The offer is part of the government's Great British Summer Savings initiative. It applies on participating local bus services from 1 to 31 August, helping families save money while enjoying days out, visiting friends and family or simply getting around during the school holidays.
There is no registration required – eligible children can board participating local bus services and travel free.
Whether you're heading to a country park, library, leisure centre, town centre or neighbouring community, travelling by bus is an affordable and more sustainable way to explore everything the area has to offer.
Councillor Tracey Wye, our Executive Member for Sustainability and Climate Resilience, said:
For young people, summer holidays are all about fun, adventure and spending time with their families but the costs of getting out and about can soon add up. Free travel for children makes this all more affordable.
We're pleased to promote this government scheme, not just for the savings, but also to encourage more people to choose the bus. It's a simple way to travel more sustainably while discovering everything Central Bedfordshire and the surrounding area has to offer.
The free travel offer is available throughout August for children aged 5 to 15 on participating local bus services in England.
Young people aged 16 to 18 can continue to travel for £1 single fare with our popular Young Person's (YP) Card scheme. Available to children and young people aged over 5 and under 19, the YP Card offers discounted bus travel all year round, with single journeys costing just £1. The free card can be used on eligible journeys that start or end in Central Bedfordshire, helping young people travel affordably long after the summer holidays have ended.