Free bus travel for kids in August 2026: everything parents need to know

Free bus travel for children aged 5 to 15 is coming to England throughout August 2026, as part of a new government scheme designed to take some of the financial pressure off families during the summer holidays. Every child in that age group can travel free on participating local buses from 1 to 31 August, with no registration required and no fares to pay. The government is committing more than £100 million to fund the scheme.

For families already managing rising food and energy costs, it is a genuinely useful saving. And when you add it to the other free and low-cost support available this summer, the picture looks a little brighter than it might first appear.

How does the free bus travel scheme work?

The scheme runs from 1 August to 31 August 2026 and covers participating local bus services across England. Children aged 5 to 15 can board any participating bus without paying a fare, with no bus pass, no app and no prior registration needed. Children can just get on.

The scheme is part of the government's Great British Summer Savings initiative, announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves as part of a package of measures to help households manage the cost of living pressures caused by rising energy and food prices.

A family with two children making a return trip once a week during August, at a typical child fare of £1.50 each way, could save around £27 over the month. For families who rely on buses for day trips, visits to family or getting to free activities, the saving could be considerably more.

The scheme follows a successful pilot run last summer by the Mayor of the West of England, which saw more than 274,000 free journeys taken by children in the first two weeks alone, with families estimated to have saved over £1.1 million across the programme.

Which buses are included?

The scheme covers participating local bus services. Not every single bus route in England will be included, and the list of participating services will vary by area. Before planning a trip, it is worth checking with your local bus operator or council to confirm which routes in your area are covered. Most standard local services operated under council contracts are expected to participate, but long-distance, coach and tourist services are unlikely to be included, so doing your research before you go will save an unexpected pricey fare.

What other free support is available this summer?

The bus travel scheme is one part of a broader picture of support that many families are entitled to but do not always know about.

Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme

The HAF programme provides free holiday clubs for school-age children in receipt of benefits-related free school meals, running throughout the summer holidays in every local authority in England. Children can access up to four weeks of free activities during the summer, including sports, arts, music, cooking and other activities, alongside a free nutritious meal each day.

Activities are delivered by schools, community groups and youth organisations, and children can typically attend up to 16 days over the summer. Places are free but must be booked in advance, and they do fill up. Contact your local council to find out what is available in your area and when bookings open — most councils open summer bookings in June.

Your child's school should issue a HAF voucher code if they are eligible. If yours has not arrived by the end of June, contact the school directly rather than waiting, as places are allocated on a first-come basis.

Free and low-cost activities without booking

Most councils publish a summer activities guide for families, and several national schemes run throughout the summer that cost nothing to access:

Many museums, galleries and libraries across England run free holiday events for children, including workshops, storytelling and activity sessions. The Museums and Galleries page at visitengland.com lists venues by region. National Trust and English Heritage sites offer discounted or free entry for children and run regular free outdoor events for families throughout the summer.

Local parks, nature reserves, canals and country parks are entirely free, and the free bus travel scheme makes them more accessible. Combining a free bus ride with a free outdoor activity is one of the most cost-effective ways to fill a day for families on a tight budget.

How to make the bus travel saving go further

Free fares for the children cover a significant part of a family trip, but adult fares still apply. A few things worth knowing before August:

If you are on a qualifying benefit including Universal Credit, Pension Credit, ESA or Income Support, you may be eligible for a free or discounted bus pass depending on your age and circumstances. Check your eligibility with your local council before August, as some passes take a week or two to arrive.

If you have a Railcard, many bus operators accept it for discounted adult travel on local routes, though this varies by area. Check with your local operator.

The government has also announced tariff cuts on more than 100 food products as part of the same package, including biscuits, chocolate, dried fruit and nuts, expected to save consumers more than £150 million a year. The full list will be published next week. While the impact on any single shopping basket will be modest, it is worth being aware that some everyday items may start to come down in price at the supermarket over the coming weeks

What the scheme does not cover

It is worth being clear about what the August bus scheme does not include, so families can plan and budget effectively.

The scheme covers England only. Wales and Scotland have their own transport arrangements and are not part of this scheme. For children in Wales, check with Transport for Wales, and families in Scotland with their local Scotrail or bus operator.

Under-5s do not need a fare on most bus services regardless, so the scheme is most relevant for children aged 5 to 15.

Long-distance National Express coaches, tourist buses and private hire vehicles are not included. The scheme covers standard local bus services only.

Children's travel on the Tube, DLR and Overground in London

London families and anyone visiting the capital for a summer day out will find the TfL network much cheaper than most people expect, and in some cases completely free. Here is how it works by age group.

For children under 5

• Travel free on all TfL services at all times

• No ticket or card needed

Children aged 5 to 10 with a fare-paying adult

• Travel free on Tube, DLR, Overground and buses

• Up to four children per adult, no card needed

Children aged 5 to 10 travelling without an adult

• Travel free on Tube, DLR, Overground and buses

• Needs a free 5-10 Zip Oyster photocard, ordered in advance at tfl.gov.uk

• Takes a few days to arrive by post so order before your trip

Children aged 11 to 15 who are London residents

• Free travel on buses and trams

• Half-price fares on the Tube, DLR and Overground

• Needs an 11-15 Zip Oyster photocard, costs £15, ordered at tfl.gov.uk by a parent or guardian

Children aged 11 to 15 visiting London for up to 14 days

• Half price on all pay-as-you-go Oyster journeys for up to 14 consecutive days

• This is called the Young Visitor Discount and is added in person at any Tube station on arrival

• Buy a standard Oyster card and load it with credit before you travel, then ask TfL staff to apply the discount when you get there

• It cannot be done online and must be added at the station

Young adults aged 16 to 17

• Half price on Tube, DLR and Overground

• Needs a 16+ Zip Oyster photocard, costs £20, ordered at tfl.gov.uk

One important note for August

The national free bus travel scheme covers participating local buses in England. TfL services in London are not part of that scheme and operate under their own rules year-round as set out above.