Transport for London has capped weekend bus and tram fares at £5 for unlimited journeys this summer, cutting costs for families and tourists exploring the capital.
The new scheme, running on Saturdays and Sundays throughout the summer months, reduces the current weekend daily cap from £5.25 to £5. With individual bus and tram fares at £1.75 per journey, passengers making three or more trips will save money under the initiative.
The move targets London's tourism recovery and aims to boost footfall for local businesses that depend on weekend trade. TfL hopes the predictable pricing will encourage more day trips and family outings across the city's boroughs.
Outer London areas, where buses and trams form the backbone of public transport, are expected to benefit most from the fare cap. The scheme also seeks to reduce weekend congestion on other transport networks and cut private car use for leisure trips.
TfL will closely monitor the pilot's impact on passenger numbers and revenue, with success determining whether similar initiatives continue. The Greater London Authority backs the trial as part of broader efforts to make London more affordable, particularly for lower-income residents.
The initiative follows similar fare reduction experiments in major cities worldwide, where transport authorities have used cheaper travel to stimulate local economies and promote sustainable transport options.