5 for £5 returns for Christmas

Southampton City Council, in partnership with Bluestar, First Solent and Unilink are bringing back the popular 5 for £5 group travel offer over the Christmas period thanks to funding from the Department for Transport’s Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP+) allocation to the council

From Friday 15 November 2024 to Sunday 5 January 2025, up to five people can buy a group ticket on Bluestar and Unilink services, or First Solent’s X4 and X5 services within the city and pay just £5 to travel by bus for the entire day with no time restrictions.

The offer was very popular throughout the summer, with just under 26,000 group tickets sold, saving families and friends around £90,000 on their bus travel, and helping them to join in a summer bursting with events in the city.

So, whether you are taking part in Go! Southampton’s fantastic Countdown to Christmas, exploring the Christmas Market, searching for some unique gifts in our local independent shops, gliding around the ice rink at Westquay, enjoying panto season, meeting Father Christmas in your local district centre or at Tudor House, enjoying some festive cheer at St Mary’s Christmas Crackers or ringing in the New Year with friends and family, there is so much to do across Southampton this festive season.

With all these events and more taking place throughout November and December, the 5 for £5 group offer, together with the £1 evening fare offer and the national £2 single fare cap until 31 December, can help make travelling sustainably around the city by bus much more affordable.

James Eustace, First Solent Commercial Director, said:

"We’re delighted to support Southampton City Council's 5 for £5 Christmas offer, which is the perfect way to keep holiday spirits high and travel costs low. Gather your friends or family and explore the city together by bus —for just £1 each, you can enjoy the best of Southampton's festive cheer without worrying about parking or petrol.”

Andrew Wickham, Bluestar and Unilink Managing Director, said:

“We are pleased to welcome back this offer for the Christmas period.

“We have worked closely with Southampton City Council, and it is testament to our excellent partnership that we have been able to make this happen.

“It gives local people added incentive to leave their cars at home and travel with friends or family by bus to enjoy all the festivities. This will help ease congestion and, of course, it will benefit people’s pockets too.

"Southampton has so much to offer - even more so at this time of year - and we’re looking forward to welcoming more people than ever on-board."

Councillor Eamonn Keogh, Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, said:

“The 5 for £5 group fare offer supported an estimated 61,000 people over the summer allowing them to spend less on bus travel and more on their other priorities, and, with the support of the Department for Transport and our fantastic bus operator partners, we’re pleased to be able to bring it back this Christmas and make group travel around the city more affordable when families need it the most.”