Southampton Christmas Lights Switch On

On Thursday 14th November, Southampton will come alive with colour as they switch on the Christmas lights and the first Flying Santa flight takes place.

Above Bar Street between Civic Centre Road (KFC/Sprinkles) and Pound Tree Road (Nationwide bank) will be closed from 10am until around 11pm.

Bargate Street/Hanover Buildings will also be closed between 4:30pm and 8:00pm, as Santa takes to the skies.

As a result, many services will be diverted all day, with a one diversion in place between 10am-4:30pm and again at 8-11pm and another in place between 4:30-8pm.

We apologise for the inconvenience this will cause.

BLUESTAR 1 AND 2

Between 10am-4:30pm and 8-11pm

Buses will be unable to serve the Above Bar bus stops AC and AD. Your nearest alternative will be Hanover Buildings

Between 4:30 and 8pm

Buses will be unable to serve Hanover Buildings or the Above Bar bus stops AC and AD. Your nearest alternative will be on Castle Way close to West Quay, by the old Walls / pedestrian bridge.

BLUESTAR 3 AND 16

Between 10am-4:30pm and 8-11pm

Into the City centre, buses will be unable to serve the bus stops at New Road / Park Walk and Above Bar Stop AB all day, but will serve Vincents Walk and Bargate Street as normal

Between 4:30 and 8pm

Buses will be unable to serve the New Road and Above Bar Stops, but will serve Vincents Walk, then divert via Queensway and High Street to Castle Way, where they will terminate/start from the stop close to West Quay, by the old Walls / pedestrian bridge.

BLUESTAR 4, 7, 17, 18 AND 19 to CENTRAL STATION/SHIRLEY

Between 10am-4:30pm and 8-11pm

From Vincents Walk, buses will run via Pound Tree Road, Palmerston Road, New Road, Civic Centre Road and Havelock Road. Buses will be unable serve Above Bar Stop AF or Commercial Road / Art Gallery.

Between 4:30 and 8pm

Bluestar 17 and 19 from Castle Way will continue ahead onto Portland Terrace and ahead onto Havelock Road.

Bluestar 4, 7 and 18 - no change.

BLUESTAR 7, 17, 18 AND 19 from CENTRAL STATION

Between 10am-4:30pm and 8-11pm

Buses will run from West Park Road, right onto Havelock Road and continue ahead onto Portland Terrace. Bluestar 7 and 18 will then turn left onto Bargate Street/Hanover Buildings where Bluestar 7 re-joins normal route, Bluestar 18 will use the roundabout to come back onto Bargate Street for normal route to Bitterne. Bluestar 17 and 19 will continue ahead from Portland Terrace onto Castle Way to re-join normal route.

Between 4:30 and 8pm

Bluestar 7 and 18 will divert as above to Portland Terrace, then continue ahead onto Castle Way, Bluestar 7 continues via High Street, Bernard Street and Queensway to Houndwell Place/Debenhams to re-join normal route, Bluestar 18 will turn using St George's Street back to Castle Way, and serve the stop close to West Quay, by the old Walls / pedestrian bridge, before re-joining normal route to Bitterne.

Bluestar 17 & 19 - no change.