Kids Go Free

Kids across the North East will get free travel for the school holidays!

Bus, Metro, and the Shields Ferry will allow free travel for up to three children aged 11 and under, when travelling with an adult with a valid ticket or concessionary pass holder during school holidays over the next year. 

Kids Go Free covers the North East Combined Authority – County Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle, North Tyneside, Northumberland, South Tyneside, and Sunderland during school holidays.

Applicable dates for the upcoming holidays are:

  • 24 May 2025 to 1 June 2025
  • 19 July 2025 to 31 August 2025
  • 25 October 2025 to 2 November 2025
  • 20 December 2025 to 4 January 2026
  • 21 February 2026 to 1 March 2026
  • 3 April 2026 to 19 April 2026
  • 23 May 2026 to 31 May 2026
  • Summer 2026 dates TBC

Metro and Shields Ferry allow up to three children aged 11 and under to travel for free (with a paying adult) all year round.

Terms and conditions

  1. Three kids ages 11 and under can travel for free with a fare paying adult. This includes ENCTS, and excludes U22 products, student tickets and GNE's 5-25 products. All other adult tickets are acceptable.
  2. Some service exclusions apply, including Toon tour, match day services, Scholars services, Whitby P&R, Dales bus and Moors bus.
  3. Applicable dates for the upcoming holidays are:
    o    24 May 2025 to 1 June 2025
    o    19 July 2025 to 31 August 2025
    o    25 October 2025 to 2 November 2025
    o    20 December 2025 to 4 January 2026
    o    21 February 2026 to 1 March 2026
    o    3 April 2026 to 19 April 2026
    o    23 May 2026 to 31 May 2026
    o    Summer 2026 dates TBC
  4. Proof of age may be required to confirm the age of the children.

Participating services

Please see a list below of all the services that are participating in the Kids Go Free offer:

•    Arriva - All services
•    Gateshead Central Taxis – All services
•    Go North East - All services
•    JH Coaches - 37
•    Northstar - 599, 643, 939
•    Stagecoach – all services
•    Stanley Travel - 30/31, R5
•    Weardale - 725, 9, 84/85/95/96, 99, 101/101A/102, 108/109, 111, 763/764/765/773, 84 (Crook Town Service)

Please note: Services operated by Borders Buses, Glen Valley Tours, Liberty Coaches, Peter Hogg, Wood’s Taxis and Telford’s Coaches are not currently part of the Kids Go Free scheme.

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