The number 23 stands out from Portsmouth’s other buses for one simple reason: it never stops. Run by Stagecoach rather than First, it links Havant with Southsea around the clock, so it is the route to know for an early shift, a late flight home or a night out in town.
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Here is where it goes, how often it runs day and night, and what a ticket costs.
The 23 at a glance
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Route | Number 23, Havant to Portsmouth |
| Operator | Stagecoach |
| Runs between | Havant and Southsea, at South Parade Pier |
| Via | Cosham, North End, the city centre and The Hard |
| Service | 24 hours a day, 7 days a week |
| Single fare | Capped at £3, and usually less |
| After 7pm | A NightRider gives unlimited travel for £2.70 |
| First from Havant | About 05:00 |
| Updated | November 2026 |
A bus that runs around the clock
The 23 is one of Portsmouth’s rare 24-hour buses, running every day and right through the night. That is what makes it so useful, and this is roughly how often it comes.
| Time of day | How often a bus comes |
|---|---|
| Daytime | Up to every 10 minutes |
| Evening | Up to every 20 minutes |
| Through the night | About once an hour |
The first daytime buses leave Havant around 05:00 and reach Southsea about forty minutes later. Overnight the 22 and 23 are timed to connect, so you can get between Southsea, Portsmouth, North End and Leigh Park without changing. For the exact minute of your bus, use the Stagecoach app or the timetable at the stop.
Stops from Havant to Southsea
The 23 calls at these main stops on its way into the city and out to the seafront.
| No. | Stop | What is nearby |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Havant Bus Station | The northern end, by Havant town and station |
| 2 | Farlington | Rectory Avenue and the edge of the city |
| 3 | Drayton | Residential Drayton and Farlington |
| 4 | Cosham | Shops and the rail interchange |
| 5 | North End | A busy shopping parade |
| 6 | Portsmouth City Centre | Commercial Road and the Guildhall |
| 7 | The Hard | Gunwharf Quays and the harbour |
| 8 | Southsea | The shops, towards the seafront |
| 9 | South Parade Pier | The end, on Southsea seafront |
Night journeys can follow a slightly different pattern, so check the Stagecoach app if you are travelling in the small hours.
The 23 on the map
The map follows the route from Havant in the north down through Cosham and the city centre to Southsea seafront.
End to end it is a fair ride, but many people use it for a hop between Havant, Cosham and the city.
Fares on the 23
Stagecoach sets the fares on the 23, and single journeys are capped under the national scheme:
- a single is capped at £3, with most journeys costing less, from around £1.50 to £2.50;
- after 7pm a NightRider gives unlimited travel for £2.70;
- a DayRider covers a whole day, and buying several at once brings the price down;
- you can tap a contactless card or phone, or buy in the Stagecoach app.
Those prices apply whichever way you choose to pay.
How to pay on the 23
The 23 has no ticket office, so you buy as you board. Pick whichever of these suits the way you travel:
- Tap a contactless card or phone on the reader as you get on, and the £3 single cap is applied for you, so you never pay more than the cap however far you ride.
- Buy in the Stagecoach Bus app ahead of time, which is also where the NightRider and DayRider work out cheapest.
- Pay the driver in cash on boarding; under-19s in Portsmouth can ask the driver for the discounted council-funded single.
Nothing needs collecting beforehand, as the ticket is bought on the bus or in the app each time. Most of the city’s other buses are run by First, covered in our First Bus Portsmouth guide.
Riding the 23 at any hour
Does the 23 bus really run all night?
Yes. It runs 24 hours a day, every day, with buses about once an hour through the night.
Where does the 23 go?
From Havant down to Southsea and South Parade Pier, through Cosham, North End, the city centre and The Hard.
How much is the 23?
A single is capped at £3 and is usually less, and after 7pm a £2.70 NightRider gives unlimited travel.
Who runs the 23?
Stagecoach, which is unusual in Portsmouth, where most routes are run by First.
How often does it come in the day?
Up to every ten minutes, so you rarely wait long. For the wider network, see our guide to buses in Portsmouth.
Can I change to a train from the 23?
Yes. It calls at Cosham and runs into the city, so you can change for trains at Cosham or Portsmouth and Southsea along the way.
Portsmouth And put this together from Stagecoach route, timetable and fare information. Last updated: November 2026. Check live times in the Stagecoach app before you travel.
