Pupils travelling to four schools in Cheltenham and Bishop’s Cleeve are being encouraged to consider the Pulhams L service as the new academic year gets under way.
At a glance
| Service | Pulhams L |
| Main route | Leckhampton, Pilley, Cheltenham town centre, Rowanfield, St Mark’s, Coronation Square, Kingsditch and Bishop’s Cleeve |
| Frequency | Up to every 30 minutes |
| Full route | Monday to Saturday |
| Sunday and public holidays | Up to every 30 minutes between Leckhampton and Coronation Square only |
| Schools served | Cheltenham College, Cheltenham Ladies’ College, Pate’s Grammar School and Cleeve School |
| 18-and-under app day ticket | £3.50 |
| 18-and-under app weekly ticket | £14 |
| Timetable | View the current Pulhams L timetable |
The L provides a cross-town public bus service between Leckhampton and Bishop’s Cleeve, passing through central Cheltenham and several residential areas along the way.
Pulhams says its timetable has been designed to offer useful connections around school starting and finishing times, as well as providing travel for shopping, work, leisure and weekend journeys.
The route calls close to Cheltenham College, Cheltenham Ladies’ College and Pate’s Grammar School, while Cleeve School has a named stop on the timetable.
It is a normal public bus service rather than a dedicated school coach, meaning it remains open to other passengers throughout the day.
How the cross-Cheltenham L service works
The current version of the L began on 3 May 2026, when Pulhams linked parts of its previous L and R services.
The change created a through route between Leckhampton, Pilley, Cheltenham General Hospital, the town centre, Rowanfield, St Mark’s, Coronation Square, Kingsditch, Cleeve School and Bishop’s Cleeve.
Buses run up to every 30 minutes during much of the day from Monday to Saturday.
Not every early-morning or late-evening journey covers the entire route, so pupils should check the individual departure rather than relying only on the headline frequency.
Sunday and public holiday buses run only between Leckhampton and Coronation Square. They do not continue through Kingsditch to Cleeve School, Woodmancote or Bishop’s Cleeve.
Important Sunday restriction
The full Leckhampton to Bishop’s Cleeve route operates from Monday to Saturday.
On Sundays and public holidays, the L turns around at Coronation Square. Anyone travelling to Cleeve School or Bishop’s Cleeve should use the journey planner to find another service.
Which schools can pupils reach?
The operator identifies four schools as being served by the route. Only Cleeve School has a bus stop bearing the school’s name, while pupils attending the other three will need to walk from a nearby public stop.
| School | Useful L service stop | What families should check |
|---|---|---|
| Cheltenham College | The Exmouth Arms or Cheltenham Hospital Main Entrance | The College is on Bath Road. Confirm which stop provides the most suitable walk to the pupil’s normal entrance. |
| Cheltenham Ladies’ College | Rotunda or another central Cheltenham stop | The main College site is on Bayshill Road. Allow time to walk from the bus and check the entrance the pupil is expected to use. |
| Pate’s Grammar School | Coronation Square | The school is on Princess Elizabeth Way and describes Coronation Square as nearby. Pupils should use the designated pedestrian route. |
| Cleeve School | Bishop’s Cleeve, Cleeve School | The timetable includes a named stop at the school. Check the correct side of the road for the direction of travel. |
Parents and pupils should test the complete journey before relying on it for the first time. That includes the walk between the bus stop and school entrance, the time needed to cross roads safely and any differences between morning and afternoon stops.
Schools may also have different arrival expectations for registration, breakfast clubs, sixth-form activities and after-school sessions.
Current school-day journey examples
The weekday timetable provides several journeys that may fit school start and finish times.
For Cleeve School, whose published school day runs from 8.35am to 3.15pm, the current timetable includes buses from Cheltenham Primark at 7.20am and 7.50am, reaching the Cleeve School stop at 7.58am and 8.28am respectively.
After the school day, buses towards Cheltenham are currently scheduled to leave the Cleeve School stop at 3.27pm and 3.57pm, followed by further half-hourly journeys.
| Example weekday journey | Departure | Arrival |
|---|---|---|
| Cheltenham to Cleeve School | Primark at 7.20am | Cleeve School at 7.58am |
| Cheltenham to Cleeve School | Primark at 7.50am | Cleeve School at 8.28am |
| Cleeve School towards Cheltenham | Cleeve School at 3.27pm | Primark at approximately 4.05pm |
| Cleeve School towards Cheltenham | Cleeve School at 3.57pm | Primark at approximately 4.35pm |
These examples are taken from the timetable current at the beginning of the 2026/27 academic year. They are not a guarantee of arrival, as traffic and operational disruption can affect bus journeys.
Pulhams recommends arriving at the stop about five minutes before the advertised time. Families should check live information on the morning of travel, particularly where a connection or school registration time is involved.
Young-person fares on the L service
The lowest prices quoted by Pulhams for passengers aged 18 and under are available through its mobile app.
| Ticket | 18-and-under app price | How it works |
|---|---|---|
| One day | £3.50 | Unlimited travel for the day within the Cheltenham & Gloucester Zone |
| One week | £14 | Unlimited travel within the zone during the ticket’s validity |
| Four weeks | £51.50 | Unlimited zone travel during the four-week period |
| 12 trips | £19.50 | A bundle of 12 individual journeys, equivalent to about £1.63 per journey when all are used |
The day, weekly and four-week products cover more than the journey to and from school. They allow unlimited travel on participating Pulhams services within the Cheltenham & Gloucester Zone, which may make them useful for evening, weekend or after-school journeys.
The 12-trip ticket is different. It is not an unlimited pass and deducts a journey each time it is used.
Children aged five to 15 can also buy selected tickets directly from the driver. Current on-bus prices are £4 for a day ticket and £15 for a weekly ticket.
The on-bus child prices do not automatically apply to older pupils aged 16 to 18. Those passengers should use the app’s 18-and-under ticket range or check the correct product with Pulhams before travelling.
Single fares may cost less where a pupil makes only an occasional journey. Families should compare the expected number of trips rather than assuming a weekly or four-week pass will always be cheaper.
Current prices and zone information are available through the Pulhams fares and tickets page.
Freeflow does not currently work for child fares
Pulhams introduced its Freeflow tap-on, tap-off contactless system in July.
The system allows an adult passenger to touch a bank card or compatible phone on the reader when boarding and again when leaving the bus.
However, Freeflow is not currently suitable for child or young-person fares, weekly tickets, group tickets, return tickets or journeys requiring a ticket valid on another operator.
How pupils should buy a ticket
Using the Pulhams app: Buy and activate the appropriate 18-and-under ticket before boarding.
Buying on the bus: Ask the driver for the required child ticket and pay by cash or contactless card.
Do not simply tap on and tap off: The Freeflow system currently charges adult fares and is not intended for child or young-person travel.
Operator says timetable was designed around schools
Matthew Wooll, Commercial Manager at Pulhams, said the new academic year provided an opportunity for more families to consider the cross-town connection.
He said: “Now that the new school year is starting, we’re looking forward to welcoming back passengers and introducing new customers.”
He added that period tickets could also be used for journeys after school and during weekends, rather than being limited to the school run.
Mr Wooll joined Pulhams in 2026 and is responsible for planning and developing its local bus network across Gloucestershire and neighbouring areas.
Before joining the company, he worked as Route Development Lead at Heathrow Airport and held earlier public-transport roles in the Thames Valley.
Part of wider Pulhams investment
The promotion of the L service follows a period of expansion for Pulhams.
In March, the operator unveiled 15 electric buses and upgrades to its Golden Valley depot following an £8.17 million investment.
The project included 16 charging points, improvements to staff facilities and new vehicle infrastructure. Funding came from the Go-Ahead Group, the Department for Transport and Gloucestershire County Council.
Pulhams has not said that every journey on service L will be operated by an electric vehicle, so passengers should not assume that a particular departure will use one of the new buses.
The operator has also introduced the X52 between Cheltenham and Oxford and made changes to services including the 801 and the number 40 link serving the Cotswolds Designer Outlet.
How to check the timetable
| Online timetable | Pulhams service L page |
| Live tracking | Available through the Pulhams app and interactive timetable |
| Fare information | Pulhams fares and ticket zones |
| Telephone | 01451 820369 |
| info@pulhams.co.uk | |
| Office hours | Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm |
Pupils should check for service updates before leaving home and allow extra time during the first weeks of term, when traffic levels and boarding demand may be higher.
Parents arranging a new school journey should also make sure their child knows the correct stop, direction of travel and alternative plan if a bus is delayed or missed.
Frequently asked questions
Where does the Pulhams L bus run?
The full route links Leckhampton and Pilley with Cheltenham General Hospital, the town centre, Rowanfield, St Mark’s, Coronation Square, Kingsditch, Cleeve School and Bishop’s Cleeve.
How often does the L service run?
It runs up to every 30 minutes. Some early and late journeys cover only part of the route, so passengers should check the specific departure.
Does the full route operate on Sundays?
No. On Sundays and public holidays, the L runs between Leckhampton and Coronation Square but does not continue to Cleeve School or Bishop’s Cleeve.
Does the bus stop at Cleeve School?
Yes. The official timetable includes a stop named Bishop’s Cleeve, Cleeve School.
Which stop should pupils use for Pate’s Grammar School?
Coronation Square is the most useful stop identified on the route. The school is on Princess Elizabeth Way and describes Coronation Square as nearby. Pupils should check the safest walking route to the school entrance.
How much is a young-person day ticket?
The 18-and-under day ticket costs £3.50 through the Pulhams app. A child day ticket bought from the driver currently costs £4 for ages five to 15.
How much is a weekly ticket?
The 18-and-under app ticket costs £14 for one week. The on-bus child weekly ticket for ages five to 15 costs £15.
Does the £19.50 ticket provide unlimited travel?
No. It is a bundle of 12 individual journeys. The day, weekly and four-week products provide unlimited travel within their validity period.
Can pupils use Freeflow tap on, tap off?
Not for a child or young-person fare. Freeflow currently applies to adult single and day travel. Pupils should use the Pulhams app or ask the driver for a child ticket.
Is the L a dedicated school bus?
No. It is a scheduled public bus service used by school pupils and other passengers.
Where can passengers see live times?
Live tracking and journey information are available through the Pulhams app and the service L timetable page.
