Free bus travel for kids

19th July - 5th September

School’s out, and here's the perfect plan: free bus travel for under-16s across the West of England this summer! From July 19 to September 5, kids can hop on buses for free - no bus pass or tickets required!

This initiative is funded by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority – led by Helen Godwin, the new Mayor of the West of England, with the support of Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire councils.

FAQ's

FAQ Section

Opco

The offer is available from Saturday 19th July to Friday 5th September.

Anyone aged 15 and under.

There's no need to sign up or do anything in advance - under 16's can simply hop on the bus for free. There is no need to travel with a fare paying adult either.

Most of our services are included in the offer, however there are a few that aren't included:

A1 & A3 Airport Flyer services
Special event services (for example Ashton Gate or Bath Racecourse shuttles)
Services that start outside the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority or North Somerset Council areas. For example, if you boarded a 376 to Yeovil from Bristol, you'd need to pay for your return journey to Bristol, as Yeovil falls outside the boundary.

Drivers may ask for identification if they can't be sure of your child's age. If your child is unable to provide identification when requested by a driver, then they will be required to pay a full adult fare. We offer free First Bus photo ID passes and would advise older children to get one.

We’ve got you covered with some days out inspo…

Gromit Unleashed 3 Trail

Follow a free summer trail across Bristol with 50+ colourful sculptures of Wallace, Gromit, Feathers McGraw, and new robot Norbot. It’s all about film, fun, and supporting Bristol Children’s Hospital.

How to get there: Plan your journey on the First Bus App.

Weston-super-Mare Seafront & Grand Pier

Build sandcastles, ride donkeys and enjoy over 300 metres of arcade games – there’s something for everyone!

How to get there: Our X1 service from Bristol drops off right at the Seafront. If you're local, most of our services stop at the Interchange which is a short walk away.

Royal Victoria Park, Bath

Wander through the botanical gardens in Bath, enjoy a picnic or even take on the family at crazy golf. It’s just a short walk away from the city centre!

How to get there: Loads of our services stop close by - we recommend using the First Bus App to plan your journey.

Daily Service Updates

	This is our Service Updates page. Information is listed by service number, and any major disruptions will be listed at the top of the page. For more detail of any planned diversions, please see the separate entries on the Current Issues page of our website. Individual journey cancellations are shown on our app.

	Last Updated:	06/08/2025	17:25

	Major Disruptions:
	Bath and Somerset	No network-wide disruptions reported. Please see below for route-specific information.
	Bristol	Lane closures at Gipsy Patch Lane flyover are causing severe delays for services in the area. Please see details below for each route.	-Summer Holiday timetables are in operation on various Bristol services. Please check firstbus.co.uk/servicechange for full details. -There will be road closures and diversions for the Bristol Balloon Fiesta between 18.00 and midnight on Friday 8 and Saturday 9 August, and 18.00 until 21.00 on Sunday 10 August. Delays are expected at other times. Please see separate webpage for full information.
	North Somerset	No network-wide disruptions reported. Please see below for route-specific information.	There will be road closures and diversions for the Bristol Balloon Fiesta between 18.00 and midnight on Friday 8 and Saturday 9 August, and 18.00 until 21.00 on Sunday 10 August. Delays are expected at other times. Please see separate webpage for full information.

Service		Current issues	Planned disruptions in the next week
1	Cribbs Causeway - Bristol City Centre - Broomhill	-Whiteladies Road is closed northbound between Queens Road and St Paul's Road until autumn 2025. Buses are not missing any stops on the diversion, but delays are anticipated. -Victoria Street in Bristol City Centre is closed northbound, buses are diverting via Temple Way and Counterslip until estimated late August 2025. -Due to various diversions, and lane closures at Bath Bridge Roundabout, services are subject to significant delays, particularly at peak times. -At Brentry Lane towards Cribbs Causeway, there is a temporary bus stop in place outside number 189A Passage Road. -Passage Road towards Cribbs Causeway only, will be closed overnight between 20:00 and 06:00 from Monday 4 August to Friday 8 August.The Ridgeway bus stop and the Brentry Lane bus stop will not be served.
1	Bath City Centre - Southdown	Normal service.
1	Weston-super-Mare - Sand Bay	Normal service
1s	Kewstoke - Worle	Normal service.
2/2a	Cribbs Causeway/Brentry - Bristol City Centre - Stockwood	-Whiteladies Road is closed northbound between Queens Road and St Paul's Road until autumn 2025. Buses are not missing any stops on the diversion, delays are anticipated. -Due to various diversions, and lane closures at Bath Bridge Roundabout, services are subject to significant delays, particularly at peak times.
2	Bath City Centre - Foxhill	North Parade Road in Bath will be closed overnight to between 19:00 and 07:00 from Wednesday 6 to Friday 8 August. This service will be diverted and NOT serve North Parade bus stop
3	Weston - RUH - Bath City Centre - Bathford	-Broad Street will be closed between 2000-0600 on Wednesday 6 August. Services will be diverted. Board or alight at the Bus Station.	-Walcot Street will be closed between 2000-0500 on Thursday 7 August. Walcot Gate and Hilton Hotel bus stops will not be served.
3/4	Cribbs Causeway - Bristol City Centre	-Whiteladies Road is closed northbound between Queens Road and St Paul's Road until autumn 2025. Buses are not missing any stops on the diversion, delays are anticipated.
4	Weston - RUH - Bath City Centre - Odd Down	Normal service.
5	St. Anne's - Bristol City Centre - Clifton	Normal service.
5	Bath City Centre - Whiteway	Normal service.
6	Bristol City Centre - Kingswood	Normal service.
6	Worle - Weston-super-Mare	28 July 0700 until 1 September 1700 Baytree Road closed. Unable to serve Forest Drive until Cedar Avenue. Passengers to board/alight Manor Road/Westbrook Road.
6/6a/7	Bath City Centre - Fairfield Park/Larkhall	-Broad Street will be closed between 2000-0600 on Wednesday 6 August. Services will be diverted. Board or alight at the Bus Station.
7	Bristol City Centre - Staple Hill	Normal service.
7	Worle - Weston-super-Mare - Locking Parklands	Normal service.
7B/7H	Weston-super-Mare - Bleadon Hill or Hutton	Normal service.
8	Bristol Temple Meads - Bristol City Centre - Clifton	Normal service.
8	Bath City Centre - Kingsway	Normal service.
9	Weston-super-Mare - Worle	Normal service
13	Foxhill - Bath City Centre - Elmhurst	Normal service.	-Walcot Street will be closed between 2000-0500 on Thursday 7 August. Walcot Gate and Hilton Hotel bus stops will not be served.
16	Bristol City Centre - Kingswood - Fishponds	The Glass Wharf bus stop on Avon Street at Temple Meads will not be served in both directions from 2 June until April 2026. Buses are diverting via Midland Road and Silverthorne Lane in both directions. This service is suffering from delays, particularly at peak times.
17	Bristol - Kingswood - Keynsham	-Due to 4-way temporary traffic lights at Hanham roundabout services may experience delays.
19	Bath - Bristol Parkway Station	-At UWE, the left turn from the Ring Road into Coldharbour Lane will be closed from Monday 21 July for the summer holidays until 31 August. Buses will divert via the back entrance into UWE, and miss out the UWE The Gardens stop. Please use the stop at UWE Campus Bus Station. Buses travelling towards Parkway Station will not be affected. Due to emergency works the Bus stop in Station Road Warmley cannot be served, Instead use the stop around the corner opposite the Public toilet on Main road until 1 September
20	Ralph Allen School - Bath	Normal service.
20	Weston-super-Mare - Burnham-on-Sea	Normal service.
21	Newbridge Park & Ride - Bath City Centre	Normal service.
24	Southmead Hospital - Bristol City Centre - Ashton Vale	Normal service.
31	Lansdown Park & Ride - Bath City Centre	'-Broad Street will be closed between 2000-0600 on Wednesday 6 August. Services will be diverted. Board or alight at the Bus Station.
36	Highridge - St Anne's	-Highridge on going works approximately 8 August unable to serve Sandburrows,Dancey Mead, Geoffrey Close, Kings Head Lane. Please board/alight Kings Head Lane/ Shutter lane. -William Jessop Way in Hengrove will be closed from 07:00 on Monday 28 July and Will remain fully closed until 17:00 on Friday 29 August. Bridge Campus bus stop on William Jessop Way not be served.
37	Knowle West - Severn Beach Industrial Estate	-William Jessop Way in Hengrove will be closed from 07:00 on Monday 28 July and Will remain fully closed until 17:00 on Friday 29 August. Bridge Campus bus stop on William Jessop Way not be served.
39	*See X39 below*
41	Odd Down Park & Ride - Bath City Centre	Normal service.
41	Avonmouth - Bristol City Centre - Kingswood	Normal service.
42/43	Bristol City Centre - Cherry Gardens / Cadbury Heath	Normal service.
44/45	Bristol City Centre - Cadbury Heath / Cherry Gardens	Due to 4-way temporary traffic lights until 1 September at Hanham roundabout services may experience delays and short-notice cancellations.
46	Bristol City Centre - UWE Frenchay	Normal service.
47/47x	Bristol City Centre - Oldbury Court	Normal service.
48/48x	Bristol - Downend / Emersons Green	Normal service.
49/49x	Bristol - Staple Hill / Emersons Green	Normal service.
50	Bristol - Frenchay	Normal service.
51s	Winscombe - Churchill Academy	Service not operating - school holidays. Will resume at start of term in September.
55	Wrantage - Strode College	Service not operating - College Holidays. Will resume at start of term in September.
58	Odd Down Park & Ride - Twerton Mill	Normal service.
70	Bristol Temple Meads - Bristol City Centre - UWE Frenchay	Normal service.
72	Bristol Temple Meads - Bristol City Centre - UWE Frenchay	-Victoria Street in Bristol City Centre is closed northbound - buses are diverting via Temple Way and Counterslip until estimated late August 2025.
73	Whitchurch - Bristol City Centre - UWE Frenchay	Normal service.	-Wharnecliffe Gardens (part) in Whitchurch will be closed between 08:00 and 18:00 from Tuesday 12 through to Friday 15 August.This service will be diverted via Wells Road and New Fosseway Road in both directions.Gilda Square West, Wharnecliffe Gardens, Oatlands Avenue and Forest Road bus stops will not be served.
74	Hengrove - Bristol City Centre - Bradley Stoke	Normal service.
75/76	Hengrove - Bristol City Centre - Henbury / Cribbs Causeway	-Service 75 - SEVERE DELAYS being experienced due to roadworks on Gloucester Road Flyover due to road restrictions ongoing. This may include last-minute trip cancellations.This service is diverting after Air Balloon Roundabout, Southmead Road, Penpark Road, Knowle Lane, Wyck Beck Road, Merlin Way and Hayes Way to Normal Route in Both Directions unable to serve Filton Church, Filton College, Filton Airfield, Cleve Road, Gipsy Patch Lane. -Normal service service 76 - but there may be knock on delays from the 75.
77	Clifton Down - Bristol City Centre - Muller Road Top
125	Weston-super-Mare - Wrington	Langford Road in Langford between Stock Lane and the A38 will be closed to service 125 from 07:00 on Wednesday 23 July and will remain fully closed until Thursday 4 September. Services will be diverted in both directions.
126	Weston-super-Mare - Wells	Normal service.
171	Wells - Midsomer Norton - Bath	-Wells Road (A367) in Radstock will be closed from 07:00 on Monday 4 and will remain fully closed until 17:00 on Friday 15 August. Services will be diverted and Bath College, Maple Drive, Westfield Chapel, Butchers Close, Westfield School, Charlton Park and Norton Hill School bus stops will not be served.
172	Bristol - Midsomer Norton - Bath	-Victoria Street in Bristol City Centre is closed northbound - buses are diverting via Temple Way and Counterslip until estimated late August 2025. -Wells Road (A367) in Radstock will be closed from 07:00 on Monday 4 and will remain fully closed until 17:00 on Friday 15 August. Services will be diverted and Bath College, Maple Drive, Westfield Chapel, Butchers Close, Westfield School, Charlton Park and Norton Hill School bus stops will not be served.
173/174	Wells - Midsomer Norton - Bath	-Wells Road (A367) in Radstock will be closed from 07:00 on Monday 4 and will remain fully closed until 17:00 on Friday 15 August. Services will be diverted and Bath College, Maple Drive, Westfield Chapel, Butchers Close, Westfield School, Charlton Park and Norton Hill School bus stops will not be served.
349	Bristol - Keynsham	-Victoria Street in Bristol City Centre is closed northbound - buses are diverting via Temple Way and Counterslip until estimated late August 2025.
373, 374, 375, 376, 376a, 376x	Bristol - Wells - Street - Taunton / Bridgwater / Yeovil	-The road between Woolavington and Puriton is closed until September 2025. Buses on the 375 will serve Old Mill Road in Woolavington and then divert via the A39 and Enterprise Way into Puriton - please expect delays. Stops between Woolavington Green and ROF Factory inclusive will not be served. -Victoria Street in Bristol City Centre is closed northbound - buses are diverting via Temple Way and Counterslip until estimated late August 2025.	-Leigh Road in Street will be closed from 07:00 on Monday 11 and will remain fully closed until 18:00 (estimated) on Wednesday 13 August. Passengers are advised to board or alight at either the Glaston Road bus stops on Hicks Cider Farm bus stops on Middle Leigh.
522	Bristol - Midsomer Norton - Bath	-Victoria Street in Bristol City Centre is closed northbound - buses are diverting via Temple Way and Counterslip until estimated late August 2025. -Wells Road (A367) in Radstock will be closed from 07:00 on Monday 4 and will remain fully closed until 17:00 on Friday 15 August. Services will be diverted and Bath College, Maple Drive, Westfield Chapel, Butchers Close, Westfield School, Charlton Park and Norton Hill School bus stops will not be served.	- High Street in High Littleton will be closed between 08:00 and 16:00 on Sunday 10 August. Service will be diverted. Passengers are advised to board or alight at either the Priors Hill bus stops in Hayeswood Road or the Claremont Gardens bus stops on Paulton Road.
A1	Bristol - Bristol Airport Airport Flyer	Normal service.
A3	Weston-super-Mare - Bristol Airport Airport Flyer	Normal service.
D1/D1x	Bath - Trowbridge - Warminster	-Broad Street will be closed between 2000-0600 on Wednesday 6 August. Services will be diverted. Board or alight at the Bus Station. -Winsley Hill in Limpley Stoke will be closed from Monday 21 July until Sunday 31 August for repairs to the railway bridge. The D1 will divert between Bath and Bradford on Avon via the London Road, A46 and Sally in the Wood. Some journeys in the early mornings, evenings, and all day on Sundays, will run to/from Winsley and then double back on themselves. At other times, buses will not serve Winsley. A shuttle bus has been arranged by Wiltshire Council. No buses will be able to serve Bathampton, Claverton or Limpley Stoke. Please see our separate web page for full information. -Cradle Bridge on Castle Street in Trowbridge town centre heading towards Warminster will be closed from 7 July and will remain fully closed until 17.00 on Friday 29 August. Services heading towards Warminster will be diverted via after the Town Hall bus stop on Market Street via Castle Street, Fore Street, Wicker Hill, Wicker Hill and Bythesea Road.	-Walcot Street will be closed between 2000-0500 on Thursday 7 August. Walcot Gate and Hilton Hotel bus stops will not be served. -Silver Street (part) in Bradford on Avon will be closed from 09:00 on Friday 8 and will remain fully closed until Saturday 9 August. The Hall bus stop by Wooley Street will be missed.Passengers are advised to board or alight at the Town Bridge bus stop.
D2/D2x	Bath - Frome	Normal service.
m1	Cribbs Causeway - Hengrove Park metrobus	-The left turn from the Ring Road into Coldharbour Lane will be closed from Monday 21 July for the summer holidays until 31 August. Buses will divert via the back entrance into UWE, and miss out the UWE The Gardens stop.
m2	Long Ashton P&R - Bristol City Centre metrobus	Normal service.
m3/m3x	Bristol City Centre - Emersons Green metrobus	-The left turn from the Ring Road into Coldharbour Lane will be closed from Monday 21 July for the summer holidays until 31 August. Buses will divert via the back entrance into UWE, and miss out the UWE The Gardens stop. Please use the stop at UWE Campus Bus Station. Buses travelling towards Emersons Green will not be affected. -Feynmann Way is closed due to a defective road surface until further notice. Buses are diverting via Jenner Boulevard. No stops are missed out, but journey times will be extended.
m4	Bristol City Centre - Cribbs Causeway metrobus	-Significant delays due to gridlock in the Gipsy Patch Lane area. The service has been diverted away from the area to avoid the worst of the delays - therefore buses cannot serve the Bush Avenue or Titan Road stops. Buses are diverting via Little Stoke Lane and Highwood Road, and are stopping at the Little Stoke School stops instead. -The left turn from the Ring Road into Coldharbour Lane will be closed from Monday 21 July for the summer holidays until 31 August. Buses will divert via the back entrance into UWE, and miss out the UWE The Gardens stop. Please use the stop at UWE Campus Bus Station. Buses travelling towards Cribbs Causeway will not be affected.
OS1	Oldfield School - Hanham	Service not operating - school holidays. Will resume at start of term in September.
SB1	Soundwell - St Brendan's College	Service not operating - College Holidays. Will resume at start of term in September.
SB2	Bromley Heath - St Brendan's College	Service not operating - College Holidays. Will resume at start of term in September.
SB4	Westerleigh - St Brendan's College	Service not operating - College Holidays. Will resume at start of term in September.
SB5	Coalpit Heath - St Brendan's College	Service not operating - College Holidays. Will resume at start of term in September.
SB6	Yate - St Brendan's College	Service not operating - College Holidays. Will resume at start of term in September.
SB7	Bishopsworth - St Brendan's College	Service not operating - College Holidays. Will resume at start of term in September.
T1	Bristol - Thornbury	-The northbound Bradley Stoke Way closure affecting buses towards Thornbury will move to Phase 3 from Monday 21 July until December 2025. Buses will run normal route to Webbs Wood, then divert via Brook Way to Willow Brook, missing out Webbs Wood Roundabout, The Bridge and Savages Wood Roundabout stops. The only stop they will serve on diversion will be the Braydon Avenue stop on Brook Way. -Thornbury Road in Alveston is closed towards Thornbury until winter 2025, buses are diverting via Greenhill Lane and missing The Ship bus stop, serving Beanhill Crescent stop instead. -Webbs Wood stop is currently suspended due to a northbound closure of Bradley Stoke Way. Please use the Webbs Wood Roundabout stop instead.
U1	Stoke Bishop - University of Bristol - Bristol City Centre	Service not operating - University Holidays. Will resume at start of term in September.
U1/U2	University of Bath - Oldfield Park	North Parade Road in Bath will be closed overnight between 19:00 and 07:00 from Wednesday 6 to Friday 8 August. This service will be diverted and will NOT serve Grand Parade and North Parade bus stops. U2 - service not operating - University Holidays.
U2	Bristol - Langford Campus	Normal service.
U3	Bristol - UWE Frenchay Night Bus	Service not operating - University Holidays.
U5	Bath - Bath Spa University	Normal service.
X1/X1s	Weston-super-Mare ASDA - Bristol	-Update 0800 Currently unable to serve Backwell Crossroads towards Bristol due to road works and temporary lights. -Passengers waiting at Longsdale Avenue in Bournville for the X1, this bus stop is suspended in both directions due to temporary traffic lights until 8 August. Passengers to go to next available bus stop at Argyle Avenue or Windwhistle Circle.	-Lonsdale Avenue in Weston-super-Mare will be closed from 08:00 on Monday 11 and will remain fully closed until 17:00 on Tuesday 19 August.Passengers are advised to board or alight at either the Sunnyside Road bus stops on Brighton Road or the Winterstoke Road bus stops or Asda terminus. -The A370 Main Road in Flax Bourton will be closed from 07:00 on Monday 11 and will remain closed until 17:00 (estimated) on Friday 15 August. This service will divert via Colliters Way in Ashton and the A38 to resume normal route at the traffic lights in Congresbury in both directions.Services will be stopping at the Station Road bus stop in Congresbury heading towards Bristol as normal and will stop on a temporary bus stop near to the convenience store on the opposite side of the road heading towards Weston.
X39/39	Bath - Bristol	Normal service.
X4	Bristol - Portishead	Normal service.
X5	Weston-super-Mare - Portishead	-Walton Road,Clevedon will be closed from 28 July until 26 September.This service will divert via Tickenham Road, Northern Way, Ettingen Way and M5 to resume normal route at the bus stop by Gordano School. Passengers are advised to board or alight at either Clevedon Health Centre bus stops or Gordano School or Sheepfield Gardens for both directions of travel.
X6/X7/X7a	Bristol - Clevedon	Update 0800 Currently unable to serve Backwell Crossroads towards Bristol due to road works and temporary lights.	-The A370 Main Road in Flax Bourton will be closed from 07:00 on Monday 11 and will remain closed until 17:00 (estimated) on Friday 15 August. This service will divert via the Bristol Road to Nailsea to resume normal route at Trendlewood Way in both directions.
X9	Bristol - Nailsea	Normal service.
X11	Weston-super-Mare - Clevedon	Normal service.
X14	Bristol - Portishead - Weston-super-Mare Night Bus	Normal service.
Y1/Y2	Bristol - Yate / Ladden Garden Village	Due to Roadworks the stop inbound to Bristol at the George and Dragon cannot be served until Further Notice.
Y6	Bristol - Southmead Hospital - Yate & Chipping Sodbury	- This service is now diverting after serving Southmead Hospital it will then go through Henbury to Cribbs Causeway Bus Station. Unable to serve Kenmore Gardens until Gipsy Patch Lane in both directions. -Whiteladies Road is closed northbound between Queens Road and St Paul's Road until autumn 2025. Buses are not missing any stops on the diversion, but delays are anticipated. -Due to Roadworks the stop inbound to Bristol at the George and Dragon cannot be served until Further Notice.	-Park Lane in Frampton Cotterell will be closed between 08:00 and 16:00 on Friday 8 August.Bus stops between and including Live and Let Live on Park Lane and the Church Road bus stop on Badminton Road will not be served.

Free bus travel for kids

FAQ's

When is the offer available?

Who can travel for free?

How do I claim the offer?

Are all services included in the offer?

What if my child looks over 15?

We’ve got you covered with some days out inspo…

Gromit Unleashed 3 Trail

Weston-super-Mare Seafront & Grand Pier

Royal Victoria Park, Bath