We accept:







Kids travel free this summer
Free coach journeys for children over the summer season
Kids travel for free on our coaches this summer
Summer just got a whole lot sunnier!
This vibrant season, gather your family and embark on a journey to embrace the magic of long days and warm nights. Whether you're reconnecting with friends and family or exploring thrilling summer adventures, let us make your celebrations truly amazing.
With our 'kids travel free' offer, you have the freedom to enjoy family travel without worrying about child train ticket prices to London or the airport. Discover endless possibilities for baby-friendly holidays and let the adventures begin!
Offer details:
Whilst travelling between 1 July to 30 September just book your tickets and use the code mentioned below for up to 3 kids going free with 1 adult, up to 15 years old.
How to redeem your discount
1. Use the code KIDSFREE making sure to follow the terms and conditions.
2. Plan your journey using the journey planner above.
3. Enter the code at checkout to enjoy your discount.
Seize the day and act fast—claim your discount now!
Print off some colouring sheets for the journey!
Pop into one of our coach stations and you’ll also find free children’s activity packs to help pass the time and protect your phone battery. You’re welcome.
Alternatively click the image below to access the colouring sheets and print them off at home!

Hassle-free family travel
Day trips, weekend escapes, or the classic ‘why not, let’s just go’. There’s something about a family journey that always makes it into the photo album (for better or worse). We’re here to make sure your family trip is one of the great ones. Comfortable, convenient, and completely free of “I think we missed the turn.” Here’s why we’re the smarter, smoother travel choice for your next family adventure.
We drive. You parent.
Travelling with the family by car sounds great, until it doesn’t. Skip the motorway meltdowns and backseat GPS debates. With National Express, you get to sit together, relax, and let someone else deal with the road. We’ll provide the booster seats; you provide the snacks. And with guaranteed seats, there’s no risk of standing in the aisle for three hours pretending it’s fine.
Smarter than the train, without the platform sprints
Family trips and train travel don’t always mix. Delays, cancellations, surprise platform changes, it’s a lot. Our coaches go direct to hundreds of city centre destinations, no transfers required. No dragging tired kids across platforms. Just turn up, get on, and go. Simple.
Wi-Fi, charging, toilets and other essentials
We know what keeps a family journey on track: fully charged tablets, functioning toilets, and zero complaints about where the bags go. That’s why our coaches come equipped with onboard Wi-Fi, charging points, and a generous luggage allowance, yes, even for the buggy that steers like a tank. It's all the little comforts without the cost, chaos, or car keys.
Big trips, small prices
We like to keep things affordable, especially when there’s a snack budget to think about. With adult fares from just £5 one-way*, travelling with us won’t break the bank (or the holiday fund). And this summer, kids go free! Which is exactly as good as it sounds. Pop into one of our coach stations and you’ll also find free children’s activity packs to help pass the time and protect your phone battery. You’re welcome.
Don't just take it from us...
@thesavvyspenderofficial
Our savvy friend Megan recently hopped on a coach to Nottingham for a fun Mummy and Daughter day out with a twist.
To help keep costs down and keep her little one entertained she created a budget bingo card filled with free and low cost, fun activities to do on the coach and in Nottingham. Check out her video below!
1) The promoter of this offer is National Express Limited (company number 00232767) of National Express House, Birmingham Coach Station, Mill Lane, Digbeth, Birmingham B5 6DD (the “Promoter”, “our” and “us”).
2) This promotion entitles the person who has the free child places voucher code to 100% off the Ticket price of a booking for child passengers making a single or return journey when purchased in the same transaction as an adult passenger (the “Free Child Discount Promotion”).
3) The Free Child Discount Promotion is open to all UK residents aged 18 years or over, except our employees, their families, agents or any third party directly associated with the administration of this offer.
4) The Free Child Discount Promotion applies:
a) to the total cost of the Child Ticket(s) only, and not to the Booking Fee and/or any of the “Add Extras” available from our website and/or the National Express App;
b) to Tickets purchased between 23 June 2025 and 30 September 2025 for travel between 1 July 2025 and 30 September 2025 (the “Promotion Period”). Tickets are subject to availability and we reserve the right to exclude certain dates and times during the Promotion Period from the Free Child Discount Promotion; and
c) when a child ticket is purchased alongside an adult ticket. For each adult ticket purchased, up to 3 children may travel for free. A booking fee still applies.
d) to Tickets purchased from either our website (www.nationalexpress.com) or the National Express App or telephone call to our Customer Contact Centre, and not by any of the following means:
i) in person from one of our Stations or with a third party agents;
ii) from a driver; or
iii) from a Ticket Machine.
5) To redeem the free child places off the cost of your Ticket(s), you must enter the Free Child Discount Promotion code (KIDSFREE) prior to confirming and paying for your Ticket(s).
6) If, you have purchased a Ticket using a Free Child Discount Promotion code, and you:
a) wish to amend your booking, an amendment fee and excess fare for the new Ticket will apply; and/or
b) are entitled to a refund in accordance with our conditions of carriage, the discounted amount will not be returned to you or transferable to another booking.
7) The Free Child Discount Promotion cannot be used:
a) in respect of existing bookings;
b) in conjunction with any other promotional offer or any Coachcard; or
c) to obtain any of the following:
i) Tickets for European Services and/or Third Party Provider services;
ii) open return or season tickets;
iii) accommodation or ferry travel for any Event detailed on the “Events” page of our website and/or National Express App;
iv) any of the “Add Extras”; or
v) the fee for receiving an SMS Ticket, if selected as part of a booking.
8) The Free Child Discount Promotion code, and each Ticket obtained using it, is not transferable and must not be given, loaned or resold to anyone else. The Promoter reserves the right to cancel the Free Child Discount Promotion in the event that any person, other than you, uses this offer to book or otherwise obtain travel or any other benefit from us.
9) No cash or other alternative will be given.
10) All Tickets issued are subject to availability.
11) These terms and conditions shall be governed by English law and any dispute relating to these terms and conditions will be subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales, except if the customer lives in Scotland and in such circumstances legal proceedings may be brought in either the Scottish or English courts.
12) All bookings are subject to the Promoter’s conditions of carriage.
13) Offer and terms and conditions are subject to change at any time.
Check our our family focused blogs:

Coach travel with kids
Hassle-free coach travel and great value when you bring your little people.. Make travel easy
Fish, chips and coach trips: Our coastal tour of Britain
Summer is the season to travel to the coast and taste the holy grail of British cuisine... Explore the best coastal chip shops
Why travelling with kids by coach just makes sense
Find out how we’ve designed our coach services to make things a lot easier for you, your kids, and yes, your wallet. Find out moreT&C: *Limited Availability. No booking fee when logged into My Account and purchasing on the National Express website or app, otherwise £1.50 booking fee applies. Fares correct 18.06.2025 for travel between 18.06.2025 - 15.10.2025.