The West bus routes children can travel for free

With the summer holidays in full flow, children and teenagers have the opportunity to enjoy free bus travel across the West of England.

A national Kids Go Free scheme means children aged between five and 15 can travel at no cost on most services throughout August - which extends to 6 September for those in the West.

Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, who is also a Swindon MP, said the cost of living "is a concern for households across the UK" which is why the government introduced free bus travel this summer.

There are many routes across the West where children can travel for free and we have highlighted some potential journeys to give you some inspiration.

Children between five and 15 can travel for free, but those aged 16, 17 or 18 still have to pay a standard child fare.

Most bus operators say children may be asked for proof of age to qualify for the free travel.

Those aged 11 to 15 are allowed to travel on their own. They need to tell the driver where they are going and the driver will then issue a free ticket.

Those under 11s must be with an adult.

Funding has also been secured to enable children to travel for free on buses across the West during school holidays for the next three years, Helen Godwin, mayor for the West of England Combined Authority (Weca), has confirmed.

It will cover the summer, Easter and Christmas holidays until 2029.

Services such as First Bus, Stagecoach and WESTlink are among the operators in Bristol which allow children to travel for free this month.

Families enjoying longer days out can also make use of Bristol Park and Ride services.

For anyone heading to the Bristol Boon Fiesta from Friday 7 to Sunday 9 August, buses such as the m2, 505, U2, X1, X4, X6 stop near Ashton Court.

Children can also travel for free on any bus to Yate bus station, where free events like creative workshops and live music take place at Yate Shopping Centre every Tuesday and Thursday until 27 August.

Families can board any city-centre service which uses Park Street to head to the free Bristol Museum & Art Gallery.

TravelWest has published a full list of bus companies in Bristol, which also operate across the wider West, included in the free travel scheme.

Pulhams, based in the Cotswold village of Bourton-on-the-Water, is among the bus operators offering free travel for children this summer.

Families could jump on the X52, which connects Cheltenham to Oxford, and passes through Cotswolds beauty spots and towns such as Burford and Witney.

The service runs every two hours during the day this summer.

Another option within the county is the Daffodil Line, which connects Ross-on-Wye, Newent and Ledbury.

Routes include short hops from Ledbury train station to the town centre or longer journeys - to places like Kempley, famous for its wild daffodils, or Much Marcle, just over the border in Herefordshire.

The Daffodil Line serves nine communities which include Kilcot, Gorsley, Kempley, Upton Bishop, Dymock, and Castle Tump with full timetables on its website.

Gloucestershire County Council have more information about the free travel scheme and which routes are exempt.

Children and teenagers can travel for free on Salisbury Reds and Stagecoach buses this summer, but specific Stonehenge tour buses are not included in the August scheme.

One potential day out for families could be aboard the 49 Stagecoach buses, which travels to Avebury stone circle from Devizes and Swindon.

Family-owned business Faresaver in Wiltshire is also offering free travel for children in August with a full timetable online.

Its buses connect towns like Chippenham, Corsham, Devizes Melksham, Trowbridge and also provide routes to Frome in Somerset - where places like The Key Centre are offering free activities for children this month.

WiltshireConnect, which operates in north and south-west Wiltshire, also has further details of route options on its website.

In Somerset the free bus travel, coupled with the current £3 bus fare cap for adults, makes visits to the seaside, Glastonbury Tor, Exmoor or Wookey Hole more affordable for families.

Richard Wilkins, Somerset Council's lead for highways and transport, said the scheme benefits shops but also offers a "a real alternative to taking the car, paying for fuel and parking."

Free events taking place this summer include a fun day at The Ammerdown Centre in Radstock on 31 August from 13:00-16:00 BST.

Children can travel for free on buses 414, 424, 522, 172, 173, 174 to reach the free fun day.

Somerset Council also have a link to all the buses where children can travel for free on its website.

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