Free Bus Travel for Under-16s Launches in England This August

Children aged 5 to 15 in England will be able to ride local buses for free throughout August 2026, with the scheme running from 1 August to 31 August, as confirmed by the Department for Transport.

For families planning days out this summer, the offer means that bus fares for children in that age group simply will not apply during the entire month. Whether it is a trip to a park, a leisure centre, or visiting relatives across town, parents and guardians will not need to budget for children's bus tickets for those four weeks.

The scheme covers children aged 5 to 15, so any child who has reached their fifth birthday and has not yet turned 16 is included. Parents travelling with younger children should check their local bus operator's existing fare policy for under-5s, who are typically carried free already on most services.

For drivers, this is worth knowing because it may influence how you plan family travel in August. Taking the bus for some journeys could ease parking pressures at busy summer destinations, cut fuel costs for short trips, and give children a more independent way to get around locally. If you are thinking about the running costs of your car more broadly this summer, Garage.co.uk has straightforward, practical advice on keeping motoring affordable day to day.