Bus Operators Bring Back Popular ‘5 for £5’ Summer Travel Deal in Southampton

Getting around Southampton will be cheaper and easier for families and groups this August, thanks to the return of the city’s popular ‘5 for £5’ bus travel offer.

Southampton City Council has once again partnered with bus operators Bluestar, Unilink, and First Solent to reintroduce the discounted group fare, aimed at encouraging more people to choose public transport during the summer holidays.

Running from Friday 1 August to Sunday 31 August 2025, the promotion allows up to five people to travel together all day for just £5 on any service run by the operator from which the ticket was purchased. Tickets can be bought directly on board or via the operator’s mobile app, and are valid for unlimited travel within the Southampton zone for the day.

Nikki Honer, Head of Communications at Bluestar, said:

“In partnership with Southampton City Council, we are pleased to be bringing back this popular offer for the whole of August—making travelling across the city more affordable for people during the school holidays.

“It gives local people added incentive to leave their cars at home and travel with friends or family by bus to enjoy the city’s museums, parks, shops and restaurants during the summer. This will help ease congestion, eliminate the need to seek out elusive parking spaces and, of course, it will benefit people’s pockets too.

“There is so much to do and enjoy in Southampton throughout the summer, we’re looking forward to welcoming more people than ever on board.”

The initiative is timed to support increased travel during the summer months, when the city hosts a range of events including sports fixtures, music festivals, and family-friendly activities such as the Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) programme and events hosted by Family Hubs across the city.

Councillor Christie Lambert, Cabinet Member for Transport, welcomed the return of the scheme, calling it a key part of the city’s sustainable transport strategy.

“I am delighted that the partnership between Bluestar, Unilink, First Bus and the council is once again bringing back the ‘5 for £5’ group fare offer this August. The support that it offers to families and groups in travelling sustainably and affordably around the city, right when they need it, is reflected in its huge popularity.

“Last summer, on average, over 4,300 ‘5 for £5’ tickets were sold every week during the promotion, and I hope that we can top that figure this year.”

The group fare offer complements a number of other local and national initiatives aimed at making bus travel more accessible and appealing. These include the £1 evening fare, the national fare cap, new investments in bus fleets by Bluestar and First Solent, and upgraded bus priority infrastructure in the city.

Together, these measures reflect Southampton’s ongoing commitment to making public transport a reliable, sustainable, and affordable choice for residents and visitors alike.