Tickets for children
Under five
Children under five years old can travel for free when accompanied by a responsible, fare-paying passenger.
These children shouldn't:
- take a seat that paying passengers might need
- stay in a buggy in an unsuitable place on the bus
See our conditions of carriage for more information about carrying small prams and buggies.
Five – 15 year olds in East Sussex
Single and return tickets
Children aged five to 15 years old* can travel for around half the cost of adult fares at any time up to 22:00.
*If you look older, you need to show proof of age to get child off-peak fares. Please apply for a free Stagecoach U16 ID card. With the Stagecoach U16 ID card you can continue to get child off-peak fares up to the 31st August following your 16th birthday.
Alternatively, an under 16 3i-D card is available to buy from East Sussex County Council. This costs £12 and entitles you to discounts at a range of shops and leisure providers
Child day tickets
Children under 16 can get discounted:
- local dayrider tickets – can be bought for either the Eastbourne or Hastings ticket zones
- South East dayrider tickets – valid on all Stagecoach buses in East Sussex and Kent
- Discovery tickets – valid on Stagecoach buses plus many other operators in Kent, Sussex, Surrey & Hampshire
You can buy and use dayrider tickets from 08:45 to 22:00 Mondays to Fridays and anytime until 22:00 at weekends and during school holidays.
Child megarider tickets
Children under 16 can buy a child megarider ticket for seven days' unlimited travel in Eastbourne and Hailsham.
They can also buy a Wealden Weekly ticket that includes travel to Heathfield, Tunbridge Wells and Uckfield.
Freedom tickets
If you’re 18 or under, a Freedom ticket gives you seven days’ unlimited travel on all our bus routes starting or finishing in East Sussex.
You can buy a Freedom ticket if you:
- have an ESCC Choice ID or 3-iD card
- have a Stagecoach U16 ID card
Travel after 22:00
There are no child fares available after 22:00. After 22:00, children will need to pay the full adult fare.
Five – 15 year olds in East Kent
Single and return tickets
Children aged five to 15 years old* can travel for around half the cost of adult fares, except during peak times. Peak times are before 08:45 and between 15:00 and 16:29 on school days. Adult fares will apply at these times.
*If you look older, you need to show proof of age to get child off-peak fares. Please apply for a free Stagecoach U16 ID card. With the Stagecoach U16 ID card you can continue to get child off-peak fares up to the 31st August following your 16th birthday.
Young Person’s Travel Pass holders can benefit from a £1 cap on single fares if they want to travel during the evening and at weekends.
Child day tickets
Children under 16 can get the following half price day tickets at off-peak times:
- local dayrider tickets – can be bought for the Ashford, Canterbury, Deal, Dover, Folkestone or Thanet ticket zones
- South East dayrider tickets – valid on all Stagecoach buses in East Sussex and Kent
- Discovery tickets – valid on Stagecoach buses plus many other operators in Kent, Sussex, Surrey & Hampshire
Council issued bus passes
Children aged 11 to 16 may be able to get a bus pass which allows free travel to and from school. Check to see if they meet Kent County Council’s criteria for free bus travel.
Those who do not qualify for free travel can apply to the council for a Young Person’s Travel Pass . This costs £270 per year and is valid on weekdays before 19:00.
Stagecoach PLUS tickets (council pass add-on tickets)
Children with a council issued pass can extend its validity with a Stagecoach PLUS ticket.
- Young Person’s Travel PLUS – the add on ticket for the Young Person’s Travel Pass is valid after 19:00 on weekdays, all day at weekends and throughout August on all Stagecoach buses in Kent
- Scholar’s PLUS – the add-on ticket for recipients of free travel to school allows unlimited travel on all Stagecoach buses in Kent
