Save up to 25% on entry to top North East attractions when you travel by bus

Leave the car at home and make the most of affordable, stress-free days out - no petrol costs, no parking fees, just great experiences across the region. 

Whether you're heading to a museum, heritage site, or family favourite, travelling by bus unlocks exclusive discounts and lets you enjoy the journey as part of the adventure. 

What bus ticket should I get? 

Any bus ticket or pass can be used to redeem the offer. 
Our Mayor’s Fares provide flexible and affordable travel across the North East, including: 

  • £2.50 capped adult single fares  
  • £1 single fares for young people aged 21 and under 
  • £3 day tickets for unlimited travel across the region for those aged 21 and under 
  • Regional Day Rover tickets, offering unlimited travel within local authority areas: 
  • £5 Durham Day Rover (bus only) 
  • £6 Northumberland Day Rover (bus only) 
  • £6.80 Tyne & Wear Day Rover (bus, Metro, Ferry and Northern Rail between Sunderland and Blaydon) 
  • £7.50 TNE Day Saver, for unlimited travel across the whole region on bus, Metro, Ferry and Northern Rail (Sunderland to Blaydon)
  • Kids Go Free during school holidays - up to three children aged 11 and under travel free with a fare-paying adult 

Concessionary passes are also accepted, along with weekly, four-week and annual season tickets. 

How can I plan my journey? 

All of our attractions are served by nearby bus stops, making it easy to reach your destination. If you haven’t used the bus in a while, the Good Journey website is a great starting point. It offers detailed guidance on getting to each venue by bus, plus door-to-door journey planning from anywhere in the region... and even beyond! 

Try a Great Scenic Journey!  

If stunning scenery is your thing, you’re in for a treat. Our Great Scenic Journeys pages  showcase 20 incredible bus routes across the North East - with views so breathtaking, they’re worth the journey alone! 

New venue sign-ups

If you're a leisure or cultural venue, restaurant, or any other type of visitor economy businessin the North East Combined Authoirty area, please email buses@northeast-ca.gov.uk to see how you can join up. 

  • It's free
  • Regional and national promotion for your business
  • Help ease your parking problems
  • Contribute to your sustainability goals
  • Attract new visitors (over 25% of North East households don't have a car)

Share your #DaysOutByBus moments 

Whether you’ve enjoyed the view from the top deck, read a book, tucked into a picnic, or played cards on the way - spread the word on social media! Show us how you’ve made the bus part of your Days Out experience! 
We’d also love to hear your stories by email: buses@northeast-ca.gov.uk. 


Frequently Asked Questions

What do I need to show to get the offer?

Participating venues have been briefed on accepted tickets, passes, smart cards, and QR codes. Here's what to show based on how you've purchased your ticket: 

  • On the bus - show your paper bus ticket valid on the day of the visit. 
  • From a Metro ticket machine - show your Metro paper ticket if it’s valid on bus (e.g. Tyne and Wear Day Rover, TNE Day Saver, Transfare). 
  • Operator app (return/day/week/season ticket) – Show the QR code screen with countdown (the one scanned when boarding). 
  • Single ticket via operator app – Must be purchased on the day of travel. Show the email receipt confirming the date 
  • Season ticket loaded onto a Pop card – make sure you have the Pop app on your phone and use the Pop Card Checker function to show that your season ticket end date is in the future. 
  • Concessionary travel pass or smart card – show your pass/smart card.  You may be asked to scan your card. 
  • Network One ticket – show your day/week/four-week/annual season ticket. 
  • PlusBus ticket -- Show your orange paper/card or QR ticket showing PlusBus and the visit date. Available at Newcastle, Sunderland, Durham, Hexham and Alnwick. 

My kids travelled with #KidsGoFree — do they need a ticket?

No. As long as the accompanying adult shows a valid bus ticket, children travelling free are eligible for the venue discount. 

I use a concessionary or companion pass -- am I eligible for the offer?

Yes. Simply show your concessionary travel card. You may be asked to scan it. 

What if we are travelling as a group? Does everyone have to show their ticket?

If you are travelling as a group, every adult must be able to show a valid bus ticket to be eligible for the offer.  You may be able to purchase a group or family bus ticket which covers all of your party.

Do I have to use the bus for my entire journey?

No. You can use a mixture of modes, as long as the bus is used for part of your journey and you can show a ticket valid on bus services. This could include Park + Ride, Bus + Metro,  Bus + Rail. Some venues may also offer their discount for visitors travelling only by Metro, Rail or active travel. Please check the venue’s page on www.goodjourney.org.uk.  

Will Metro tickets like Tyne & Wear Day Rover or TNE Day Saver be accepted?

Yes - they’re valid for bus travel and accepted under this scheme. 

Can I use the same ticket to visit more than one venue in a day?

Yes - your bus ticket is valid for discounts at multiple participating venues on the same day of travel.

Are these discounts only available to families?

No - the offer is open to anyone travelling to participating venues by bus, regardless of age.

Can I pre-book online and get the discount?

Discounts are available for walk-in entries at all participating venues; there is no need to book in advance.

How long is Days Out By Bus running?

The scheme is ongoing scheme, but participating venues and discounts may change. Always check this page before your visit for the latest details. 

I couldn’t redeem the offer - what should I do?

Email buses@northeast-ca.gov.uk with the venue name, date, and time of your visit. We’ll investigate and follow up. 


Days Out By Bus – Standard Offer Terms and conditions: 

  • The type and availability of the offer is determined by the participating venue. 
  • The North East Combined Authority does not directly fund any offers and cannot be held liable if venues do not honour the advertised offer.  
  • Partner venues may change or withdraw the offer at any time. 
  • Partner venues may determine additional terms and conditions, for example ‘not to be used in conjunction with any other offer’. 

Days Out By Bus – Regional Prize Draw Terms and conditions: 

  • One prize draw entry per attraction receipt.  
  • Closing date for entries is 1 September 2025. Winner will be notified by 5 September. 
  • The prize is a range of family day passes that can be used at participating venues across the region, along with free bus travel for the whole family to get to each one. 
  • Each family day pass will be valid for one visit to the stated venue and must be redeemed within the time period determined by the venue (where possible this will be up to 12 months.) 
  • Free travel will be provided by means of a Pay As You Go Pop card loaded with sufficient funds for all family members to travel to each attraction by bus from anywhere in the region.  Each attraction will be counted as a different ‘Day Out By Bus’ so the value of the PAYG credit will be calculated as: £24 multiplied by the number of family passes. (£24 is the equivalent of two adults travelling on a TNE Day Saver and three young people travelling on an Under 22 Day Ticket.)  

Offers across the North East 

You can see a map view of all attractions at goodjourney.org.uk. 

Looking for even more ideas?

Scroll down for a list view that includes restaurants and other local businesses not featured on Good Journey. 
We’re adding new offers regularly - check back soon to see what’s new! 

Visitor attractions

Ad Gefrin 

  • Location: Wooler, Northumberland (NE71 6NJ) 
  • Category: Indoor visitor attraction, Anglo-Saxon museum and whisky distillery 
  • Discount: 10% off Museum & Distillery tours (tickets offer repeat access to Museum for 7 days) 
  • Link: https://www.goodjourney.org.uk/attractions/ad-gefrin/  

Arbeia, South Shields Roman Fort 

The Auckland Project 

  • Location: Bishop Auckland (NE71 6NJ) 
  • Category: Indoor and outdoor visitor attraction 
  • Discount: 20% off Bishop’s Key annual access to palace and gardens, Spanish Gallery, Mining Art Gallery  
  • Link: https://aucklandproject.org/bishops-key/

Beamish 

Crook Hall Gardens 

Discovery Museum

Gibside 

Great North Museum: Hancock 

Hatton Gallery 

Hexham Old Gaol 

Laing Art Gallery 

Life Science Centre 

Locomotion 

Raby Castle and Gardens 

  • Location: Staindrop, County Durham (DL2 3AH) 
  • Category: National Trust visitor attraction 
  • Discount: 10% discount on admission 
  • Link: TBC  

Seaton Delaval Hall 

Segedunum Roman Fort 

Shipley Art Gallery 

Souter Lighthouse 

South Shields Museum and Art Gallery 

  • Location: South Shields (NE33 2JA) 
  • Category: Indoor visitor attraction 
  • Discount: 10% off in museum shop 
  • Link: TBC 

Stephenson Steam Railway 

Sunderland Bowl 

Tanfield Railway 

The Hole in Wand Dalton Park 

  • Location: Dalton Park, Seaham (SR7 9HU) 
  • Category: Indoor visitor attraction 
  • Discount: Free premium upgrade for standard ticket owners 
  • Standard Ticket: Wizard golf and a magical drinkable potion worth £3.49 
  • Premium Ticket: Wizard golf, plus a magical potion & choice of Magical Jelly Beans or Sweet Pips, or a Poison Phial worth £6.48 
  • Link: https://www.goodjourney.org.uk/attractions/holeinwand-daltonpark/  

Tynemouth Priory and Castle 

Ushaw Historic House & Gardens 

Woodhorn Museum 

Restaurants

Prego Bar and Eatery 

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