayed. Half hourly service regularly turns near hourly as buses continue to be up to 30 minutes late.

October 17, 2025
Unprompted review

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