Anyone starting their bus journey in Portsmouth will be able to travel for free on every weekend in September 2025.

Portsmouth City Council has collaborated with local bus companies First Bus and Stagecoach to offer free bus travel on Saturdays and Sundays throughout September.

Free bus travel is available for everyone in Portsmouth on the 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27 and 28 September. This applies to all bus services when journeys start within the Portsmouth boundary and does not include return journeys from outside of Portsmouth.

This initiative is part of the Portsmouth Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP), which aims to transform bus services in Portsmouth. As well as fare free weekends, bus users can take advantage of other schemes which have been made possible through funding from the BSIP, including the Pompey bus ticket range, new routes and more frequent bus services, plus earlier morning, later night and 24/7 services.

Improving the bus service is a key part of the council’s overall plan to make travel in the city better for everyone.

September is also Catch the Bus Month, a nationwide event which aims to encourage bus use and celebrate sustainable and inclusive transport. Residents can make the most of it by taking the bus for free in Portsmouth to travel to shops, restaurants, attractions, and local events such as this year’s LOOKUP Street Art Festival on 13 and 14 September.

Cllr Peter Candlish, Cabinet Member for Transport at Portsmouth City Council, said: Following the success of previous years, I’m delighted we are once again offering free bus journeys for everyone in Portsmouth on every weekend in September. Bus travel is convenient, affordable, and helps to reduce congestion and improve journey times for everyone using the roads.

We’ve seen a 17% rise in the number of bus users over the last year and want more people in Portsmouth to choose the bus. Whether you’re a regular passenger or you haven’t taken the bus before, this is the perfect opportunity to use the bus and see how easy and accessible it can be.”

Simon Goff, Managing Director at First Bus South, said: We’re pleased to be working in partnership with Portsmouth City Council to again make bus travel free throughout September weekends. This initiative is always a great opportunity for people to try the bus, whether for shopping, leisure, or attending fantastic local events like the LOOKUP Street Art Festival. We hope it encourages more residents to discover how convenient and affordable bus travel is.”

Marc Reddy, Managing Director at Stagecoach South, said: We’re really pleased to be working in partnership with Portsmouth City Council and our fellow operators to provide free bus travel every weekend in September. This is a fantastic opportunity for people to give the bus a try – whether it’s for shopping, meeting friends, or enjoying one of the city’s many events. Buses are a convenient, sustainable, and inclusive way to travel, and we hope that initiatives like this will encourage even more people to choose the bus long term. We’re committed to making local bus travel easier and more attractive and we look forward to welcoming new and existing customers on board.”

Find out more about bus services in Portsmouth by visiting: https://travel.portsmouth.gov.uk/bsip/