Kids Go Free will cover the area of 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 12 April to 27 April 2025 inclusive. 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
- 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.
- Some service exclusions apply, including Toon tour, match day services, Scholars services, Whitby P&R, Dales bus and Moors bus.
- Dates for the rest of the academic year are 22 February - 2 March 2025, 12 April - 27 April 2025, 24 May - 1 June 2025 inclusive.
- 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.