The Kids Go Free scheme is back, providing children and young people in the West of England with free bus travel during the summer school holidays from July 18 to September 6. This initiative has saved families over £1.4 million since its launch in summer 2025, with more than 150,000 eligible participants.
This programme has effectively encouraged more children and young people, especially from lower-income communities, to utilize bus services, resulting in significant increases in bus journeys for those groups.
Helen Godwin, the Mayor of the West of England, expressed her excitement about continuing this initiative, which is funded for the next three years, allowing free travel every summer, Christmas, and Easter until at least 2029.
Heidi Alexander, the Secretary of State for Transport, noted the scheme’s role in helping families manage living costs while enjoying local attractions.
In a joint statement, local councillors emphasized the scheme’s impact on families, encouraging exploration of local high streets and attractions.
The initiative is funded by the Bus Grant from the Department for Transport, and outside the offer period, child fares remain among the lowest in the country. Children under five already travel for free on most services, and further provisions for care leavers have been established, offering them up to ten years of free travel.
For more information, you can find the relevant details on official websites.
