Children under 16 will be able to travel free on local buses across England throughout August under a new government initiative intended to reduce transport costs during the school summer holidays. The Great British Summer Savings Scheme will begin on 1 August and continue until 31 August. It will extend free local bus travel to young passengers outside London, where fares for children currently vary according to decisions made by individual local authorities.
Free Travel Will Apply throughout August
According to reports, the scheme will allow under-16s to use local bus services in England without paying a fare for the full month of August. More than 14 million people are expected to fall within the eligible age group.
Children under 16 already travel free on buses in London. Outside the capital, arrangements differ between areas, with local authorities able to determine their own prices. The reports state that fares for young passengers commonly range from £1 to £2.
The government has presented the temporary measure as part of a wider effort to make public transport more affordable for families during the summer. It sits alongside the £3 bus fare cap for adults, which has been extended until March 2027.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said the programme would help families take day trips and visit attractions during the holidays. She referred to destinations including the Roman Baths, the Science Museum and Alton Towers when describing the types of journeys the scheme could support.
According to The Sun, Alexander also linked the measure to household concerns about the cost of living. She said free travel for children and the continuing adult fare cap were intended to reduce the cost of ordinary outings and make summer activities more accessible.
The arrangement applies specifically to local buses in England. The supplied reports do not provide details about eligibility checks, required identification, participating operators or whether any services will be excluded.
Tourism and Transport Groups Welcome the Measure
VisitEngland director Andrew Stokes said free bus travel could encourage families to explore destinations across England as the summer holidays begin. He pointed to seaside areas, countryside locations and city attractions as places that could benefit from easier access.
Stokes also said tourism and hospitality businesses would welcome the arrival of additional visitors. His comments focused on the potential for families to travel without the cost of children’s bus fares, while using public transport for leisure trips.
Campaign for Better Transport chief executive Ben Plowden also backed the initiative. Rodger’s report quoted him describing it as a way to help families travel during the summer and ease pressure on household budgets.
Plowden said affordable and reliable bus services could improve quality of life and help people manage rising energy costs. He also argued that investment in bus networks remained one of the more cost-effective ways to support everyday travel.
The scheme is expected to run from 1 August until 31 August and is presented as a temporary summer measure. For families planning journeys during the school holidays, the main change is straightforward: children under 16 will not be charged for local bus travel in England between 1 and 31 August, while the separate £3 adult fare cap remains in place until March 2027.
