Children can ride buses for free this Christmas

Children will be able to use buses for free again after a successful summer scheme saw more than 900,000 young people take part.

The summer holiday project led to thousands of free journeys being taken every week in Bristol, South Gloucestershire, North Somerset and Bath and North East Somerset.

Kids Go Free will start up again over the Christmas holidays for children under 16 from 20 December to 4 January 2026.

Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, said: " With more and more new green electric buses coming, we will keep working together to build the bus network that local people need and deserve. "

A survey found that one in five children who took part in the free trips had never, or very rarely, used the bus and almost half said that the initiative made them more likely to use the bus in the future.

Alex, a mum from Nailsea, said: "Getting the kids used to the bus at this age is great for getting them ready to use it on their own later. They'll need their independence."

Donna, a mum with three children said her family were able to visits lots places in and around Bristol City Centre.

"The kids can go out and do more, which we wouldn't do otherwise," she explained.

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