Children in England to enjoy free bus travel following popular West Country policy
All children under the age of 16 will be able to travel for free
Next month, all children aged 5 to 15 in England will be able to travel for free on local buses, following the policy's success in the West Country.
It means families will now be able to save on the typical child fare of £1 to £2 nationwide.
Since its inception in summer 2025, Kids Go Free has provided significant financial relief to families in Bristol, Bath and beyond, saving them more than £1.4 million and benefitting over 150,000 children aged 5 to 15.
Analysis shows the scheme has been particularly impactful in lower-income communities, with bus journeys increasing by 98% in areas within the lowest 10% income bracket and an 89% increase seen in areas among the lowest 30%.
Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, confirmed the scheme’s continuation for the next three years:
“I am so excited that Kids Go Free is back again! We have guaranteed the funding for the next three years so children and young people in our part of the world can hop on the bus for free every Summer, Christmas and Easter school holidays until at least 2029."
"We know what a massive impact this has had for families in the West, helping kids explore the best of the West and putting money back in parents’ pockets. I am thrilled that the government has seen how successful our scheme has been, and that Kids Go Free is going national for August. This will give West Country families the chance to explore even further.”
Secretary of State for Transport Heidi Alexander described the initiative as part of broader efforts to make outings affordable:
"Great British Summer Savings means more people can be excited about getting out and about this summer, whether it's seeing the Roman Baths, learning something new at the Science Museum, or falling asleep on the bus ride home after a day riding rollercoasters at Alton Towers."
"I know that the cost of living is a concern for households across the UK, which is why we're cutting the cost of the day-to-day, with free bus travel for children this summer and the £3 bus fare cap helping more families make the most of the small plans that make life enjoyable."
Councillors from Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol City, and South Gloucestershire emphasised the benefits:
“We know that Kids Go Free is helping families save money, and hope to see more children and young people exploring our local high streets and attractions over the school holidays too. There is so much to explore in the West, including by using the new and improved bus services starting on 26th July, and we want as many people to benefit from that as possible."
The initiative is funded through some of the Bus Grant funding secured by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority and North Somerset Council from the Department for Transport.