Bus-Pass Days Out: Planning a Free Day Out by Bus

Last checked November 2026. Offers and rules change: confirm with the provider before you rely on them.

With an older person's bus pass you can have a full day out for the price of a sandwich. In England the pass gives free travel on local buses anywhere in the country between 9.30am and 11pm on weekdays and all day at weekends and on bank holidays, so with a little planning you can reach the coast, a market town or a country park without paying a fare.

First, the rules for your pass

The four nations of the UK run separate schemes, and this affects where you can go.

England

Who gets it: you qualify when you reach State Pension age (earlier travel concessions exist in London and some other areas). See our free bus pass page or the State Pension age checker.
When: the national scheme covers 9.30am to 11pm on weekdays, and any time at weekends and on bank holidays. Councils can choose to allow travel outside those hours, often only for their own residents and on journeys starting in their area, so check your council's bus pass page.
Where: local bus services anywhere in England, not just in your home county. A pass issued in Cornwall is good on a local bus in Cumbria.

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

Each nation issues its own card to residents aged 60 and over, with its own rules on times and on which services are included. They are generally used within that nation, and the details differ from England's, so read the terms that came with your card or look at your national scheme's website. GOV.UK's bus pass page links to each scheme. Our pages on Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland give more detail.

Crossing boundaries

Between council areas in England

This is no problem during the national hours. The pass works on any local bus in England, so you can string together journeys across several counties. What does not travel with you are your home council's extras, such as free travel before 9.30am, half-price trams or local rail. Away from home, assume the standard national hours only.

Between nations

An English pass is not generally valid on buses in Scotland or Wales, and Scottish and Welsh cards are not generally valid in England. There are local arrangements on some services that cross the border, but they vary by route and can depend on where you live. If your trip crosses a national border, ask the bus operator before you travel and be ready to pay for part of the journey.

London

An English national pass is accepted on London's buses during the national hours, but it does not cover the Tube, trams or trains; those concessions are for London residents with a Freedom Pass or 60+ Oyster. See 60+ London Oyster and Freedom Pass.

What the pass does not cover

Long-distance coaches. In England, scheduled coach services are outside the scheme. Some operators sell their own discount cards; see coach travel discounts.
Trains, trams and ferries, unless your own council has added them locally. A Senior Railcard covers trains.
Tourist services: open-top sightseeing buses, some seasonal "heritage" routes, park-and-ride at some sites, and private excursions. Operators can exclude services run mainly for tourists, so check.
Weekday journeys before 9.30am under the national scheme. If your bus leaves at 9.25am you will usually be asked to pay.

Watch out: the rule is about when you board. If you are away from home and the only bus back leaves after 11pm on a weekday, you would have to pay. In practice the bigger risk in country areas is that the last bus goes in the late afternoon, so always check the return times first.

How to plan the day

Pick a destination on a direct route if you can. One long bus ride is more relaxing than three connections. Market towns, seaside resorts and cathedral cities usually have good services.
Find the timetable. Use the bus operator's website or app, or a journey planner such as Traveline, and choose the option that shows buses only. If you are not online, ask at the library or bus station, or ring the operator. Printed timetables are still available in many areas.
Check the day of the week. Sunday and bank holiday services are often much thinner, and some rural routes do not run at all.
Work backwards from the last bus home, and aim for the one before it, so you have a spare.

Ideas that cost little once you are there

A market day in a nearby town, with a wander round the stalls and charity shops.
The seaside out of season: a walk on the prom and a bag of chips.
Free museums and galleries, cathedrals and parish churches, and public parks and gardens.
A scenic route for its own sake. Many rural and coastal bus routes are a sightseeing trip in themselves, and the upstairs front seat of a double-decker is the best view going.
A one-way walk: bus out, walk a few flat miles along a canal or old railway path, bus home from the other end. See walking groups and gentle exercise.

Our guide to days out discounts for over-60s lists concession prices at paid attractions, and eating out discounts covers cheap lunches. For more no-cost ideas, see free things for over-60s.

Tip: show or scan the pass every time you board, even though the journey is free. Councils and bus companies use the count of passes to decide which routes are worth keeping, so each trip you record helps protect your local service.

Common questions

Can I use my English bus pass anywhere in England?

Yes, on local bus services during the national hours: 9.30am to 11pm on weekdays and all day at weekends and on bank holidays. Extras added by your home council apply only locally.

Does the pass work on National Express or other coaches?

No, long-distance coach services in England are not part of the free scheme. Ask the coach company about its own concessions.

Can I use my English pass in Scotland or Wales?

Not generally. Each nation has its own scheme. A few cross-border routes have special arrangements, so ask the operator.