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 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 21 December - 5 January 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 21 December - 5 January 2024, 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
Glen Valley - 472 and 473
Hodgsons - 87, 17, 73, 81/89,104,113, 35A, 70/71/72, 74/83
JH Coaches - 37
Liberty Coaches - 58, 417, 436, 471, W1, W2
Northstar - 599, 643, 939
Peter Hogg - X74
Stagecoach – all services
Stanley Travel - 30/31, R5
Weardale - 725, 9, 84/85/95/96, 99, 101/101A/102, 108/109, 111/115, 763/764/765/773, 84 (Crook Town Service)