Big Walk and Wheel Returns: 16–27 March 2026

Big Walk and Wheel 2026 will take place from 16–27 March, inviting schools across the UK to join the nation’s largest walking, wheeling, scooting and cycling to school challenge.

What is Big Walk and Wheel?

Big Walk and Wheel encourages pupils to choose active journeys to school, helping to improve local air quality and showing how small changes can make a big difference to their communities and the wider world.

The challenge is open to all UK primary and secondary schools, including SEN/ASN/ALN settings. Participation is free, and there are daily prizes to be won.

Each day, schools aim to achieve the highest percentage of pupils travelling actively — whether by walking, using a wheelchair, scooting or cycling. Final leaderboard positions are based on each school’s best five days, though journeys can be logged on all ten days of the event.

How many active journeys will your pupils make?

What schools say

Schools that have taken part previously report lasting benefits:

• “We take part every year and have seen a real increase in the number of children travelling actively. The pupils are always excited to get involved.”

• “The website was very easy to use and children loved logging how they travelled each morning.”

• “A great initiative to encourage healthy habits. The prizes are a brilliant incentive.”

• “The resources were bright, accessible and informative. The children loved the designs and lessons.”

FIND OUT MORE BY CLICKING THIS LINK

Free school resources

Support your school’s participation with a range of free materials designed to promote active travel and reduce air pollution, including:

• Curriculum-linked lesson plans;

• Assembly presentation slides;

• Top tips for boosting participation; and

• An inclusivity guide

Everything you need to make the challenge a success.

Daily prize draws

Schools will be entered into daily prize draws — with rewards such as equipment and accessories — if 15% or more of pupils travel actively on a given day.

Support and partnerships

If you work with schools and would like to help promote Big Walk and Wheel, you can request a promoter account or get in touch for more information.

Schools can also use the event as an opportunity to fundraise for Walk Wheel Cycle Trust, helping the charity support thousands of children to travel actively to school every day.

Tube recycling scheme

Headline sponsor Schwalbe offers a recycling programme for old inner tubes, recovering materials for reuse in new products. Schools and families can locate participating recycling dealers via an online map and drop off used bicycle tubes locally.

Get ready to take part in Big Walk and Wheel 2026 and help pupils build healthy habits that benefit their school, neighbourhood and planet.