Kids go free in the summer holidays
Getting out and about with the kids this summer is even easier, with free travel for under 16’s on buses across the region thanks to funding from the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority.
Whether you’re planning a trip to Royal Victoria Park in Bath, Gromit spotting in Bristol, heading to The Mall at Cribbs Causeway, or going to the beaches of North Somerset, entertaining the kids during the summer holidays just got a little more affordable.
From Saturday 19 July to Friday 5 September (inclusive) under 16 can just hop on-board almost all buses in the region for free, with no need to do anything in advance. There’s also no need to be accompanied by a fare paying adult, so if teenagers want to travel with their mates, or grandparents with bus passes are taking the grandchildren for a day out, it’s absolutely free!
That’s summer sorted.
Fantastic FREE days out for kids
There are so many great things to see and do in the West with free bus travel. So, explore the region and enjoy a fantastic summer by leaving the car at home and opting for greener travel. To help you out, we’ve compiled a list of great FREE ideas for summer days out by bus.
Find out what you can do in your areaFrequently Asked Questions
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It runs from Saturday 19 July to Friday 5 September (inclusive) to cover most school holidays and surrounding inset days in the area.
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Anyone aged 15 and under, travelling in the area, regardless of where they live.
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U16s can travel free on almost all bus journeys starting in the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority area (Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol, South Gloucestershire) or North Somerset. Almost all buses are free (see exclusions below).
A limited number of local bus services travel across the boundary into neighbouring counties. If travelling on these services, children will get free travel on their outbound journey, but will need to pay for the return trip. If you are unsure if this applies to your service, please check with the bus driver before travelling.
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Virtually all buses in the area. This includes services on First Bus, Stagecoach, Faresaver, Eurocoaches, Libra 94 service, Bath Bus Company, Big Lemon, CT Coaches, WESTlink and WESTlocal. Bristol Park & Ride and Bath Park & Ride services are also included.
Bus services not included are tour buses, school buses, community transport, special event buses or buses with premium fares for part of their routes, such as the A1 and A3 airport flyer services, the A4 (if you’re starting or ending at Bristol Airport) Stagecoach Falcon.
If you believe you were wrongly charged on a bus that is included in the kids go free offer, it could be due to a ticket machine or driver error. If this happens, please keep your ticket and contact the bus operator for a refund.
You can find all the bus operator contact details here
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Yes, there is no need to register or do anything in advance. There is also no need to travel with a fare paying adult.
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The age eligibility for this offer is the same as when normally buying a child ticket on the majority of buses in the area. If the driver can’t be sure how old they are, they may be required to pay a full adult fare. So, it’s advisable to carry ID if they have some.
