Great British Summer Savings

From 1st – 31st August 2026 inclusive, the Government is funding free bus travel for children on bus routes in England making it cheaper for families to go out as a group, visit the beach, the park, go out for a meal or the cinema.

Terms and conditions apply and some bus routes are not included in this scheme.

Children aged 5 to 11

All children aged 5 to 11 must be accompanied by a fare paying adult to benefit from this scheme.  All adult single bus fares are currently £3 or less. A concessionary card holder is classified as a fare paying adult.

When you board the bus, you must tell the driver where you are going and how many 5–11-year-olds you have travelling with you.  Each child will be issued a ticket which must be retained for the whole journey.  If you’re making more than one trip in any one day, each child will have to be issued with a ticket for every journey made.

However, as the fare paying adult, we recommend you use tap on tap off to pay, so your daily fare will be capped at the cost of a Dayrider in the zone you are travelling in.

Children aged 11 – 15 years

They are allowed to travel on the bus independently as part of the scheme.  When they board the bus, they must tell the driver where they are going and wait for a ticket to be issued.  They must keep hold of the ticket for the whole length of the journey.

Children aged 14 - 15 years - proof of age required!

For children aged 14 and 15 they will need proof of age with them such as a birth certificate, passport, school pass showing their year group for 2025/2026. They don't have to have the actual document as a clear photograph of their birth certificate or passport on a mobile phone will be acceptable. If the person cannot confirm their age and the driver reasonably suspects they may be older than the scheme, they will need to pay the appropriate fare in order to travel. 

What if my 15-year-old is taking their younger sibling out with them who is under 11?

This is not allowed under this scheme.  To receive the free travel the youngest child can only travel with someone aged 16+ years and they may be asked for ID.

Will ID be required?

For children aged 14 and 15 they will need proof of age with them such as a birth certificate, passport, school pass showing their year group for 2025/2026. They don't have to have the actual document as a clear photograph of their birth certificate or passport on a mobile phone will be acceptable. If the person cannot confirm their age and the driver reasonably suspects they may be older than the scheme, they will need to pay the appropriate fare in order to travel. 

What routes are excluded from the scheme?

All nightbuses, The New Forest Tour, The Needles Breezer, The Downs Breezer and The Stonehenge Tour (although The Stonehenge Tour does qualify for some of the Great British Summer Savings vat reduction).

What if the child you are responsible for already has a bus pass that covers this period?

For those who are eligible who have prepaid monthly or three-monthly tickets, an appropriate partial refund through customers services can be claimed. To do this you will need to call customer services on 01202 338420 Monday to Friday between 0800 and 1730.