London’s bus and tram “Hopper” fare is being extended over the summer to include unlimited journeys, Sir Sadiq Khan announced on Monday.
The promotion will mean travellers can take as many trips as they want on weekends and pay for just one between July 25 and August 31.
The Hopper initiative, which allows people to pay a single fare for unlimited journeys within an hour on London’s buses and trams, was introduced in 2016.
This year it was frozen at £1.75 until July 5, while Tube fares rose by 6% in March.
The Mayor is understood to be also exploring options to continue the £1.75 fee freeze throughout the summer.
Sir Sadiq said the new Weekend Hopper would help millions of Londoners enjoy the capital more affordably.
He said: “I am determined to continue to help Londoners with the cost-of-living crisis. My Hopper fare has enabled millions of people to enjoy cheaper bus travel.
“I know how expensive the summer holidays can be for families and my new Weekend Hopper - which is a whopper of a deal - will make it cheaper and easier for Londoners and visitors to enjoy all that our great city has to offer this summer.
“I know that buses and trams are a real lifeline for many Londoners, and I’m determined to keep them the most accessible and affordable mode of transport in the capital as we continue building a greener, fairer, better London for everyone.”
Buses on the 23, 49 and 295 routes which visit major landmarks, including the Royal Albert Hall, Piccadilly Circus and Trafalgar Square, have been wrapped as “hopping frogs” to raise awareness of the offer.
London’s Transport Commissioner, Andy Lord, said: “The Hopper fare has helped revolutionise taking a bus or tram for many people over the last decade and we are delighted to be able to offer a Weekend Hopper fare this summer to further help make public transport affordable and convenient for all.”
It comes after City Hall budget papers in February revealed Sir Sadiq was set to spend £20m on a new attempt to lure passengers back to public transport with “innovative” cheap fares deals.
The mayor gave Transport for London the money “to trial further fares innovation as we continue to work to grow passenger numbers and London's economy”.
This was despite his cheaper Friday fares deal, which cost £24m and offered off-peak Tube and train fares for 13 weeks in 2024, being declared a flop when it failed to make any noticeable difference to passenger numbers.
© The Standard Ltd