Travelling to school
Our day pupils come from a wide range of surrounding areas
Our day pupils come from a wide area incorporating Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire and North London. Some travel more than 40 miles (as the crow flies), bypassing schools in more inaccessible locations.
Our beautiful rural setting, reached via freely running country roads, means that our school is quick and easy to access. Journey times are predictable as parents (and our bus drivers) escape the traffic jams and hold-ups associated with school runs to more urban locations.
Our buses are used exclusively by our pupils and are a popular choice. Many families join car sharing arrangements, either on a formal or informal basis, which lower the cost and time commitment for parents.
Bus service
We have an extensive network of buses used exclusively by Kimbolton School pupils. In the mornings, Prep School children are usually transferred from the Senior School on a single bus; in the afternoons, Prep School pupils travel to the Senior School on a single bus accompanied by a member of staff who helps them transfer to the correct buses.
We also have two buses that run a more limited service for Senior School pupils involved in after-school sports matches or activities. These depart at 6 pm and drop off at ‘hub points’ in eastward and westward directions from the school.
The coaches are owned and operated by Robinson’s of Kimbolton and meet all current safety standards, including seatbelts that we require all pupils to use.
Over a third of our pupils, including one in six at our Prep School and some in the Reception Year, use our bus service each week.
Cost of travel
Our bus service is non-profit making. We base the termly charge on the radial distance travelled and frequency of use. Please look up the price band listed against your required stop and then refer to the table below.
Note: The charge for a single ad hoc journey is £9.70 (all bands).
| Price Band | Mon-Fri Return | Mon-Fri AM/PM only | One Day Per Week Return | One Day Per Week AM/PM Only |
| A | £286 | £186 | £86 | £58 |
| B | £318 | £205 | £95 | £63 |
| C | £397 | £259 | £120 | £80 |
| D | £480 | £313 | £144 | £96 |
| E | £561 | £365 | £168 | £114 |
| F | £643 | £418 | £192 | £129 |
| G | £724 | £470 | £217 | £144 |
| H | £806 | £523 | £241 | £161 |
| I | £886 | £578 | £266 | £177 |
Routes & timetables 2023/2024
We review our routes each year and revise them when sufficient demand exists. Our buses cover a wide area.
One of our routes includes a stop at Huntingdon railway station and provides a connection to the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway. This runs from south Cambridge, through central and north Cambridge, to St Ives and Huntingdon.
Please be at your departure point at least 3 minutes early and be ready to board the coach.
Notes for all routes:
- KS1 to KS9 are Monday to Friday only. KS12 and KS3456 are Monday to Friday late pm routes.
- p = 16.20 Prep pupils transferred by single coach to Castle.
- Blank time = Not a departure/arrival point
KS1: Raunds, Stanwick, Higham Ferrers, Rushden, and Yelden.
| AM departure point and/or PM arrival point | Mon–Fri Depart | Mon–Fri Arrive | Price band |
| Raunds – Market Square | 07.30 | 17.28 | D |
| Stanwick – Spencer Parade bus stop | 07.35 | 17.18 | D |
| Higham Ferrers – Windmill Banks bus stop (near Simpson Avenue) | 07.40 | 17.08 | D |
| Higham Ferrers – High Street bus stop (near Green Dragon PH) | 07.41 | 17.03 | E |
| Higham Ferrers – High Street/Tollbar bus stop | 07.42 | 17.02 | E |
| Rushden – Home Bargains/RC Church bus stop | 07.44 | 17.00 | E |
| Rushden – Bedford Road/Manning Street l | 07.48 | 16.56 | E |
| Rushden – Bedford Road/Rugby Club bus stop | 07.52 | 16.55 | E |
| Yelden – Brick bus stop | 08.01 | 16.43 | E |
| Kimbolton School | 08.30 | 16.30 | |
| Kimbolton Preparatory School | 08.40 | 16.20 |
KS2: Kettering, Barton Seagrave, Islip, Thrapston, Bythorn, and Catworth.
| AM departure point and/or PM arrival point | Mon–Fri Depart | Mon–Fri Arrive | Price band |
| Kettering-Foster Way bus stop | 07.34 | 17.32 | I |
| Kettering – Northampton Road bus stop | 07.35 | 17.31 | I |
| Barton Seagrave – layby near A6/Warkton Lane junction | 07.44 | 17.21 | H |
| Islip – Kettering Road bus stop | 07.55 | 17.10 | E |
| Thrapston – H’don Rd (bus stop between Highfield & Orchard Rd.) | 08.00 | 17.05 | E |
| Bythorn – Warren Lane Bus Stop | 08.08 | 16.52 | C |
| Brington Primary School | 08.14 | 16.46 | C |
| Catworth – Bus stop | 08.19 | 16.41 | B |
| Kimbolton School | 08.30 | 16.30 | |
| Kimbolton Preparatory School | 08.40 | 16.20 |
KS3: St Neots, Crosshall, Great Staughton.
KS3A: Great Gransden, Little Gransden, Gamlingay, Waresley, Abbotsley, Hail Weston.
| AM departure point and/or PM arrival point | Mon–Fri Depart | Mon–Fri Arrive | Price band |
| KS3A – Great Gransden – West Road/Poplar Close junction | 07.26 | 17.25 | G |
| KS3A -Little Gransden – Primrose Hill, village hall | 07.31 | 17.20 | G |
| KS3A -Gamlingay – Waresley Road (Opposite WI Hall) | 07.40 | 17.15 | G |
| KS3A -Waresley – Duncombe Arms PH | 07.44 | 17.10 | G |
| KS3A – Abbotsley – Church | 07.50 | 17.05 | F |
| KS3 – St Neots – Cambridge Street bus stop nr junction Longsands Road* | 08.00 | 08.00 | D |
| KS3 – Market Sq | 08.05 | 16.50 | D |
| KS3 Crosshall, Eaton Oak | 16.45 | D | |
| KS3A – Hail Weston – bus stop | 08.14 | 16.41 | C |
| KS3 – Great Staughton – bus stop near village hall | 08.19 | 16.35 | B |
| Kimbolton School | 08.29 | 16.30 | |
| Kimbolton Preparatory School | 08.40 | 16.20 |
KS4: Sawtry, Alconbury Weald, Great Stukeley, Huntingdon, Brampton, Buckden, Grafham and Ellington.
| AM departure point and/or PM arrival point | Mon–Fri Departs | Mon–Fri Arrive | Price band |
| Sawtry – Bus stop on village green nr jnc Fen Lane | 07.15 | 17.45 | F |
| Alconbury Weald – B1043 bus stop near Admiral Homespace | 07.25 | 17.30 | D |
| Great Stukeley – village hall bus stop | 07.30 | 17.22 | E |
| Huntingdon – Stukeley Road bus stop near St Margarets Way | 07.35 | 17.16 | E |
| Huntingdon – layby near Scholars Avenue (by post box) | 07.40 | 17.08 | E |
| Brampton – High Street near shops | 07.45 | 17.00 | D |
| Buckden – High Street near war memorial | 07.55 | 16.52 | C |
| Grafham – Model Farm. Buckden Rd | 07.58 | 16.46 | C |
| Grafham – Cinnamon restaurant | 08.01 | 16.45 | C |
| Ellington Thorpe | 16.41 | C | |
| Kimbolton School | 08.30 | 16.30 | |
| Kimbolton Preparatory School | 08.40 | 16.20 |
KS5: Fenstanton, Hemingford Grey, Hemingford Abbots, Ellington, and Stow Longa.
| AM departure point and/or PM arrival point | Mon–Fri Departs | Mon–Fri Arrive | Price band |
| Hilton – Potton Road | 07.34 | 17.36 | F |
| Fenstanton – High Street, clock tower | 07.42 | 17.27 | F |
| Hemingford Grey – Glebe Road | 07.49 | 17.18 | G |
| Hemingford Abbots – Village hall | 07.53 | 17.12 | F |
| Ellington – Mermaid PH | 08.10 | 16.49 | F |
| Stow Longa – bus stop nr Green | 08.17 | 16.39 | B |
| Kimbolton School | 08.25 | 16.30 | |
| Kimbolton Preparatory School | 08.35 | 16.20 |
KS6: Somersham, Colne, Bluntisham, St Ives, Houghton, and Spaldwick.
| AM departure point and/or PM arrival point | Mon–Fri Depart | Mon–Fri Arrive | Price band |
| Somersham – The Pasture | 07.26 | 17.37 | I |
| Colne – High Street phone box | 07.31 | 17.32 | I |
| Bluntisham – High Street – Baragraph bus stop | 07.35 | 17.27 | I |
| St Ives – Houghton Road bus stop over Pursers Corner (AM only | 07.42 | G | |
| St Ives – Ramsey Road bus stop near TNS Toyota (PM only) | 17.16 | G | |
| St Ives – Houghton Road/Garner Drive bus stop | 07.45 | 17.13 | G |
| RAF Wyton, Main Gate | 07.50 | 16.45 | G |
| Spaldwick – The George PH | 08.13 | 16.45 | B |
| Kimbolton School | 08.28 | 16.30 | |
| Kimbolton Preparatory School | 08.40 | 16.20 |
KS7: Bedford, Milton Ernest, Bletsoe, Riseley, and Keysoe.
| AM departure point and/or PM arrival point | Mon–Fri Depart | Mon–Fri Arrive | Price band |
| Wilden – Ravensden Rd (jn. With Shrubberry Lane) | 07.32 | 17.18 | D |
| Bedford – Park Ave bus stop between Pemberley Ave/De Parys Ave (AM ONLY) | 07.47 | D | |
| Bedford – Park Ave bus stop between Pool and Park Gates (PM ONLY) | 17.04 | D | |
| Bedford – Clapham Rd bus stop nr Linden Rd | 07.49 | 17.02 | D |
| Milton Ernest – A6 Queen’s Head PH bus stop | 07.57 | 16.56 | D |
| Bletsoe – The Avenue/Old Way | 08.03 | 16.52 | C |
| Riseley – High Street/The Barns | 08.10 | 16.45 | B |
| Keysoe – Chequers PH bus stop | 08.15 | 16.38 | A |
| Kimbolton School | 08.30 | 16.30 | |
| Kimbolton Preparatory School | 08.40 | 16.20 |
KS8: Godmanchester, Offord D’Arcy, Great Paxton, Little Paxton and St Neots.
| AM departure point and/or PM arrival point | Mon–Fri Depart | Mon–Fri Arrive | Price band |
| Godmanchester – Earning Street (Exhibition PH) | 07.40 | 17.11 | E |
| Godmanchester – West Street (The Priory) | 07.41 | 17.09 | E |
| Offord Cluny – High St bus stop nr Station Ln | 07.45 | 16.59 | D |
| Offord D’arcy – High Street bus stop near Orchard Way | 07.50 | 16.57 | D |
| Great Paxton – bus stop High Street/Brookside | 07.54 | 16.54 | D |
| Little Paxton – Gordon Road/Boardman Close | 08.04 | 16.47 | D |
| Crosshall, Gt. North Road, Eaton Oak layby | 08.11 | 16.47 | D |
| Kimbolton School | 08.32 | 16.30 | |
| Kimbolton Preparatory School | 08.40 | 16.20 |
KS9: Needingworth, Houghton, Wyton and Hartford.
| AM departure point and/or PM arrival point | Mon–Fri Depart | Mon–Fri Arrive | Price band |
| Needingworth – bus stop nr Queens Head PH | 07.31 | 17.23 | H |
| Houghton | 07.43 | 17.10 | F |
| Wyton | 07.45 | 17.08 | F |
| Hartford | 07.53 | 17.00 | F |
| Kimbolton School | 08.30 | 16.30 | |
| Kimbolton Preparatory School | 08.40 | 16.20 |
Late bus
The late buses depart at 6 pm with stops at the following locations:
- Westbound (KS12): Thrapston, Raunds, Kettering, Higham Ferrers
- Eastbound (KS3456): Brampton, Buckden, Hartford, Hemingford, Huntingdon, St Ives, Great Gransden
As the buses stop on an ‘as required’ basis, the timings of their arrivals at stops are fluid. Please keep in contact with your Senior School child as to their progress along the route.
Booking information
The School Services Manager sends out a bus information pack to all parents (new and existing) in July. To apply for a regular place, please apply via the engage parent portal.
Important notes
An application form must be completed to request a place on our bus service.
Please apply online using the Engage Parent Portal and create a Bus Booking Daybook entry, note the following before making a booking:
- Payment for bussing will be added to your termly bill and taken in advance.
- All places are reserved for the academic year and charged termly. Places are allocated on a first come, first served basis.
- A half term’s written notice is required if you wish to stop using the bus service; provisional notice may be given if you are unsure when your circumstances are likely to change.
- Bus passes will be issued to children via tutors at the start of term. Children must carry their pass on each journey and be prepared to show it as required. Those without a pass may be charged for an ad hoc journey.
- Please make sure that your child is able to contact you – or has a number for the driver to use – in the event of any problems such as your child missing their stop.
- All pupils must wear seatbelts at all times when on the bus. Please make your child is aware of this requirement.
Getting here
By road
Preparatory School – Sat Nav Ref: PE28 0JJ
Senior School | Sixth Form – Sat Nav Ref: PE28 0EA
From the north on the A1: Leave the A1 at Buckden on the B661 following the signs for Kimbolton via Perry, which is on the edge of Grafham Water, into Great Staughton. Turn right in Great Staughton onto the B645. Kimbolton is three miles beyond Great Staughton.
From the south on the A1: Leave the A1 westbound on the B645 just north of St Neots signposted Rushden. Once on the B645, Kimbolton is clearly signed and is reached after approximately six miles.
From the north on the M1 via the A14: Leave the M1 at Junction 19 and join the A14 travelling east bypassing Kettering and Thrapston. At the junction with the B660, signposted Catworth and Bedford, turn south. Continue for four miles through Catworth. The B660 meets the B645 in Kimbolton. At the T-junction turn right for the Preparatory School and left for the Senior School.
From the south on the M1 via the A45: Leave the M1 at Junction 15 and join the A45 bypassing Northampton, Wellingborough and Rushden. At Rushden follow the signs for Bedford on the A6. After travelling one mile on the A6 towards Bedford turn left on the B645 signposted Kimbolton. On passing the village sign, the Preparatory School is on your right with the Senior School in the centre of the village.
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Please be aware that during peak hours (8.30-9.15am and 3.45-4.30pm) a one way system operates and entry to the Senior School should be via the Iron Gates entrance 800m to the east of the Gatehouse on the B645.
No high vehicles should use the Iron Gates. Coaches should park adjacent to the Donaldson Building.
By train
We are approximately 40 minutes north of London by train and our nearest railway station is St Neots.
By air
- 40 miles from London Luton and London Stansted airports.
- 80 miles from London Heathrow airport.
- 70 miles from Birmingham Airport.
