Kids can now travel on Greater Manchester buses for FREE all summer long

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Young people across Greater Manchester will benefit from unlimited free bus travel this summer.

As part of the Government’s Great British Summer Savings campaign – which was announced back in May – Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has revealed that all children aged five to 15 can travel for free in England, including on Bee Network bus services, during the school summer holidays throughout August.

Not only that, but 16-year-olds will be able to activate their ‘Our Pass’ one month earlier (from 1 August instead of 1 September), giving them an extra month of free bus and cheaper tram travel.

The move means that all young people in Greater Manchester will be entitled to free bus travel for the whole month.

Children under five already get to travel for free on the Bee Network all year round.

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The Great British Summer Savings scheme has introduced a temporary reduced rate of VAT – down from 20% to 5% – on things like travel, children’s meals in restaurants, and family leisure activities over the summer period.

The Government says the aim of the initiative is to make family days out more affordable, while also supporting businesses through increased footfall.  

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No registration or sign-up is required to benefit from the Summer Savings scheme on the Bee Network, TfGM confirmed, with anyone aged between five and 15 instructed to just ask the driver for a free ticket as they board the bus.

“We’re pleased to be taking part in the Greater British Summer Savings scheme which will mean free bus travel on the Bee Network for everyone aged five to 15 in August,” commented Fran Wilkinson, who is the Customer and Growth Director at TfGM.

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“This will help make days out more affordable for families this summer.

“The Bee Network is all about making it easier and more affordable to get around Greater Manchester and this national scheme will help us do just that.”

Featured Image – TfGM


Manchester has been named one of the ‘friendliest’ cities in the UK

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

A new study has crowned Manchester as one of the ‘friendliest’ cities in the UK.

With reviews playing a huge part in the success of small businesses – especially in the hospitality and tourism sector – business insurance expert MoneySuperMarket has analysed more than 100,000 reviews of customer-facing businesses in over 100 cities worldwide to discover where the UK’s ‘friendliest’ places are.

Their new research reveals which cities nationwide attract the highest number of reviews that particularly highlight friendly staff and excellent customer service in their venues and attractions.

For each city, the reviews were analysed for mentions of friendly staff and excellent service.

Cities were then ranked by the percentage of reviews containing these markers – with the highest percentage earning the top spot for friendly customer service.

Manchester came in at a very respectable ninth place in the whole of the UK, with just over 50% of reviews mentioning friendly staff and service.

Other northern cities in the top 10 include Leeds at number six and Liverpool at number two, while looking at the global rankings, the UK dominates for friendliness – with four cities making the top 10, more than any other country in the world. 

According to MoneySupermarket, the even spread of cities across the UK suggests that excelling in customer service is a national trait, rather than a local one.  

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European cities make up seven of the top 10 spots, suggesting that hospitality and friendly service are deeply embedded in the continent’s culture.  

Featured Image – Manchester City Council

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