Life begins at bus pass, and after today, I just might agree. I have been working with First Bus on their Life Begins at Bus Pass campaign, and it gave me the perfect excuse to do something we dont do enough of, and that's a proper girls' day out with my mum.
No rushing, no stress, just us. No Car, no stress, and no parking drama!. We made one rule for the day: no cars allowed, and do you know what? It was so nice.
No worrying about parking, how expensive it’s going to be, or trying to remember where you’ve left the car (yes, I’ve done that before!).
Instead, we jumped on the bus, and it just made everything feel easier. First Bus journeys are convenient, affordable, free with a bus pass, and completely stress-free.
It honestly changes the whole vibe of your day.
The journey is part of the day
We hopped on our first bus and chatted and giggled the whole way, I'm talking proper catch-up time that you don’t always get.
Then onto the second bus from the station, still chatting away like we hadn’t seen each other in years. We also played Yellow Car. They are so hard to find! Whoever spots one first doesn’t have to buy the coffee while you are out.
Mum won, of course she did. So coffees were on me! :)
A day out at Trentham Gardens
One thing we both love is a nature walk, especially now that spring is finally starting to show itself.
Mum had never been to Trentham Gardens before, which honestly shocked me because it’s one of the best places for a day out in Stoke-on-Trent.
We had a little wander through the shopping village first, had a browse, and then stopped for some food, cheddar cheese and caramelised onion toasties, 10/10 by the way, and of course a milky latte. Simple things, but so good.
After that, we headed into the gardens, and this is where the day just slows down in the best way. The fairy displays are absolutely beautiful.
We spent a good few hours there, just walking, chatting, and enjoying the fresh air. Safe to say we definitely got our steps in that day.
Thank God for the bus home
By the time we were ready to head back, our legs were done.
And this is exactly why getting the bus is such a win: no walking miles back to the car, no driving when you are tired, just sit down, relax, and let someone else do the work.
One thing that made the whole day even easier was the First Bus app. You can check routes, times, and plan your journey all in one place. It’s really straightforward and easy to use.
We got home, kicked off our shoes, and put the kettle on. Cup of tea, tired legs, and one of those days where you just feel really content. More memories made, more laughs, and proper quality time together, which we don’t always make time for, but definitely should.
If you are looking for things to do in Stoke-on-Trent, I honestly can’t recommend this enough.
Sometimes it’s not about big plans, it’s about simple days, easy travel, and spending time with the people who matter most, and if you can do that without the stress of driving and parking, even better!
Because maybe life really does begin at bus pass.





I am a big fan of using buses. I am lucky where I live that we are very well served. My bus stop is a 2 minute walk from home. It can get me to our nearest big town easily but I can also head out the other direction towards countryside locations.
ReplyDeleteIt's great to have reliable transport, and it really makes things easier! Looks like you had a fab day out.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely idea and a great way to get out and have a proper day out without any stress of driving and parking.
ReplyDeleteI love these bus trips, they're so much fun. We often do it as a family just for the experience, it is a ton of fun and we all love it.
ReplyDeleteOh, that is my favorite kind of day out. So many memories and that wonderful feeling of contented tiredeness after a day of having so much fun!
ReplyDeleteIt's always nice to get out and enjoy the day with the folks. That bus program sounds pretty sweet!
ReplyDeleteThose cheddar cheese and caramelised onion sandwiches sound awesome! Looks like you had a nice day out together.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a lovely idea and a great way to get some quality time together! I am glad you guys were able to have leisurely day and just go with the flow. Such a convenient way to travel - AJ
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a lovely idea and a great way to get some quality time together! I am glad you guys were able to have leisurely day and just go with the flow. Such a convenient way to travel - AJ
ReplyDeleteLooks like you've had an awesome day out! Every bus journey has its own charm in my opinion.
ReplyDeletePlaying Yellow Car is a hilarious way to make the bus ride feel like a real adventure. I wish my mum and I had those stress free moments without worrying about parking spots.
ReplyDeleteThis made me smile so much, it sounds like such a fun girls day out and I love the idea of making the most of those little moments. It’s something I don’t do enough of as a mum, but it’s such a good reminder to make time for it.
ReplyDeleteCorinne x
https://skinnedcartree.com
Looks like a lovely time spent with your Mom and love this so much! The food looks really yummy too and what a lovely way to spend time together.
ReplyDeleteI do think buses can be so much more convenient. Since having a kid I’ve used them more as parking can be such a nightmare (and expensive) x
ReplyDeleteI love a day out on public transport. I'm more than happy to leave my car at home !
ReplyDelete