The UK Government has declared bus travel will be free for children in England during August this year.
This is part of a package of measures aimed at easing household costs during the summer, which also includes reductions in tariffs on selected food products. The initiative is described as the “Great British Summer Savings” scheme and is intended to support families during the school holidays.
Under the scheme, children aged five to 15 in England will be able to travel free on participating local bus services throughout August. The policy covers unlimited journeys during the month, with no requirement for registration and no direct cost to families.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:We know many hard‑working families are still feeling the squeeze and too often think they have to hold back.
By giving every child free bus travel throughout August and cutting tariffs on everyday food items, we’re putting money back into people’s pockets and making life that bit easier.
This government is focused on practical steps that help right now — easing pressure on household budgets, supporting parents during the school holidays, and backing British businesses.
The Government has allocated more than 100 million GBP to fund the scheme and to provide additional support to bus services affected by increased operating costs.
The aim is to enable families to make use of public transport during the summer holidays, including travel for day trips and visits to relatives. The scheme is scheduled to run from 1 to 31 August.
The Department for Transport noted that the initiative builds on existing measures to support bus use, including fare caps and investment in local transport services.
According to Government estimates, a household with two children making weekly return journeys at a child fare of 1.50 GBP could save around 27 GBP over the course of August.
The national policy follows a pilot programme in the West of England, led by Helen Godwin. The pilot offered free travel for children during selected holiday periods.
According to figures from the regional authority, the scheme resulted in over one million free journeys across holiday periods. The pilot also reported increased bus usage among children and families in lower-income areas.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said:Free bus travel for every child in August means parents can plan days out, visit loved ones and make the most of the holidays without the added financial pressure.
We’ve already seen what’s possible - in the West of England, the Mayor’s free travel scheme is making a real difference, particularly for young people in the most deprived communities. That’s exactly the kind of impact we want to deliver for families right across England this summer.
This builds on the work we’re already doing to make buses better for everyone - from the £3 bus fare cap and the landmark Bus Services Act, to our £3 billion investment in local services and frozen rail fares for the first time in 30 years. We’re making sure public transport works for people, not against them.
