Children under 16 can travel for free on most local buses in England from today as part of a government summer savings scheme aimed at easing holiday costs for families.
The offer runs from 1 August until the end of the month and is intended to help families visit destinations such as museums, beaches, national parks and other attractions during the school break.
It forms part of the Great British Summer Savings scheme, which the government said is also reducing costs on children’s meals at restaurants, children’s theatre and cinema tickets, and entry to attractions including adventure centres, theme parks and soft play venues.
The Department for Transport said families will be able to save on thousands of routes across England, including services run by operators such as First Bus, Stagecoach and Go-Ahead.
Examples highlighted by the government include routes from Hull to York, High Wycombe to Windsor Great Park, Leicester to the National Space Centre, Norwich to Great Yarmouth, and Birmingham to Woodgate Valley Country Park.
The offer also includes Birmingham’s 11 service, described by the government as Europe’s longest bus route, covering 43km around the city’s outer circle. Ministers said the summer scheme follows the announcement of a £2 bus fare cap from January.