The return of the hugely popular Kids Go Free scheme, bringing back free bus travel for children and young people across the West of England during the school holidays, has been confirmed.
Running from Saturday 18 July until Sunday 6 September (inclusive), the West of England will remain unique as a place that children and young people can travel for free for the whole seven weeks of the school holidays. There’s no need to register – under 16scan just hop on board.
Since launching in summer 2025 and returning for the Christmas and Easter school holidays, Kids Go Free has saved families more than £1.4 million, with over 150,000 children aged 5-15 years old eligible to take part. It hasbeen so successful that theGovernment announced £100 million of investment for the scheme to go national for the whole of August, allowing families to save money as they travel across England.
During previous school holidays, Kids Go Free has helped more children and young people travel by bus, with the biggest increases seen in lower-income communities. The data showsthat journeys rose by an average of 98% in areas where family incomes are among the lowest 10% nationally, while areas within the lowest 30% income bracket saw an 89% increase during the scheme last summer.
Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England said:
“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 least2029.
“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 Freeis going national for August. This will give West Country families the chance to explore even further.”
Secretary of State for Transport Heidi Alexander said:
“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 rollercoastersat 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 plansthat make life enjoyable.”
Councillor Kevin Guy, Leader of Bath & North East Somerset Council; Councillor Tony Dyer, Leader of Bristol City Council and Deputy Mayor of the West of England; Councillor Mike Bell, Leader of North Somerset Council; Councillor Maggie Tyrrell, Leader ofSouth Gloucestershire Council, and Councillor Ian Boulton, Co-Leader of South Gloucestershire Council, said in a joint statement:
“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 andimproved bus services starting on 26 July, and we want as many people to benefit from that as possible.”
The free fares are funded using someof the Bus Grant funding secured by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority and North Somerset Council from the Department for Transport.
Outsideof the offer period, child fares in the West remain among the cheapest in country, with the £1 cap recently frozen until 2029. Children under five years of age already travel for free on the majority of servicesin the West of England.
Hundredsmore young people in care, and care leavers, are also set to benefit from up to ten years of free bus travel across the West of England: one of the UK’s most generous schemes, and saving them up to £10,000each. The West of England Mayoral Combined Authority has extended the scheme to include young people aged 16 and 17 who are currently in care.
