Bus N3 in Edinburgh links Terminus and West Maitland Street. The route is 25.6 km long with 80 stops, and the official schedule from Lothian Buses puts the full trip at about 49 minutes. On a weekday it runs 4 trips in one direction, and 5 on a weekend day.
Route at a glance
| Mode | Bus |
|---|---|
| Route number | N3 |
| City | Edinburgh |
| Operator | Lothian Buses |
| Start → end | Terminus → West Maitland Street |
| End → start | West Maitland Street → Terminus |
| Route length | 25.6 km / 27.8 km in the opposite direction |
| Number of stops | 80 / 83 in the opposite direction |
| Travel time | about 49 minutes |
| Trips per day | 4 on weekdays, 5 on weekends one way |
| Frequency | — |
| First / last trip from «Terminus» | 01:12 / 04:12 |
| First / last trip from «West Maitland Street» | 00:01 / 03:06 |
| Fare | 2.40 £ (fare in effect since 22 February 2026) |
| Updated | August 22, 2026 |
Route of Bus N3
Outbound: Terminus → West Maitland Street
This direction has 80 stops and runs 25.6 km. The route passes Powdermill Brae, Hamilton Crescent, Jarnac Court, Glenvarloch Crescent. Below is the full list with the distance from the first stop.
| No. | Stop | From start | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Terminus | 0.0 km | Terminus |
| 2 | Powdermill Brae | 0.4 km | |
| 3 | Powdermill Brae | 0.6 km | |
| 4 | Gorebridge Inn | 1.0 km | |
| 5 | Police Station | 1.1 km | |
| 6 | Leisure Centre | 1.4 km | |
| 7 | Arniston Engine | 1.8 km | |
| 8 | New Hunterfield | 1.9 km | |
| 9 | Barleyknowe Crescent | 2.1 km | |
| 10 | Hogarth Avenue | 2.2 km | |
| 11 | St Andrews Primary School | 2.5 km | |
| 12 | Gowkshill Farm | 2.8 km | |
| 13 | The Crescent | 3.0 km | |
| 14 | McGahey Court | 3.5 km | |
| 15 | Mining Museum | 3.7 km | |
| 16 | Fourth Street | 4.2 km | |
| 17 | Dean Park Place | 4.3 km | |
| 18 | Station Road | 4.6 km | |
| 19 | Park Road | 5.0 km | |
| 20 | Bryans Avenue | 5.3 km | |
| 21 | Hamilton Crescent | 5.5 km | |
| 22 | Suttieslea Place | 5.8 km | |
| 23 | Blackcot Avenue | 6.2 km | |
| 24 | Blackcot Road | 6.4 km | |
| 25 | Newbattle Centre | 6.7 km | |
| 26 | Stone Place | 7.0 km | |
| 27 | Roundabout | 7.2 km | |
| 28 | Elm Place | 7.4 km | |
| 29 | Mayfield Place | 7.6 km | |
| 30 | Hawthorn Centre | 7.9 km | |
| 31 | Hawthorn Crescent | 8.1 km | |
| 32 | Little Acre | 8.4 km | |
| 33 | Easthouses Way | 8.6 km | |
| 34 | Easthouses Road | 8.9 km | |
| 35 | Hepburn Drive | 9.6 km | |
| 36 | Primrose Terrace | 9.7 km | |
| 37 | Bruce Gardens | 9.9 km | |
| 38 | James Lean Avenue | 10.1 km | |
| 39 | South Street | 10.8 km | |
| 40 | Jarnac Court | 10.9 km | |
| 41 | Kings Park | 11.3 km | |
| 42 | Glenesk Crescent | 11.5 km | |
| 43 | Eskbank Toll | 11.8 km | |
| 44 | Station Road | 11.9 km | |
| 45 | Westfield Park | 12.3 km | |
| 46 | Muirpark | 12.6 km | |
| 47 | Dobbies Garden World | 14.6 km | |
| 48 | Gilmerton Junction | 15.8 km | |
| 49 | Gilmerton Station Road | 16.5 km | |
| 50 | Drum Cottages | 16.8 km | |
| 51 | Drum Street | 17.1 km | |
| 52 | Gilmerton Crossroads | 17.2 km | |
| 53 | Gilmerton Primary School | 17.6 km | |
| 54 | Guardwell Glen | 17.8 km | |
| 55 | Moredun Park Road | 18.2 km | |
| 56 | Moredunvale Road | 18.4 km | |
| 57 | Liberton High School | 18.6 km | |
| 58 | Claverhouse Drive | 19.0 km | |
| 59 | Glenvarloch Crescent | 19.2 km | |
| 60 | Ivanhoe Crescent | 19.4 km | |
| 61 | Glenallan Drive | 19.6 km | |
| 62 | Orrok Park | 20.0 km | |
| 63 | Nether Liberton Lane | 20.1 km | |
| 64 | Lady Road | 20.4 km | |
| 65 | Suffolk Road | 20.6 km | |
| 66 | East Savile Road | 21.0 km | |
| 67 | Mayfield Gardens | 21.3 km | |
| 68 | Minto Street | 21.5 km | |
| 69 | Salisbury Place | 21.6 km | |
| 70 | Newington Road | 21.9 km | |
| 71 | Bernard Terrace | 22.2 km | |
| 72 | St Patrick Square | 22.6 km | |
| 73 | Surgeons’ Hall | 22.9 km | |
| 74 | South Bridge | 23.3 km | |
| 75 | Princes Street (Waverley Steps) | 23.9 km | |
| 76 | Princes Street (Scott Mon.) | 24.1 km | |
| 77 | Princes Street (west) | 24.7 km | |
| 78 | Shandwick Place | 25.2 km | |
| 79 | Atholl Crescent | 25.4 km | |
| 80 | West Maitland Street | 25.6 km | Terminus |
Inbound: West Maitland Street → Terminus
This direction has 83 stops and runs 27.8 km. The route passes Shandwick Place, Moredunvale Road, Easthouses Road, Station Road. Below is the full list with the distance from the first stop.
| No. | Stop | From start | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Maitland Street | 0.0 km | Terminus |
| 2 | Shandwick Place | 0.5 km | |
| 3 | Princes Street (west) | 0.9 km | |
| 4 | Princes Street (Scott Mon.) | 1.5 km | |
| 5 | South Bridge | 2.4 km | |
| 6 | Surgeons’ Hall | 2.8 km | |
| 7 | St Partick Square | 3.1 km | |
| 8 | Bernard Terrace | 3.3 km | |
| 9 | Newington Road | 3.6 km | |
| 10 | Salisbury Place | 3.8 km | |
| 11 | Minto Street | 4.1 km | |
| 12 | Mayfield Gardens | 4.4 km | |
| 13 | East Savile Road | 4.7 km | |
| 14 | Suffolk Road | 5.0 km | |
| 15 | Lady Road | 5.3 km | |
| 16 | Nether Liberton Lane | 5.5 km | |
| 17 | Orrok Park | 5.6 km | |
| 18 | Glenallan Drive | 6.0 km | |
| 19 | Glenvarloch Crescent | 6.4 km | |
| 20 | Claverhouse Drive | 6.6 km | |
| 21 | Liberton High School | 7.0 km | |
| 22 | Moredunvale Road | 7.2 km | |
| 23 | Moredun Park Road | 7.6 km | |
| 24 | Guardwell Glen | 7.8 km | |
| 25 | Gilmerton Primary School | 8.1 km | |
| 26 | Gilmerton Crossroads | 8.4 km | |
| 27 | Drum Street | 8.6 km | |
| 28 | Drum Cottages | 8.9 km | |
| 29 | Gilmerton Station Road | 9.2 km | |
| 30 | Gilmerton Junction | 9.9 km | |
| 31 | Dobbies Garden World | 11.0 km | |
| 32 | Muirpark | 12.9 km | |
| 33 | Westfield Park | 13.2 km | |
| 34 | Bonnyrigg Road | 13.4 km | |
| 35 | Glenesk Crescent | 13.9 km | |
| 36 | Croft Street | 14.4 km | |
| 37 | Buccleuch Street | 14.6 km | |
| 38 | James Lean Avenue | 15.2 km | |
| 39 | Bruce Gardens | 15.5 km | |
| 40 | Primrose Terrace | 15.7 km | |
| 41 | Hepburn Drive | 15.9 km | |
| 42 | Easthouses Road | 16.4 km | |
| 43 | Easthouses Way | 16.8 km | |
| 44 | Little Acre | 17.0 km | |
| 45 | Hawthorn Crescent | 17.3 km | |
| 46 | Hawthorn Centre | 17.5 km | |
| 47 | Mayfield Place | 17.8 km | |
| 48 | Elm Place | 18.0 km | |
| 49 | Buckie Road | 18.2 km | |
| 50 | Oak Crescent | 18.5 km | |
| 51 | Finlay Place | 18.8 km | |
| 52 | Larch Crescent | 19.0 km | |
| 53 | Hughes Crescent | 19.2 km | |
| 54 | The Kilns | 19.6 km | |
| 55 | Sycamore Road | 20.0 km | |
| 56 | Stone Place | 20.4 km | |
| 57 | Blackcot Road | 20.8 km | |
| 58 | Blackcot Avenue | 21.1 km | |
| 59 | Suttieslea Place | 21.5 km | |
| 60 | Bryans Avenue | 22.0 km | |
| 61 | Park Road | 22.3 km | |
| 62 | Station Road | 22.6 km | |
| 63 | St Anne’s Court | 22.9 km | |
| 64 | Dean Park Place | 23.0 km | |
| 65 | Fourth Street | 23.1 km | |
| 66 | Mining Museum | 23.6 km | |
| 67 | McGahey Court | 23.8 km | |
| 68 | The Crescent | 24.3 km | |
| 69 | Gowkshill Farm | 24.5 km | |
| 70 | St Andrews Primary School | 24.7 km | |
| 71 | Greenhall Road | 24.9 km | |
| 72 | Barleyknowe Crescent | 25.1 km | |
| 73 | Greenhall Crescent | 25.3 km | |
| 74 | Arniston Engine | 25.4 km | |
| 75 | Leisure Centre | 25.9 km | |
| 76 | Newbyres Crescent | 26.1 km | |
| 77 | Gore Avenue | 26.3 km | |
| 78 | Newbyres Crescent | 26.5 km | |
| 79 | Police Station | 26.8 km | |
| 80 | Gorebridge Inn | 26.9 km | |
| 81 | Powdermill Brae | 27.3 km | |
| 82 | Powdermill Brae | 27.5 km | |
| 83 | Terminus | 27.8 km | Terminus |
Schedule and frequency
According to the official schedule from Lothian Buses, the route runs 4 trips in one direction on a weekday, and 5 on a weekend day.
| Direction | Weekdays | Weekends and holidays |
|---|---|---|
| From «Terminus» | 01:12 — 04:12 | 01:12 — 04:12 |
| From «West Maitland Street» | 00:01 — 03:06 | 00:01 — 03:36 |
Fare and payment
A single ride costs 2.40 £ — fare in effect since 22 February 2026. The same fare applies to Lothian buses in Edinburgh.
A single bus journey costs £2.40 and covers one journey only — it gives no transfer and is not valid on Edinburgh Trams. A City DAYticket is £6.00 and works on both bus and tram; contactless travel is capped at £5.70 a day.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a ride on bus N3 cost?
2.40 £ for a single ride — fare in effect since 22 February 2026.
When do the first and last trips run?
From Terminus the first is at 01:12 and the last at 04:12. From West Maitland Street they are 00:01 and 03:06.
How long does the trip from Terminus to West Maitland Street take?
About 49 minutes end to end — the median of full trips in the official schedule.
How many stops does the route have?
80 outbound and 83 inbound according to the official GTFS feed. The two lists do not match exactly.
Does bus N3 run on weekends?
Yes. On weekends and holidays there are 5 trips in one direction, running from Terminus between 01:12 and 04:12.
Every route number with its termini, operating hours and travel time is collected in the Edinburgh buses overview.
Data current as of August 22, 2026. Schedule and termini — Lothian Buses. Fares — Lothian Buses. Stop list, schedule and route geometry come from the official GTFS feed (Bus Open Data Service (BODS)).