- families can travel to top UK attractions for no more than £3 a
journey, thanks to the government's extended bus fare cap
- the fare cap is part of the government's mission to improve
bus services, committing over £1 billion to improve bus
reliability, frequency and access in towns, cities and rural
areas
- new Bus Services Bill will put power back in local hands,
protect vital routes and make buses more reliable, driving growth
and access to opportunity as part of the government's Plan for
Change.
Families across the country can enjoy cheaper days out this
summer, thanks to the government's continued support for
affordable travel through the £3 bus fare cap – making it easier
than ever to reach top attractions without breaking the bank.
From seaside escapes to countryside adventures, the capped fare
means families can travel to dozens of popular destinations for
no more than £3 for a single fare on thousands of routes, opening
up access to opportunities, boosting local economies and driving
regional growth in towns, cities and rural communities.
Whether it's exploring museums, getting out into nature, or
enjoying coastal days out, the extended cap – backed by continued
investment in the recent Spending Review –
ensures that great days out remain affordable for all and puts
money back in people's pockets as part of the
government's Plan for Change.
Some of the destinations families can reach for no more
than £3 per each single fare include Alton Towers, Blackpool
Pleasure Beach, Warwick Castle, West Midlands Safari Park and the
National Space Centre.
Minister for Local Transport, , said:
Whether it's a trip to the seaside, a day out at a museum, or
just visiting friends, we want people to get out and enjoy
everything their area has to offer – without worrying about the
cost.
That's why we've kept the £3 fare cap in place and why we're
investing in better, more reliable buses across the country. It's
about making travel simpler, cheaper and better for everyone,
driving growth and access to opportunity as part of our Plan for
Change.
The fare cap is just one part of the government's commitment to
fixing buses. The incoming Bus Services
Bill will reform the sector – putting buses back at the
heart of local communities by giving local leaders the powers to
overhaul how services operate and prevent vital routes from being
scrapped.
Better buses are central to the government's Plan for Change –
connecting communities, strengthening the local economy and
boosting access to jobs. The Bus Services Bill comes alongside
the government providing over £1 billion this financial year to
improve the reliability and frequency of bus services across the
country, and confirming multi-year funding to maintain and
improve buses long-term.
Sabrina de Carvalho, managing director of
Merlin's UK operations, added:
We see an increasing number of guests travelling to
Merlin's UK attractions by public transport
and we always encourage them to leave the car at home – where
they can – and make use of sustainable travel options when having
memorable days out.
With bus fares continuing to be capped at £3, I have no doubt
that more and more visitors will reach our entertainment
destinations using this affordable mode of transport. Information
about public transport options, including bus routes, is made
available on our attraction websites.
Alison Edwards, director of policy and external relations at the
Confederation of Passenger Transport, said:
Bus operators are ready for one of their busiest weekends of the
year up and down the country this August Bank Holiday. With warm
and dry weather forecast across most of the country, as many as
20 million journeys are likely to be taken by bus over the long
weekend as people take the opportunity for an affordable day out.
Bus travel is enjoying a revival nationwide with journeys up
steadily year-on-year, which is great news for communities, for
tourist destinations and for the economy.
VisitEngland CEO, Patricia Yates, said:
England's first-class attractions, from our world-renowned
museums, art galleries and historic houses to our parks and
gardens, remain vitally important to our tourism offer to both
international and domestic visitors. By reducing the cost of
public transport to these destinations, we're removing barriers
whilst supporting greener travel choices.
Our research shows people will be out exploring this weekend. I
encourage you to get out and discover England's fine
attractions. Not only will you be giving our great attractions a
much-needed boost, I know you will enjoy a fantastic day out with
family and friends creating memories of a lifetime.
