The number 3 is one of the longest and most useful bus routes around Portsmouth, running all the way from Fareham in the north down to the seafront at Southsea. It threads through the hospital, Cosham and the city centre on the way, so it is a handy single ride for a lot of common journeys.
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Here is the route, its timetable, the stops and the fare.
The number 3 at a glance
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Route | Number 3, Portsmouth and Fareham |
| Operator | First Bus, trading as Solent |
| Runs between | Fareham and Southsea, at South Parade Pier |
| Via | Portchester, QA Hospital, Cosham, North End, the city centre and The Hard |
| Single fare | £3 single, charged on your first ride each day |
| Daily cap | £5.40 a day in the Portsmouth zone |
| First and last (weekday) | First about 04:14, last about 23:02 from Fareham |
| Ways to pay | Tap on and off by card, the app, or cash |
| Updated | November 2026 |
The number 3 timetable
The 3 runs from the early hours until late at night on weekdays, and it is frequent for most of the day. This is roughly the weekday pattern.
| Time of day, Monday to Friday | How often a bus comes |
|---|---|
| Through the day | About every 10 to 12 minutes |
| Early morning and evening | Less often, spreading out towards the first and last buses |
| First bus from Fareham | About 04:14 |
| Last bus from Fareham | About 23:02 |
Saturdays and Sundays run to a lighter timetable, so look up those days, and the exact minute of your bus, in the First Bus App.
Stops from Fareham to Southsea
The 3 calls at these main stops on its way across to the seafront.
| No. | Stop | What is nearby |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fareham Bus Station | The northern end and the town centre |
| 2 | Portchester | For Portchester Castle |
| 3 | Paulsgrove | Allaway Avenue and the shops |
| 4 | QA Hospital | Queen Alexandra Hospital, the main entrance |
| 5 | Cosham | Shops and the rail interchange |
| 6 | Hilsea | By Hilsea Lido |
| 7 | North End | A busy shopping parade |
| 8 | Lake Road | Towards the city centre |
| 9 | Portsmouth City Centre | Commercial Road and the Guildhall |
| 10 | The Hard | Gunwharf Quays and the harbour |
| 11 | Southsea | The shops and the seafront |
| 12 | South Parade Pier | The end, on Southsea seafront |
Not every journey serves every stop in exactly the same way, so the app is the quickest way to confirm your stop.
The 3 on the map
The map traces the run from Fareham in the north round the top of the harbour and down to Southsea seafront.
It is a long run end to end, so most riders use it for a stretch of the route rather than the whole way.
What the 3 costs
Fares on the 3 are the same flat prices First Bus uses right across Portsmouth.
| Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| Single, first journey of the day | £3 |
| Daily cap, Tap On Tap Off | £5.40 |
| Weekly cap | £21 |
How to pay on the number 3
There is no ticket office for the 3, so you pay as you board, and these are the ways to do it:
- Tap a contactless card or phone on the reader as you get on, then tap the same one again as you step off. That tap on, tap off pairing is what applies the £5.40 daily cap, so any journeys after the cap cost nothing.
- Buy in the First Bus App before you board and show the active ticket. The app is also where under-19s, students and group tickets are sold.
- Pay the driver in cash as you get on, with the £3 single ready, as drivers carry limited change.
Whichever you pick, you buy on the bus itself or in the app rather than at the stop. For the full fare detail and the rest of the network, see our First Bus Portsmouth guide.
Catching the 3
Where does the number 3 bus go?
From Fareham down to Southsea and South Parade Pier, by way of Portchester, QA Hospital, Cosham, North End, the city centre and The Hard.
How much is the number 3?
A single is £3, capped at £5.40 a day in the Portsmouth zone with Tap On Tap Off, so extra journeys after the cap are free.
When does it run?
From about 04:14 in the morning to about 23:02 at night on weekdays, roughly every 10 to 12 minutes in the day. For the wider network, see our guide to buses in Portsmouth.
Portsmouth And put this together from First Bus route, timetable and fare information. Last updated: November 2026. Check live times in the First Bus App before you travel.
