With the rise of the price of living costs lately, catching the bus to your desired location will help you save money on fuel and parking when taking day trips this summer with the £15 family explorer ticket for up to 4 people. So, we have compiled a list of 6 places in the Forest of Dean that you can visit by bus whilst on a budget this summer!
Lydney Park Estate
Price: Free
Location: Lydney
Website: lydneyparkestate.co.uk/
Bus route: 23
Wander around lovely gardens full of beautiful flowers at the Lydney Park Estate. You will find flowering cherries, magnolias, spring flowering shrubs and spring bulbs at the entrance of the park that will entice you to explore further, the kids are sure to love all the bright colours from the beautiful borders on display.
You can travel back in time and find out more about the Romans at the ruins and inside the museum, perfect for the kids to gain some history knowledge.
Bathurst Park
Price: Free
Location: Lydney
Bus route: 23
Bathurst Park is a great outdoor space to visit with the kids this summer. There is something for everyone here at this park from a play area for the kids to an outdoor gym for the adults.
There are also great spaces to play sports such as football, tennis, rugby and cricket that’ll help keep you and your family active for the day.
The open space also makes it a great location to have a family picnic during your fun filled day!
Taurus Crafts
Price: Free
Location: Lydney
Website: camphillvillagetrust.org.uk/shops-cafes/taurus-crafts/
Bus route: 24
Taurus Crafts has a unique gift shop that offers a range of items made by people with learning disabilities. The gift shop sells a diverse range of gifts, clothing and homeware, perfect for whatever you may be looking for on the day.
They also have family activities throughout the year, ideal for bringing out your families creative side.
By visiting you will be helping people with mental health and learning disabilities receive more opportunities by purchasing the items made by them sold in the shop.
There is also a great café to treat your little ones to something sweet during the day!
Bathurst Pool
Price: £3.50 Adults £2.50 Children
Location: Lydney
Website: bathurstpool.co.uk/
Bus route: 23
Want to feel like you’re in a different country without the cost? Then bathe in the sun next to an outdoor pool whilst in the Forest of Dean.
Bathurst pool is perfect for those hot summer days when the whole family needs a cool down and some time to relax in the sun, there’s even new picnic tables made out of recycled milk bottles (very eco-friendly) to enjoy a lovely picnic.
It’s sure to be a hit with the kids and easy to travel to by bus!
Dean Heritage Centre
Price: £23.00 family ticket (2 adults and up to 3 children)
Location: Soudley
Website: deanheritagecentre.com/
Bus Route: 24
Want to learn about the history and heritage of the forest and the people that have lived there? Then the Dean Heritage Centre will be perfect for you and the kids to visit during the school holidays by bus!
Engage with demonstrations of chainsaw carving and charcoal burning that will leave you feeling inspired, galleries full of history about the heritage of the Forest of Dean that are sure to get you thinking and you can even spot the Gruffalo on your adventure whilst walking along the Gruffalo Trail.
After all of that you can then retire to the Heritage Coffee Shop to grab yourself a slice of yummy cake and there’s also a gift shop to visit to get something to remember your fun day by!
Puzzlewood
Price: £18.00 Family ticket (2 adults and 2 children)
Location: Coleford
Website: puzzlewood.net
Bus route: 23
Puzzlewood is a magical forest fit for a fairy-tale that is easy to get to by bus and will be a hit with the kids this summer.
The magical woodland is located within Coleford and is filled with stunning wildlife, Try spotting the deer’s, foxes, rabbits and more on your visit.
This woodland is also filled of rock formations, secret caves and ancient trees, which are sure to get your kids wanting to explore further and no to forget the amazing trees that make up this amazing woodland such as oak, beech, ash, lime and yew.
There are Shetland ponies, highland cattle and soay sheep also on site that is perfect for getting your kids to interact with animals.
There are so many things to do in the Forest of Dean that you can easily travel to by bus, making it great for saving money on travel and getting to spend quality time with the kids this summer!
Use our online journey planner or download the Stagecoach Bus App to start planning your day trip to the Forest of Dean. Using the live map on our app you can locate your nearest bus stop, see how far the next bus is from your stop and then track your journey on the way so you know when to get off, super handy when you’re unfamiliar with the area.
Ticketing information
For travel for you and the family, the best value ticket is the West Gold Group DayRider available to buy from the drive for £15.00 or get it on the app for even cheaper at £14.60
Valid for travel all day for up to four people (any combination of adults and children) it's a great choice for travelling anywhere on our network/ Trips are limitless so you can hop on and off to explore as many places as you can.