Children across Oxfordshire will be able to travel free on participating bus services throughout August under a government-backed initiative designed to help families enjoy affordable summer days out while encouraging greater use of public transport.
Go Thames Valley, the region’s largest bus operator, has joined the Great British Summer Savings campaign, offering free travel for children aged between five and 15 from 01 to 31 August across much of its network.
The operator includes Oxford Bus Company, Thames Travel, Carousel Buses and Pulhams, with services connecting destinations across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Gloucestershire and the Cotswolds.
The month-long initiative is expected to help families reduce the cost of travel during the school holidays, making it easier to visit attractions, town centres, countryside destinations and neighbouring cities without the expense of children’s fares.
Luke Marion, Managing Director of Go Thames Valley, said the scheme would give families greater flexibility during the summer while supporting more sustainable travel.
He said: “We’re delighted to be taking part in this scheme for children during the summer holidays, allowing families to get around for less.
“Families can travel sustainably and visit a range of places from charming villages to city breaks, while youngsters seeking some independence over the summer are able to travel safely across our network.
“For adults looking to keep prices down, we’re also continuing to offer the current £3.00 fare cap across our services.”
The free travel offer builds on existing discounted travel schemes already available for younger passengers.
In Oxford, the long-running CityZone Get Around for £1.00 initiative enables passengers aged 18 and under who hold a Get Around Card to travel on CityZone services for just £1.00, while discounted season tickets and multi-trip passes remain available through the operator’s app and key card scheme. Oxfordshire County Council also continues to offer its MyBus ticket, which provides travel across participating services throughout the county.
Alongside the free travel offer, Go Thames Valley is promoting a range of family activities over the school holidays. City Sightseeing Oxford has introduced a discounted family ticket and expanded its Passport Trail in partnership with six attractions, while Pearces Coaches is operating a programme of family excursions during August, including trips to the Natural History Museum, Thorpe Park and Bournemouth.
Read more: Summer day trip coach experiences with Pearces Coaches
The operator has confirmed that children under the age of 11 must be accompanied by someone aged 16 or over to qualify for the free travel offer. The scheme does not apply to the airline coach service or The Robin demand-responsive transport service.
With household budgets continuing to face pressure, the month-long initiative offers families across Oxfordshire a practical way to explore more of the region while reducing the cost of getting there.
