Children aged five to 15 will be able to travel for free on most local buses in England throughout August, under a government scheme aimed at helping families reduce the cost of summer
holidays.
The Summer Bus Fare Offer, which starts on 1 August and runs until the end of the month, is part of the government's wider Great British Summer Savings programme.
The initiative is intended to make it cheaper for families to visit beaches, museums, parks and other attractions during the school holidays, as households continue to face pressure on their budgets.
The government said children will be able to travel free on thousands of bus routes operated by companies including First Bus, Stagecoach and Go-Ahead.
Among the routes included are services connecting Hull and York, High Wycombe and Windsor, Leicester and the National Space Centre, and Norwich and Great Yarmouth.
In Birmingham, the scheme includes the number 11 bus, which runs for about 43km around the city's outer circle and connects passengers with Cadbury World.
The government said children normally pay between £1 and £2 for bus journeys, meaning the scheme could provide significant savings for families making regular trips during the holidays.
The offer forms part of a broader package of measures announced under the Great British Summer Savings programme. These include discounts on children's meals, cinema and theatre tickets and entry to attractions such as theme parks, adventure centres and soft-play venues.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said the measures would give families "room to breathe" amid the cost-of-living squeeze.
"With free bus travel for 5 to 15-year-olds and discounts on kids' meals at restaurants, cinema tickets and theme parks, we're helping people make the most of the time they have together for the school holidays," she said.
Financial Secretary to the Treasury James Murray said the measures were intended to ensure families did not have to miss out on days out because of rising costs.
The government has also launched an online tool allowing families to search for summer discounts by postcode, including offers from restaurants, theatres, museums and other attractions.
The free bus scheme comes shortly after the government announced plans to introduce a £2 cap on bus fares from January. Ministers say the measure will save millions of passengers up to a third on bus travel.
The government said the measures are part of longer-term efforts to improve bus services, including reforms giving local authorities greater control over routes and a planned £3bn investment in services over the next three years.
Rob Parkinson, chief executive of the Family Holiday Charity, welcomed the free travel initiative, saying the cost of transport could make days out less accessible for some families.
VisitEngland director Andrew Stokes also said the scheme could encourage families to explore attractions and destinations across England during the summer.
The government said a full list of participating bus routes is available through the Summer Bus Fare Offer.
