Leeds to Scarborough for £2.

 

When I got a free bus pass five years ago, I went on a trip to Southport. I got a train to Wigan which was free because it's within the Greater Manchester zone. I then got a bus from Wigan to Southport, from Wigan central bus station. The bus journey is over two hours and goes through Skelmersdale and Ormskirk. After two hours on a bus, you're desperate to get off, because it is knackering. You've also got to remember that if if it takes three hours to get to your destination, then it takes another three hours to get back, so it doesn't leave much time for sightseeing.

Another thing to point out, is that if you have a few pints, there are no toilets on the bus. So, it's advisable, to do without, unless you want to keep getting off and on the bus. The best way to get to Southport if you live in Greater Manchester, is by train. Your train journey is free to Appley Bridge which is around 13 miles from Southport, and will cost you around £7.20, for a return a ticket.

Getting to Blackpool using the bus and train is just as gruelling. You get a train to Bolton which is free because it's within the Greater Manchester zone. You then get a bus to Preston, which goes through Chorley, and it takes over two-hours. At Preston bus station, you get the bus to Blackpool, which takes just over an hour. On my return journey, I got off at Chorley bus station, and then got the train to Manchester, which was far quicker and much more comfortable. The train station is just over the road.

The English National Concessionary Bus Pass, allows you to use any bus in England free of charge. However, during the week, you can only use it after 9.30 a.m. unless it's a bank holiday or a weekend. Some areas have now capped bus fares at £2 for a single journey. These areas include Greater Manchester, Liverpool, and West Yorkshire. In West Yorkshire, you can travel from Leeds to Scarborough for £2, which is a six-hour round trip. A standard single bus fare in London is £1.65 and you can use the same ticket on another bus journey, within one-hour of purchasing your ticket.