That’s summer sorted: Kids Go Free on buses
From today (Saturday 19 July), kids go free on buses across the West throughout the school summer holidays thanks to investment by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority.
Around 150,000 kids in Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset, and South Gloucestershire aged from 5-15 years old will benefit from free bus travel this summer – just by hopping on board, with no bus pass or registration required.
Families across the West can look forward to dozens of free activities over the summer – with a new list on Travelwest alongside handy journey planning information. This week, children from Room 13 at Hareclive Primary School, where young people have long campaigned for free bus travel, shared how excited they are to get to the beach, Weston-super-Mare’s Grand Pier, and other places around the West.
To mark the moment, Bath Bus Company, First West of England, Stagecoach, and The Big Lemon joined the new Mayor, council leaders, local MP, tourism chief, and children from Walliscote Primary School at the Tropicana and on the beach in Weston-super-Mare. The iconic building, a former 1930s lido on the seafront promenade, is set to be transformed into a 5,000 capacity venue thanks to national government funding, with work due to start this summer and complete by summer 2026.
Helen Godwin, the new Mayor of the West of England, said:
“Together, we’re building the kind of bus service that local people deserve. Our £1 child fare is already one of the cheapest tickets in the whole country but, ideally, children and young people should be able to travel by bus for free. That’s something I’ve heard loud and clear.
“It’s right that we help people save money and encourage greener travel. With free travel starting today for 150,000 kids, local families will more easily have busloads of fun during the school holidays. This is just
the start for a new chapter for the West.
“From this summer, more and more of us will be travelling on our new green electric buses. Getting more people on board now helps lay the foundations for a better transport system overall. We secured £752 million for that next stage in the recent Spending Review, including for better buses. That will get the West out of the slow lane on transport as we start to catch up with other city-regions.”
Evaan, a pupil from Walliscote Primary School, said:
“Going on the bus for free means I can go anywhere! I would like to go to the beach.”
Njonfolo, another pupil from Walliscote Primary School, said:
“It would be easier for parents or children who don’t have cars to be able to go somewhere. I would love to go to Puxton Park on the bus! I love sitting on the top deck of the bus.”
Councillor Kevin Guy, the Leader of Bath & North East Somerset Council, said:
“This is brilliant news for families across Bath. Free bus travel for children this summer means more affordable days out. Whether it’s exploring the Roman Baths, enjoying Victoria Park, or heading to the countryside, this is a real boost for parents juggling holiday plans and a great way to get more people using public transport. I’m proud that Bath & North East Somerset Council is part of this initiative to make travel easier, greener and more inclusive.”
Councillor Tony Dyer, the Leader of Bristol City Council, said:
“We fully support this new initiative and welcome the effort put in by Helen and her team to work with bus operators and other partners to make this happen. The cost of transport is a major challenge for families and young people looking to explore our city and region and can act as a barrier to seeking out new opportunities. We want to continue to work with the Mayoral Combined Authority to find new ways of increasing mobility across the city, especially where we can make active and public transport more accessible. With so many events and activities happening across Bristol this summer, most of which you can access via our Your Holiday Hub website, this initiative will help make accessing these opportunities much easier for households across our city.”
Councillor Mike Bell, the Leader of North Somerset Council, said:
“So many families and young people in North Somerset will benefit from this brilliant summer initiative. Free bus travel opens up a world of opportunity, from exploring locally or being able to spend more time with friends and family. We’re proud to support this investment in affordable, sustainable travel.”
Councillor Ian Boulton, the Co-leader of South Gloucestershire Council, said:
“Free bus travel over the holidays will mean freedom to explore for so many children and families over the holidays. It will help keep the summer expenses down for family trips and visits to the attractions and activities that make summer special.”
Kathryn Davis, MD of Visit West, said:
“We are delighted that people will be able to make the most of the summer through free or affordable, and sustainable travel across the region this summer, making the most of our world class visitor experience and sharing their experiences with friends and family. It’s a great chance to visit the museum or attraction that you’ve always wanted to go, discover something new and find your new favourite place.
“We’ll be supporting the campaigns through our Visit Bristol and Visit Bath channels as we welcome visitors from the UK and overseas to join our local residents in an incredible summer in the West of England.”
Dan Aldridge, the MP for Weston-super-Mare, said:
“This initiative gives children across Weston and beyond real freedom, the freedom to explore, to have fun, and to take part in everything our area has to offer without worrying about the cost of getting there. From trips to the beach and the Grand Pier to attending creative projects like Summer School at the Pier, free bus travel opens doors for young people and their families.
“I’m really proud to see Weston included in this, and I hope it helps make this summer one to remember for as many children as possible. It’s also a brilliant example of what we can achieve when we work together across the West of England Mayoral area.
“This isn’t just great news for local families , it’s a real boost for Weston itself. Free travel will also help bring more visitors from Bristol and the surrounding areas to enjoy everything Weston has to offer, supporting our local businesses and showcasing the best of our town.”
Derek White, Managing Director of Bath Bus Company, said:
“Bath Bus Company are delighted to participate in the Kids go free scheme, demonstrating a fantastic collaborative initiative between the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority and local bus operators which will benefit all of the communities we serve.”
Rob Pymm, Commercial Director of First Bus – Wales & West, said:
“This is a fantastic way for under 16s to get around for free during the summer holidays, helping busy families to save money and do their bit for the environment.
“We’re delighted to be supporting the scheme and look forward to welcoming everyone on board.”
This initiative is funded using some of the £13.5 million of Bus Grant funding secured from the Department for Transport by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority. Plans were announced by council leaders and the new Mayor, just over a month after her election, in June with pupils from Perry Court E-ACT Academy in Hengrove at one of the most popular free playparks in the south of England.
The free travel offer runs until 5 September (to cover varying INSET days) across the West of England and North Somerset during the same period on all registered commercial and supported bus services starting in those areas, with limited exemptions set out on Travelwest.