Children aged 5 to 15 travel free on Arriva, Chalkwell, Nu-Venture, ASD and Kent Country buses across Medway until Monday 31 August. Under-5s already ride free.

There are just over two weeks left of free bus travel for children in Medway. Anyone aged 5 to 15 can travel free on participating buses across the district until Monday 31 August, and Medway Council’s page confirms the scheme runs “from Saturday 1 August to Monday 31 August 2026” (Medway Council, free bus travel for children summer 2026).

Under fives already travel free at all times, so the offer effectively covers primary and secondary age children for the rest of the summer holidays.

Which operators are taking part

The council lists five:

  • Arriva
  • ASD Coaches
  • Chalkwell
  • Nu-Venture
  • Kent Country

That covers most of what runs through Chatham, Gillingham, Rochester, Strood and Rainham, but not necessarily every service you might want. If you are planning a specific journey, the council points people to its bus timetable page and to Traveline.

One thing worth flagging honestly: the council’s page does not set out any ticketing process, and does not say whether children need to show proof of age or ask for anything in particular. Nor does the announcement from 27 July. In practice that means telling the driver the child is travelling under the summer scheme when you board.

Where the scheme comes from

This is the Medway end of a national offer. The Department for Transport’s announcement puts it under the government’s Great British Summer Savings scheme, covering children aged 5 to 15 on participating buses in England through August, and notes that child fares typically cost between £1 and £2. The same package extends the £3 single fare cap to March 2027.

Cllr Simon Curry, Medway’s portfolio holder for climate change and strategic regeneration, said the council was “very excited to be able to offer free bus travel for children once again this summer”, adding that “transport makes up 35 per cent of Medway’s emissions”.

The council also says it is offering savings on children’s admissions to activities over the same period as part of the same scheme.

What it means for you

For a family of two children making a return trip across Medway, this is somewhere around £4 to £8 a day that you would otherwise pay, on the government’s own figure for a typical child fare. Over the last fortnight of the holidays that adds up, and it is the sort of thing that quietly expires without most people noticing.

Two practical points. First, the last day is Monday 31 August, which is the bank holiday, so check the timetable before you set out because bank holiday services are usually reduced. Second, the free travel applies to the child, not the adult with them, so an accompanying parent still pays.

If you are looking for somewhere to go with it, our guide to things to do in Medway covers the district, and our Medway train times to London page has the rail side if you are heading further afield.