Free bus travel for children aged 5 to 15 on local services in England runs for the whole of August 2026. With typical child fares of £1 to £2 per trip, a family with two children making five bus trips a week could save £80 to £160 over the month, according to Department for Transport figures published 10 July 2026. The offer does not apply in London, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.
TL;DR · LAST REVIEWED 10 July 2026
- Children aged 5-15 travel free on local buses in England throughout August 2026; typical child fares of £1-£2 per trip are waived.
- A family of two children making five trips a week each could save roughly £80-£160 over the month; occasional users save proportionally less.
- Under-5s already travel free with most operators, so this mainly benefits families with primary and secondary-age children.
- The offer is England-only. London already has separate free travel for under-11s via the Zip Oyster photocard; Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own devolved schemes.
KEY FACTS
- Who qualifies: children aged 5-15, local bus services in England, 1-31 August 2026
- Typical child fare waived: £1-£2 per trip (Department for Transport, 10 July 2026)
- Under-5s: already travel free across most operators, unaffected by this scheme
- Does not apply in London, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland
- £3 adult bus fare cap extended to March 2027, reducing the cost of the adult accompanying the child
What the scheme is actually worth in pounds
The Department for Transport has not published an average family saving figure, so the only honest way to answer "how much do we save" is to work it out from the typical child fare it has confirmed: £1 to £2 per trip. The table below shows worked examples across a range of family sizes and trip frequencies for the four-week August period.
| Family | Trips per week | Low estimate (£1/trip) | High estimate (£2/trip) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 child, occasional trips (2/week) | 2 | £16 over 4 weeks | £32 over 4 weeks |
| 1 child, regular use (5/week) | 5 | £40 over 4 weeks | £80 over 4 weeks |
| 2 children, occasional trips (2/week each) | 4 | £32 over 4 weeks | £64 over 4 weeks |
| 2 children, regular use (5/week each) | 10 | £80 over 4 weeks | £160 over 4 weeks |
| 3 children, regular use (5/week each) | 15 | £120 over 4 weeks | £240 over 4 weeks |
These are estimates built from the government's own typical fare range, not a guaranteed figure: actual child fares vary by operator and route, and some services may charge above or below this range. Families who use buses only occasionally over the school holidays will see savings at the lower end; those who rely on the bus daily, for childcare drop-offs, clubs or visiting family, will see the larger figures.
Who this actually benefits
Under-5s already travel free with most bus operators, so this scheme adds no new saving for the youngest children. The benefit is concentrated on primary and secondary-age children, 5 to 15, who would otherwise pay a child fare on every single trip. A family with children spanning both age bands, for example a 3-year-old and an 8-year-old, will only see the saving apply to the older child.
What it does not cover
The scheme applies to local bus services in England only. It does not extend to London, where under-11s already travel free through the separate Zip Oyster photocard scheme, which operates differently and year-round rather than as an August-only offer. It also does not apply in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, where bus and transport support is devolved and structured separately from England's scheme. Adults do not travel free under this scheme; the accompanying adult fare still applies, though the wider £3 bus fare cap, now confirmed extended to March 2027, keeps that cost down on longer or more expensive routes.
How it fits with the wider VAT savings scheme
The free bus travel offer runs alongside Great British Summer Savings, which cuts VAT from 20% to 5% on children's meals, tickets and attractions from 25 June to 1 September 2026. A family day out during August could combine both: a free bus journey to the attraction, and a reduced-VAT ticket or meal once there. Neither scheme requires a voucher or application; both apply automatically, the bus fare waived at the point of boarding and the VAT cut reflected in the price shown at the till or box office.
Practical tips for making the most of the month
Checking with the specific local bus operator before travelling is worthwhile, since participation and exact fare policies can vary by region and operator, and the scheme runs for a fixed four-week window rather than the whole summer holiday. Families planning a specific day out are better placed checking the attraction's own VAT-inclusive pricing and the relevant local operator's child fare policy directly, rather than assuming a blanket national rate applies everywhere.
RELATED GUIDES
DISCLAIMER
This article is for general information only. Kael Tripton Ltd is an independent editorial publisher and is not authorised or regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Savings figures are worked examples based on the Department for Transport's confirmed typical child fare range and are not official government figures; actual savings depend on the specific operator, route and how often a family travels. ICO registration ZC135439.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a family actually save from free bus travel in August?
It depends on how often the family travels. Using the Department for Transport's confirmed typical child fare of £1-£2 per trip, one child making five bus trips a week would save roughly £40-£80 over the four-week August period; two children at the same frequency would save roughly £80-£160.
Does this apply to my under-5-year-old too?
Under-5s already travel free with most bus operators, so this scheme does not add any new saving for that age group. It specifically benefits children aged 5 to 15, who would otherwise pay a child fare.
Why doesn't the free bus travel apply in London?
London already runs its own free travel scheme for under-11s through the Zip Oyster photocard, which operates year-round rather than as a fixed August-only offer, so the national scheme does not duplicate it.
Do I need to apply for the free bus travel or show anything on the bus?
The Department for Transport has confirmed the offer runs on participating local services in England, applied by the operator. Specific requirements, such as whether ID or proof of age is needed, are best checked with the relevant local bus operator before travelling.
Can I combine this with the VAT cut on attractions and meals?
Yes. The two schemes run at the same time and are independent of each other: free bus travel in August, and a VAT cut from 20% to 5% on eligible children's meals and attraction tickets from 25 June to 1 September 2026.
SOURCES
- Department for Transport, School's out: free bus travel for kids set to launch – accessed 10 July 2026
- HM Treasury, Great British Summer Savings: VAT slashed to save families money on days out – accessed 10 July 2026
