England's free summer bus scheme gave children over 14.5 million free journeys
More than 14.5 million children rode buses for free across England in August under the government's Great British Summer Savings Scheme, new figures show.
- Over 14.5 million
- Up to £2
- 710%
- Nearly 1.7 million
What Happened
The Great British Summer Savings Scheme's Summer Bus Fare Offer let children aged 5 to 15 travel free on participating buses across England from 1 August until 31 August 2026. Over 14.5 million children used the bus for free, with bus companies across the country reporting major increases in passengers according to figures from the Confederation of Passenger Transport and participating operators. Children travelled to beaches, national parks, museums and other days out for nothing. Where child fares typically cost up to £2, families saved on the cost of travel.
Over 14.5 million
Free bus journeys taken by children aged 5 to 15 across England during August 2026 under the Summer Bus Fare Offer.
Free bus travel for children aged 5 to 15 begins on participating buses across England.
The scheme's Summer Bus Fare Offer ends after a month of free child journeys.
Catch the Bus Month runs, aimed at challenging outdated perceptions and encouraging people to give the bus a go.
The £2 bus fare cap is due to be introduced.
- One bus service in the north-east recorded 710% more child passengers compared with the previous summer.
- The Bee Network in Greater Manchester carried nearly 1.7 million children this summer, 748,000 more than at the same time last year.
- Buses in the East Midlands nearly doubled their passengers.
“Whether it's a trip to the seaside, a park or a museum, it's great to see that millions of children used the bus for free this summer. The Great British Summer Savings Scheme has given families room to breathe from the cost-of-living squeeze. We're getting passengers back on the bus, transforming services across the country, from capping fares at £2 from next year to 24/7 bus services for disabled passengers.”
“Our members are proud to have delivered over 14 million free child journeys this summer — equivalent to two for every young person in England. Millions of children and their families have explored their local area and experienced the freedom of travelling by bus. As we head into autumn, the nation's buses are still there to get children to school and for customers to continue exploring, with great value ticketing options available up and down the country.”
“This is a fantastic result. Free bus travel has helped families make the most of the summer, while giving millions of young people the freedom to get out, explore and enjoy everything their local communities have to offer. This September's Catch the Bus Month is all about challenging outdated perceptions and encouraging people to give the bus a go. These figures show what's possible when we break down barriers and make bus travel an affordable, convenient and genuinely attractive choice. When young people discover for themselves what the bus can offer, those experiences can help turn bus travel into a habit for life. That's good news for passengers, communities and the future of sustainable travel.”
Why this matters
The scheme saved families money — child fares typically cost up to £2 — and bus operators reported major passenger increases. It forms part of a wider government push to make bus travel cheaper and more accessible, including a £2 bus fare cap from January 2027 and free 24-hour bus travel for disabled pass holders.
Terms in This Story
- Confederation of Passenger Transport
- A UK trade body that represents bus and coach operators.
- Bee Network
- The integrated public transport network serving Greater Manchester.
- Catch the Bus Month
- An annual campaign that encourages more people to travel by bus.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.