Walk to School Week is an annual UK initiative encouraging children and families to engage in active travel, promoting health, safety, and environmental awareness.

Overview

Walk to School Week is organised by Living Streets, a UK charity dedicated to promoting everyday walking. The event encourages children to walk, wheel, cycle, scoot, or Park and Stride to school, fostering daily physical activity and healthier habits. It also highlights the benefits of reducing car use, improving air quality, and enhancing community engagement.

Dates and Participation

• In 2026, Walk to School Week took place from May 18 to 22
• In 2027, it is scheduled for May 20 to 25
• Schools can participate by purchasing classroom packs, which include wall charts, stickers, activity diaries, and themed challenges to track pupils’ progress.
• Activities are designed to be inclusive, allowing all forms of active travel and assigning roles for students unable to participate directly.

Themes and Activities

Each year, the campaign introduces a unique theme to engage pupils. For example, the 2026 theme, Mission Move, involved a five-day challenge where students completed daily walking missions and met fun characters along the way livingstreets.org.uk+1. Activities often link to the curriculum, covering topics such as mental and physical health, sustainability, road safety, and community engagement awarenessdays.com.

Benefits

• Physical Health: Encourages regular exercise, helping children arrive at school refreshed and ready to learn livingstreets.org.uk.
• Mental Well-being: Walking has been shown to improve mood and reduce stress livingstreets.org.uk.
• Environmental Impact: Reduces car journeys, traffic congestion, and carbon emissions, contributing to cleaner air livingstreets.org.uk.
• Community Engagement: Promotes safer walking routes and collaboration with local authorities, businesses, and community groups National Today+1.