A number of new routes will be introduced, with others cancelled or amended

A Citylines bus pictured in Bristol(Image: PAUL GILLIS / Reach PLC)

Bristol’s bus network is gearing up for a big Easter weekend, with a raft of timetable changes set to be introduced and the return of a popular initiative to give under-16s free travel.

From Easter Sunday (April 5), a large number of changes will come into effect across the First Bus network which will see the introduction of some new routes, with others scrapped entirely. Fares will not increase to coincide with the changes to the network.

Among the most significant additions is the launch of the 18 service , a new direct link between Bristol City Centre and Southmead Hospital. Running hourly from Monday to Saturday, the route serves Lawrence Hill, St George, and Fishponds.

Additionally, a new A2 service will provide a direct 24-hour link between Portishead and Bristol Airport, expanding the region’s ‘Airport Flyer’ offering.

The 73 service between Hengrove and UWE is being withdrawn, with its southern section to Hengrove Leisure Park being taken over by an extension of the 45 service . In North Somerset, the X7 will be withdrawn, with its journeys partially replaced by the new X6a via Nailsea.

You can read more about the changes in our ‘Need to Know’ article.

Meanwhile, the popular Kids Go Free initiative will return on buses across the region, starting on Good Friday (April 3) and lasting until Sunday April 19. The scheme will allow children under the age of 16 to travel for free on nearly all bus services which start in Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire – with airport routes a notable exception.

Easter will be the third iteration of the ‘Go Free’ initiative, which was first introduced in summer 2025 and returned over Christmas. Last summer, the number of bus journeys being taken by children in areas where families have incomes among the lowest 10% in the country doubled as a result of the scheme, according to the West of England Combined Authority, which administers Kids Go Free via a Bus Grant from the Department for Transport.

Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, said: “We have already seen more than a million free journeys for children and young people through just nine weeks of Kids Go Free. More people have been able to explore the West by bus, in many cases for the first time.

“We all know our region has a lot to offer and that is something we want everyone to have the chance to experience. Providing this easy-to-use service is making a real difference for families, helping children see parts of the West Country that they otherwise might not.

“Kids Go Free was a huge success over the summer and Christmas holidays and I have no doubt many families will be hopping on the bus this Easter too.”