Explore Bath by night with free Park & Ride services

Visitors to Bath can enjoy free Park & Ride travel from 19 to 24 January, thanks to the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority.

From 5pm each night, all return services from Lansdown, Newbridge, and Odd Down Park & Ride sites will be free to use. And with services running until 11.30pm, it’s an ideal way for people to enjoy a meal, cinema or theatre visit without needing to park in the city centre.

Since the spring, the regional authority has invested £250,000 to increase the frequency of services from these Park & Rides, which previously finished at 8:30pm. Buses now run every 15 minutes until the last services depart Bath city centre at 11.30pm. For further details, visit www.travelwest.info/freep&r

Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, said:

“We want to give people heading into Bath the opportunity to see for themselves just how easy it is to use our Park & Ride services. There’s no need to sign up or register, simply park up at Lansdown, Newbridge, or Odd Down and then hop on the bus for free from there.

“Kids went free all summer and again over the Christmas holidays on all our buses, and now everyone can on the 21, 31, and 41 services to Bath! With more than 100 new green buses across the West, and more on the way, together we’re beginning to build a bus network that works for local people.”

Councillor Manda Rigby, Cabinet Member for Communications and Community, said:

“Following the success of the evening extension implemented last April, it’s now even easier to experience Bath with free Park & Ride return journeys after 5pm between 19 and 24 January from Lansdown, Newbridge and Odd Down.

“With services running until 11.30pm – and Bath’s Park & Ride rated second‑best in the country for a third year in succession – it’s a simple, sustainable way to enjoy our city’s culture. From performances at the Theatre Royal, gigs at The Forum and Komedia, and our outstanding independent restaurants, bars and cinemas without needing to park in the city centre.”

Rob Pymm, Commercial Director at First Bus, West of England & Wales:

“This is a great way for visitors and local people to get into Bath and enjoy everything the city has to offer.

“Using the Park & Ride saves the hassle and cost of parking and by reducing car journeys into the city, helps to relieve congestion, create cleaner air and bring benefits for all road users.

“We’re delighted to be supporting the scheme and look forward to welcoming everyone on board.”

Bath Park & Ride routes include service 21 from Newbridge, service 31 from Lansdown, and service 41 from Odd Down. All services will be completely free after 5pm between Monday 19 and Saturday 24 January (inclusive).

This is the latest fare offer from the Mayoral Combined Authority, designed to raise awareness of the extended evening services and encourage more people to get the bus using Bus Grant funding secured from the UK Government’s Department for Transport. In November, a week of free travel on the number 36 bus in Bristol saw passenger numbers increase by more than 15% compared to the weekly average over the previous two months.

During the summer, Kids Go Free saw a 32% increase in child passenger numbers. That school-holidays initiative coincided with an uplift at local visitor attractions and retail centres. Bath saw a 15.8% increase in spending during July, and performed above the UK average in August. Kids Go Free returned over the Christmas school holidays, with more details on its success set to be shared next week.

Some of the £13.5 million of Bus Grant funding secured from the UK Government’s Department for Transport by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority is funding enhanced services from Bath’s Park & Rides, this travel offer, and Kids Go Free.

Original press release by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority