Summer bus scheme delivered 14 million free journeys for families

A government-backed summer scheme helped families across the UK take more than 14 million free bus journeys, offering a meaningful reduction in travel costs during the school holidays.

The Department for Transport confirmed the figures as part of its broader push to make bus travel more affordable and accessible for people across the country. The scale of take-up suggests a significant number of households made use of the offer to get around without paying standard fares.

For everyday drivers, the figures are a reminder that bus travel is being actively promoted as a practical alternative for local trips, particularly for families who might otherwise rely on a car for short journeys. Reduced fuel, parking and wear costs can add up over a summer period, so free public transport offers a genuine financial benefit for those able to use it.

The government has indicated that this scheme sits within a wider effort to improve bus services and make them a realistic option for more people, not just in cities but in towns and rural areas where access to affordable transport can be more limited. Whether similar schemes will run again has not been confirmed in the available information.