Do you have to take your exact coach time on the way home?

[mynameisjonny]

We've got a single coach on the way to Glastonbury (oops) so we're trying to book a coach for the return to London.

The only time available with National Express is midday on the Monday. If we booked this, could we just turn up at the coach departure point at, say, 4am Monday and get on the next available one? Do they police timings?

[Glast0baby]

As far as I am aware, yes, you have booked a physical seat on a coach.  Normally there is a large crowd of ppl waiting for the NE coaches and you are only allowed forward to queue for a coach once your timed coach is announced.  It's normally very busy and coaches are full. 

Might you be able to blag your way on if ticket holders haven't turned up? I dunno.  Haven't tried, so sorry, I can't help.  Given how busy the coaches are this would strike me as a risky strategy, but who knows!  

If you desperately  need to get home earlier, consider the shuttles to Castle Cary or BTM train stations.  If this is just inclination as opposed to necessity, I'd only note that a 12pm coach sounds much less stressful then trying to catch the 4am!  Gives you a good amount of time to get some kip, strike camp, get brekkie and attempt the slog across the site with all your gear. 

[SGR]

For seeticket coaches in the past on the way back it was a free for all onto the coaches. They didn't even check if you had a ticket let alone you were on the right coach. 

[mph]

A lot of people don't make the return on see tickets coaches, getting a lift home with friends so ask on here.

I'll have a return to Brighton if anyone is interested 

[Beerqueen]

National Express are stricter with their bookings than SeeTickets.  Tbh I think you'd be better off trying to get on a SeeTickets coach as I don't think they usually check you've got a ticket let alone on the right time!