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Coach travel with kids

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Infant (0-2)

Children under 14 years of age are not permitted to travel without being accompanied throughout the journey by a responsible person aged 16 years or over.
Children aged 14 - 15 years old may travel unaccompanied, as from 5am, arriving at their booked destination no later than 10pm. Unaccompanied children will be asked for proof of age or a signed letter of permission from their parent/guardian. (sms or chat based messages are not permissible)

One infant aged 0-2 travels free when accompanied by an adult with a valid ticket. Additional infants aged 0-2 must be paid for. If you are travelling with more than 1 infant aged 0-2, please book the additional infant as 'Children (3-15).

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Published: 26th January 2023

Hassle-free coach travel with kids

We’re keen to make travelling with us great value and hassle-free for everyone, and that includes when you bring your little people!

We know that when you have a family, the cost of trips can soon mount up. That’s why when you travel with us, kids fares are discounted by 25%, or under 3's travel for free when sitting on your lap. There are no discount codes to worry about or any strings attached, your discount will simply be applied at checkout automatically.

A few of our influencer and blogger friends have travelled by coach with their young families and had some brilliant insights into what a coach trip with children is really like...

@raisingislaelyse_

Our influencer friend @raisingislaelyse_ recently took the coach from London to Birmingham with her family, and little one. One thing Mae advised is "If you haven’t travelled with kids on the coach, it’s a great way to keep them occupied and get some fresh air over the summer. A family ticket won’t break the bank, and it could give them an amazing experience ".

Mae's put together some handy tips and tricks when travelling with a toddler:

Book your tickets in advance - The first step to a successful coach travel is booking tickets in advance. Early booking is also cheaper, especially during peak travel times. National Express also offers free travel for children under the age of 3 when accompanied by a full paying adult.
Book your seats (preferably at the back of the coach) - back seats are a great choice for children and families who want to sit together to chat or play games. Most of the seats at the back are not occupied, especially on an early morning trip. And also: You're also usually closer to the loo.
Bring snacks, travel toys, activity packs or a tablet. I also packed a little bag with loads of Isla's favourite snacks and fruit pouches.
Plan ahead. Make a list of baby travel essentials. Diapers, baby wipes, and extra clothes. Book your hotel and make an itinerary for the trip.
Enjoy a stress-free coach trip. Isla was so comfortable on the coach. She would sometimes sit in my lap or in her own seat. After having snacks and watching some videos on her tablet she was ready to have a nap and actually slept until we arrived in Birmingham.

Watch what Mae & Isla got up to in Birmingham by heading over to our Instagram page or watch some of Mae's tips below.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Mae 🦋 (@raisingislaelyse_)

@joqueen_and_family

Joqueen is from Manchester and has three children. They love to go on family adventures and show their audience all the fun they get up to!

Their recent trip to Blackpool onboard our coach was filled with good times and special memories. Plus, they got to find out just how child-friendly a journey with us is!

Take a look at the Youtube Short they made of their trip and see just how easy it is to enjoy a family holiday by coach.

@tinboxtraveller

Tin Box Traveller hadn’t tried travelling by coach with her children before so chose a budget city break to Bath for her first trip. Previously, the thought of a long journey time had deterred her from taking a National Express coach with kids though now admits she’s no longer sure why.

"I’m very happy to report that keeping the kids entertained on the coach was a breeze. I’d packed their rucksacks with magazines, snacks, games and their Amazon Fire for Kids. This was loaded with films and I was also able to connect to the coach’s WiFi."

We loved that she packed her story full of handy Q&As that other travellers might have too, such as questions about luggage allowance, seat reservation and Wi-Fi.

Take a look at her thoughts here - 36 hours in Bath with National Express – a budget city break with kids.

@misstillyandme

Miss Tilly and Me used the coach with her daughters for a quick trip to Cardiff. Connecting at London Victoria, she made the final destination a surprise for her daughter by giving her a piece of paper with the coach number on it and asking her to find out where they were going next.

We also absolutely loved this part of her story:

“Although people get on a coach as strangers, they often get off as friends. It’s great for sharing travel stories and making the journey even more enjoyable.”

To hear what they thought of the coach trip to Cardiff take a look at the full blog over at Miss Tilly and Me.

If you and your family have had a great experience with National Express we’d love to hear from you too! Share your photos and posts with us on social and tag @nationalexpress for a chance to be featured.