20 Jul 2026
With the summer holidays now underway in some parts of England and just about to begin in others, there is some welcome news for many families. Throughout August, children aged 5 to 15 will be able to travel free on participating local bus services across England, helping to reduce the cost of days out during the school break.
The initiative, running from 1–31 August as part of the Government’s Great British Summer Savings programme, is designed to help families make the most of the holidays while encouraging more people to use public transport. It complements the extended £3 adult bus fare cap, which remains in place until March 2027.
For many families, this will be a welcome opportunity to explore local attractions, visit friends and relatives, or simply enjoy a more affordable day out.
But for many rural communities, the question isn’t only how much does the bus cost? it’s also is there a bus at all?
While the Rural Services Network welcomes measures that make public transport more affordable, many rural residents continue to face limited, infrequent or, in some areas, no bus services at all. Without reliable local transport, initiatives like free travel cannot fully benefit the communities that could make the greatest use of them.
Making bus travel more affordable is an important step, but improving the availability and reliability of rural bus services remains just as vital if families in rural areas are to enjoy the same opportunities as those living in towns and cities.
As families make plans for the weeks ahead, the scheme will no doubt make a real difference for many households. The challenge now is ensuring that every community has access to the bus services needed to take advantage of it.
