Children and young people in Somerset have got a ticket to ride thanks to free bus travel for all 5-to-15-year-olds across England  next month.

Somerset Council is working with a range of local bus operators to make sure the Government Kids Go Free scheme is available for all young people.

With child fares typically costing between £1 and £2, families will be able to save on the cost of travel on all participating buses in England from 1 August until 31 August 2026. Families are already able to benefit from free travel for under-5s across the main bus operators.

The free travel, coupled with the current £3 bus fare cap for adults, means a visit to the Somerset seaside, Glastonbury Tor, Exmoor or Wookey Hole will be more affordable when it comes to getting there.

Councillor Richard Wilkins, Somerset Council’s Lead Member for Highways and Transport, said:

I am delighted that Kids Go Free will be on offer this August, making travel a lot cheaper for families and I hope that people will make the most of it.

It’s also great for the environment as people have a real alternative to taking the car, paying for fuel and parking. It’s also good for our local businesses and tourist destinations. I’m sure families will be able to enjoy and explore what their own county has to offer. It really does make sense to ‘bus it.’

The list of bus operators taking part, and the routes, can be found on the Bus It webpage.

Planning a journey in Somerset, visit Think Travel : Homepage

Seats on a bus.

About this article

July 29, 2026

Debbie Rundle

Press Release

Travel