Commute from Tonbridge to Canary Wharf & London

The safest and easiest way to commute to Canary Wharf & London, in as little as 51 mins form your door! Flexible and refundable ticket options at a fraction of a rail fare with convenient stops close to your home and workplace. Try it for free!

We also run from the following destinations:

Tunbridge Wells to Canary Wharf

Sevenoaks to Canary Wharf

Your safety and wellbeing

Commute in confidence, knowing that the coach is the safest way to get to London. We've reduced seating capacities and fitted safety screens to give you more space, enhanced our vehicle cleaning, including anti-viral interior fogging and, we're rolling out an electronic ticket and reservation system for added flexibility.

Convenient and cost-effective

Commuting by coach is easy with convenient stops located close to your home and workplace. We offer a range of flexible ticket options with great savings on rail fares. Also, we've reviewed our ticket terms so that you can buy in confidence knowing that you can cancel at any time if you can't travel.

There are several ways to find departure times:

  • Use the 'Find your route' tool - input your home or work postcode, click the 'find routes' button and a list of the closest available stops will be displayed. Use the links displayed for each stop to view the applicable timetable.
  • Locate the route number closest to your home by viewing our route network map and view the timetable for that route.

For further information regarding bus stop locations and departure times please contact our sales and reservations team.

 

Centaur operate 5 separate routes in Kent serving Sevenoaks, Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells and the surrounding areas. In London all coaches follow the same route via Canary Wharf, the City, Embankment and Westminster.

 

Kent routes (view map):

  • 786 (Zone 3) - Tunbridge Wells: Matfield > Pembury > Hawkenbury > Broadwater Down > Tunbridge Wells Centre > Southborough > Bidborough
  • 788 (Zone 3) - Tunbirdge Wells: Langton Green > Rusthall > Tunbridge Wells Centre > High Brooms > Southborough > Bidborough
  • 793 (Zone 3) - Tunbirdge Wells/Tonbirdge: East Peckham > Pembury > High Brooms > Knights Wood > South Tonbridge
  • 789 (Zone 2) - Tonbridge/Paddock Wood: Paddock Wood > Five Oak Green > Tudely > Tonbridge Centre > Higham Wood > Hildenborough
  • SEV (Zone 1) - Sevenoaks: Farningham > Eynsford > Shoreham > Otford > Sevenoaks Centre > Dunton Green > Riverhead > Chipstead

 

London route (view map):

  • London - Canary Wharf, Aldgate, Tower Hill, London Bridge / Cannon Street, Blackfriars, Temple*, Embankmeent*, Whitehall*, Westminster*, Victoria*, Millbank* & New Covent Garden*.

 

*AM only, these bus stops are not served during PM journeys towards Kent.

 

Firstly, view our network map to locate the route that is closest to your home. Please note that some popular locations are served by more than one route. Once you have identified the route(s) that is convenient for you, visit our commute homepage and open the relevant timetable. In London all services follow the same route.

You can also view the bus stops we serve on Google Maps by clicking any blue bus stop icon. If one of our routes serves the stop, the route number will be displayed in the bus stop information pane under the "Intercity buses" section.

Don't hesitate to contact our sales and reservations team for further help or information regarding bus stop locations and departure times.

 

You'll find the following comfort and convenience facilities on board our coaches:

  • Free Wi-Fi
  • USB charging points at each seat*
  • Reclining leather seats*
  • More legroom than the train
  • Toilets
  • Air-conditioning
  • Reading lights
  • Seat back tables and/or cup holder
  • Overhead baggage rack (and use of luggage hold for larger items)

Please note that the above facilities are available on all regular commuter vehicles, except where stated. Occasionally, due to operational factors, a spare/stand-by vehicle may be allocated which may not be fitted with every facility.

*USB charging and leather upholstery is currently available on approx 80% of the commuter fleet, with all remaining vehicles due to be upgraded by Sep 2020.

Yes, every passenger is guaranteed a seat. We monitor demand closely and allocate suitably sized vehicles to each route. In addition, we position relief vehicles and drivers in strategic locations to ensure we can cope with any unexpected demand.

Yes, of course! We offer a two-day trial completely free of charge and welcome all potential new customers to give us a try.

Please complete our online form to book your free trial. Once we've received your details, we will contact you to register on our mobile ticket platform so that we can send you your complimentary tickets.

To travel on our commuter services, you'll need a mobile ticket. These can be purchased online and will be delivered immediately by e-mail. Once received, simply turn up at the bus stop and show your mobile ticket to the driver for scanning. There is no need to pre-book your journey or reserve a seat.

To find out more about our mobile tickets, visit our mobile ticket FAQ page.

Alternatively, you can purchase a Single or Day Return ticket from the driver using contactless payment. Please note that our drivers are unable to accept cash.

Simply show your mobile ticket to the driver as you board. Our drivers carry a ticket machine to scan the QR code on your mobile ticket to check its validity.

When you board the coach, please present the QR code to the driver. If you are showing the driver your mobile ticket on your phone, please zoom into the QR code so that the ticket machine can easily read it.

Yes, tickets are valid for travel either to or from London.

Our routes are grouped into different zones for ticket pricing (similar to the Underground):

 

Zone Route(s)
Zone 1 Sevenoaks
Zone 2 789
Zone 3 786, 788, 793

View network map showing all routes and zone.

Yes, but a £5 upgrade charge may be applicable depending on the ticket you currently hold. Please get in touch with our sales and reservations team for further information.

We've introduced our "Rail Ticket Trade-In" to help offset some or all of the losses you may incur when switching to Centaur. With special discounts on our season tickets, we’ll make the change as seamless as possible.

Find out more >

Search for networks on your device and connect to "centaur-coaches". Once connected please wait up to 30 seconds for the network sign-in pop-up or page (depending on device) to appear. Accept the t&c's and click the connect button, you're all set to surf!

Yes, you can track the location of our services using our coach tracker.

Yes, all of our coaches are fitted with baggage racks or lockers above every seat. For large items of luggage, bicycles, etc. please advise your driver who will place it in the luggage hold area of the vehicle. If possible, please contact our sales and reservations team prior to travelling with a large item so we may inform the driver ahead of your journey.

For safety reasons it is not possible to store large items in the passenger seating area.

For large items of luggage, bicycles, etc. please advise your driver who will place it in the luggage hold area of the vehicle. If possible, please contact our sales and reservations team prior to travelling with a large item so we may inform the driver ahead of your journey.

For safety reasons it is not possible to store large items in the passenger seating area.

If you think you have lost something please contact our sales and reservations team via our contact form or phone as soon as possible. We will typically respond within a few hours but it can take longer if we have to check a vehicle and recover the item to our depot.

If we find your item it can be collected on-board a coach via the driver, in person or for small items we can arrange to return by post (charges may apply).

Several of our stops in London are only served during AM journeys, and it is not possible to board a coach here for a PM journey towards Kent. This improves reliability by avoiding Parliament Sq. and Whitehall during PM journeys, areas that are often subject to unpredictable traffic conditions caused by political related events.

For travel advice regarding reaching our PM stops by other modes of transport or for any other bus stop related queries please contact our sales and reservations team.

Refunds are available for Annual, Bi-annual and 4-week season tickets. Single, Day Return, 1 Week and Books of Single tickets are non-refundable. To arrange a refund please contact our sales and reservations team.

We welcome all feedback, which we use to help us improve our service. For general feedback please complete our contact form.

Visit tickets.centaurtravel.co.uk and register for an account. Verify your account via email.

Once verified, log in to your account at tickets.centaurtravel.co.uk and make your purchase. Once checkout is complete, you will receive your mobile ticket by email; you can also print your mobile ticket at this stage if you prefer. Or, if you wish to email or print your mobile ticket later, you can log back into your account and access your mobile ticket via the 'My tickets' button located at the top of the page.

To purchase mobile tickets, you must register for an account at tickets.centaurtravel.co.uk. This is so that we can issue your mobile tickets to you via email.

If you do not wish to register for an account, you can buy a Single or Day Return ticket from the driver via contactless payment. Please note that our drivers are unable to accept cash.

No, payments are no longer processed via PayPal.

Simply register for an account at tickets.centaurtravel.co.uk and use your debit or credit card to make payment.

No, it is only possible to use one mobile ticket from your account on the same journey.

If you are travelling with a friend or family member, they must register for their own account at tickets.centaurtravel.co.uk or buy a Single or Day Return ticket from the driver via contactless payment. Please note that our drivers are unable to accept cash.

You must have a valid ticket for travel, and drivers are not authorised to allow any passenger to board without a valid ticket.

If you are having problems accessing your mobile ticket, please contact us asap for assistance. If you cannot contact us, you must buy a Single or Day Return ticket from the driver via contactless payment to travel. Please then contact us after your journey so we can arrange a reimbursement.

It is simple to issue yourself a replacement mobile ticket.

Login to your account at tickets.centaurtravel.co.uk and click the 'My tickets' button at the top of the page to view your tickets. Email or print yourself a replacement using the red buttons.

You must have a valid ticket for travel.

Yes, you can buy a Single or Day Return ticket from the driver via contactless payment. Please note that our drivers are unable to accept cash.

All other tickets are available to buy online at tickets.centaurtravel.co.uk

You must have a valid ticket for travel, and drivers are not authorised to allow any passenger to board without a valid ticket.

If you cannot show your mobile ticket, you must purchase a Single or Day Return ticket via contactless payment from the driver. Please note that our drivers are unable to accept cash.

Our drivers carry a ticket machine to scan the QR code on your mobile ticket to check its validity.

When you board the coach, please present the QR code to the driver. If you are showing the driver your mobile ticket on your phone, please zoom into the QR code so that the ticket machine can easily read it.

No, from 20 Sep 2021, you do not need to pre-book or reserve a seat before you travel. 

Simply turn up at the bus stop and present your mobile ticket for scanning or purchase a Single or Day Return ticket from the driver via contactless payment. Please note that our drivers are unable to accept cash.

If you are travelling from a request stop (e.g. Bexley, Black Prince), you will still need to notify us in advance of your travel in the usual way.

Yes, you will only receive a single mobile ticket (with QR code) if you purchase a multi-journey or season ticket. You should use this mobile ticket every time you travel.

We operate a mobile ticket system on our Canary Wharf and London commuter service. Using the system is easy, and all you need to do is create an account, buy your mobile ticket, which will be delivered to you by email and then present it to your driver upon boarding the coach.

To find out more about purchasing and using a mobile ticket and answers to common questions, please see the FAQ list below. Alternatively, if you would like to discuss mobile tickets with a member of our team, please do not hesitate to contact us.

We operate a mobile ticket system on our Canary Wharf and London commuter service. Using the system is easy, and all you need to do is create an account, buy your mobile ticket, which will be delivered to you by email and then present it to your driver upon boarding the coach.

To find out more about how to purchase and use a mobile ticket and answers to common questions, please read the Mobile tickets help and FAQ page.

The coach tracker displays all commuter coaches currently in service, and there are two ways to identify a coach using the tracker.

1. Drop-down menu: Select a specific coach from the drop-down menu located in the top right-hand corner of the coach tracker. Coaches are identified by the route number and departure time from the first stop. So in the example below, the coach selected is 786 departing at 16:35, otherwise identified as 786a PM.

2. Coach marker pin: Click the blue pin to open a pop-up showing the following service information.

Route ID The route number and departure time from the first stop
Description Route overview indicating departure and destination areas
Depart name Name of the first bus stop on the timetable
Arrival name Name of the last bus stop on the timetable
Vehicle last update The last time the coach GPS was updated

 

Coach marker pins are updated 4-5 times every minute, so the location of the coach tracker is generally very accurate. However, due to technical or geographical issues, sometimes updates can be delayed, resulting in the vehicle appearing further away than it is. We strongly recommend customers check the 'Vehicle Last Updated' time when using the coach tracker, as this indicates the time that the vehicle was recorded at the location indicated by the blue marker pin.

Please note that Centaur accepts no liability for a missed trip resulting from improper use of the coach tracker, GPS update delays, or other application errors.

Yes, the coach tracker is a web-based application and can be accessed via any mobile or desktop web browser.

The coach tracker displays all active Centaur commuter services. You can see further service information for each coach by clicking the blue marker pin.

For further help and assistance using the coach tracker, please read the other FAQ items on this page or contact us.

Please note that the coach tracker does not display the location of contract or private hire vehicles.

Commuter coaches do not appear on the coach tracker until approximately 20 mins before the first bus stop departure time. If the coach you are trying to track is not displaying, we kindly advise you to check back nearer to the departure time.

The Centaur commuter service operates Monday to Friday only, excluding bank holidays.

You can see the remaining trips left on your ticket by logging into your account at tickets.centaurtravel.co.uk. Once logged in, click the 'My tickets' button at the top of the page. Valid tickets are shown in the 'Live tickets' section, and the remaining trips are shown on the right-hand side of each ticket adjacent to the 'print ticket' button.

Yes, this is no problem. Flexi-tickets are designed to offer the best fare for the travel frequency specified, but there is no restriction on how often you can use the ticket. For example, if you hold a 'Flexi 2-days-a-week' ticket and wish to travel three or four days in one week, this is fine.

We've been operating our commuter service since 2012 and have helped thousands of commuters from Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge, Sevenoaks, and the surrounding areas save time and money by catching the coach instead of the train or using their car.

Commuting with us is a convenient and cost-effective way to get to Canary Wharf and London. Many customers board the coach at a bus stop only a few minute's walk from their home, avoiding extra travel costs like car parking and tube fares.

For more information on commuting by coach, please read the FAQ below.

Boarding

Please make yourself as visible as possible when waiting at a bus stop by standing adjacent to the curb, outside of any bus shelter, and raising your hand to hail the driver. Please ensure that you are in sight as the driver approaches.

Alighting

You will find a bell push button above your seat on most of our coaches, which you can press to alert the driver as you approach your bus stop. These buttons either have a bell or service icon. We also advise informing your driver as you board where you plan to alight, particularly if you are a new customer, in case the coach you are travelling on does not have a bell push button.

A contract coach hire service is a contract for a short or long term period based on your needs. It’s suitable for educational institutions as well as businesses. Contractual hire of our coaches is more profitable for organisations where regular travel is required - whether it’s school trips, corporate days and more.

We provide both short term and long term coach contract services. Our team of experts work with you to create a tailored plan based on your requirements, and with our modern fleet of coaches available, rest assured we’ll get you where you need to be comfortably and affordably.

We serve customers nationwide, as well as provide coach transport into Europe. The most popular locations we serve are close to our hub in the South East, and they include Kent, Sussex, Essex, Surrey and London

We provide affordable and flexible coach hire contracts that essentially help you save on costs in the long run, allowing you to invest in other areas of your business. To learn more about how much you can save, please get in touch with us.

Within our fleet of coaches, the minimum booking required to hire a coach is 8 people. We provide minibuses that cater to groups of 8 to 22, as well as standard coaches that start from 32 seats.

For larger groups where comfort and space is needed, we recommend our executive coaches. Ranging from 22 seaters to 63 seater coaches, our executive range boasts modern interiors, air conditioning, reading lights, reclining seats and lots more features to ensure your journey is as comfortable as it can be. Additionally, our group coaches are ideal for day trips, excursions, corporate trips, school trips and more.

Simply head over to our hire a coach page, fill in your details, and a member of our team will be in touch with a quote to discuss the next steps.

Our prices for group coach hire are per vehicle and not per passenger.