KCC supports discounted bus travel across Kent this summer

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Travel and transport
A seated adult and a young child ride on a bus, looking out through a large window. The child points toward something outside while the adult has an arm around the child. Bright natural light fills the bus interior, with blue patterned seats and yellow handrails visible.

Kent County Council (KCC) is supporting a series of bus fare promotions to make it easier and more affordable for people to travel around Kent this summer.

Whether it’s visiting to the Hop Festival in Swale, the Food and Drink Festival in Deal, or exploring attractions across the county, cheaper bus tickets are available to help residents and visitors make the most of their day out.

What’s running this summer?

We are working with Stagecoach on several promotions including:

  • Thanet (Loop service): £2 flat single fare on all weekends and Bank Holidays in August
  • Folkestone and Hythe (Routes 102, 103,104 & 105): Special August £5 Day Ticket throughout August
  • Swale (X3 service): £2 flat fare on Wednesday 5, and Thursday 6 September 2026 supporting the Hop Festival
  • Dover (Deal Town Network): £2 flat fare on journeys starting and finishing in Deal, between Friday 28, and Sunday 30 August 2026 to support the Deal Food and Drink Festival

There are also additional journeys on some Go Bus services including:

  • Sevenoaks, and Tonbridge and Malling (Services 1 and 401): Additional Saturday and Sunday services serving Chartwell during August and September. For further details, visit  the GoBus website.
Spencer Dixon, Deputy Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, looks towards the camera smiling.

“These discounted fares will help residents and visitors reach festivals, attractions and coastal destinations across the county while supporting our ambition to encourage more people to use public transport.”

Spencer Dixon Deputy Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport

Spencer Dixon, KCC’s Deputy Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, said: "Summer is a great time to explore Kent, and we want travel to be as affordable and convenient as possible.

“These discounted fares will help residents and visitors reach festivals, attractions and coastal destinations across the county while supporting our wider ambition to encourage more people to use public transport and reduce congestion on Kent's roads."

The discounts are part of a wider programme of support KCC is delivering from funding secured by the government to encourage people to use public transport when travelling to major events across Kent.

Earlier this month, KCC funded free shuttle bus services from Maidstone and Sittingbourne to help visitors attend the Kent County Show. Passengers could also travel to the Maidstone River Festival for £1.

Residents and visitors can also Reach the Beach in Folkestone for less. The initiative offers £1 single adult bus tickets on Stagecoach routes 102 and 103 from Folkestone Central Station, and route 10 from Folkestone West Station to the Harbour until Sunday 30 August 2026.

Families can also make the most of the summer holidays on the Isle of Sheppey with affordable bus travel connecting communities and attractions across the island.

KCC is supporting Travelmasters' 360 Sunday service, which will operate throughout the summer, offering passengers a flat fare of just £2 per journey.

Visit the operator's website for further details.