Mayor welcomes national 'Kids Go Free' bus plan
North East Mayor Kim McGuinness has welcomed the Government’s Kids Go Free initiative on buses this summer – two years after she made a deal with local companies to provide it over every school holiday.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has announced free travel on buses for children this August as part of a package of interventions announced this evening for hard up families called the Great British Summer Savings.
The Mayor said: “We launched Kids Go Free back in 2024 to make things more affordable during school holidays for families in North East England, so I’m pleased to see the Government adopt our initiative across England this August.
“We’ve seen first-hand the difference this has made over the last few years.
"North East parents can enjoy days out with the kids without worrying about the cost of travel.”
She added: “That’s also good news for local businesses and the region’s holiday destinations – our amazing seaside towns, country villages and historic buildings.
“It is half term next week and I know thousands of local families in the North East will already be thinking about where they can get to by public transport thanks to Kids Go Free.”
The North East Mayor’s Kids Go Free initiative allows a parent to take up to three children up to age 11 with them on the bus during every school holiday, through an agreement with bus companies in the region.
The same also applies at all times on the Tyne and Wear Metro.
The national scheme announced by the Chancellor will see every child aged five to 15 in England travel free on participating local buses throughout August.