Children aged 5 to 15 inclusive will benefit from free travel across the Nottingham City Transport network this August, as the operator confirms its participation in the UK Government’s Great British Summer Savings scheme.
Between 1st and 31st August 2026 inclusive, the Government is funding free bus travel for children on bus routes in England, making it cheaper for families to visit Nottingham Beach, as well as go out for meals, the theatre, and the cinema.
With a reduction in VAT on all tickets for attractions like soft play centres and museums, the Great British Summer Savings scheme will help families see and do more this summer.
The basics of the scheme are:
All children aged 5 to 15 inclusive can travel for free.
Children under 11 must be accompanied by an adult. This is a safeguarding measure to prevent young children from potentially travelling great distances unaccompanied and not being able to get home.
Drivers may ask passengers to prove their age to qualify for free travel. This is to prevent people from abusing the scheme and travelling for free when they’re not entitled to. If the driver believes someone is 16 or over, they will be asked to pay a fare.
To travel for free, customers need to ask for an August Child Free Single ticket when they get on the bus. A ticket will be issued to each child, which is a requirement of the scheme.
Customers who normally buy a weekly or monthly pass are recommended not to purchase a travel pass for August whilst the free travel scheme is running. Customers who already have a bus pass that covers August can apply for a refund by contacting NCT.
David Astill, NCT Managing Director, said, “Nottingham City Transport is pleased to be able to offer free travel to children during this year’s summer school holidays. NCT serves several local attractions such as Wollaton Park, Colwick Woods, and Gedling Country Park, as well as Nottingham Beach, which are all easily accessible on our network of frequent bus services.”
He added, “We do ask that the guidelines are followed. Qualifying passengers MUST ask for an August Child Free Single and, crucially, retain the ticket for the duration of their journey on the bus.”
Councillor Patience Ifediora, Executive Member for Regional Development, Growth and Transport at Nottingham City Council, said: “It’s so fantastic that our local children and visitors will get free bus travel this summer holiday. I hope that this will enable families to explore their city and our local attractions and have a great summer break.”
