There’s so much to discover as a student in York, whether you want to enjoy the local nightlife or dig in to the rich history of the city – local bus services can get you where you want to be.

The U1, U2 and U3 First Bus services stop directly outside SPARK:York on Merchantgate before continuing their journeys towards the University of York campus and York Sport Village.

This route has frequent buses (during term time) every 7-8 minutes between York City Centre and the campus, with 24-hour buses between York City Centre and the campus with U1 & UN1.

The U1 will take you from York Sport Village and campus into York City Centre via Green Dykes Lane and Lansdowne Terrace. Get off at Merchantgate/Piccadilly for SPARK!

The U2 takes you from York Sport Village and campus into York City Centre via The Retreat and the Barbican. Also get off at Merchantgate/Piccadilly for SPARK!

The U3 takes you from campus into York City Centre via Fulford. You also get off at Merchantgate/Piccadilly for SPARK!

The UN1 which runs on evenings will take you from campus into York City Centre, helping to provide a 24-hour bus service from the University into the city centre. Like the other university services, you also get off at Merchantgate/Piccadilly for SPARK!

A single journey on these buses are currently capped at just £1.50 – with daily, weekly, and monthly passes also available.

Did you know our traders offer student discount offers? Click here to find out more on our dedicated Students Hub page!

Some top tips from SPARK when it comes to catching a bus:

• When your bus is approaching, remember to always stick your arm out to signal to the driver that you would like to catch this bus. Otherwise your the driver may not know he needs to stop.
• If you’ve bought a ticket on their app, make sure your ticket is activated in your wallet and ready to scan before you board. Some tickets may have a time limit after activating, during which the ticket must be scanned on the bus (you will receive a warning about any time limit before confirming activation).
• When on board the bus, make sure to press the bell in plenty of time before your stop. If no bell is pressed, the driver will continue going and you may miss your stop.
• If there’s anything you’re unsure on – ask your driver! They are there to help and can advise you on tickets, services and more.