{{Redirect|Playbus|the television program formerly called Playbus|Playdays}} [[File:SPARKS Bristol's First Bus 'SPARKS 1' exhibit - September 2025.jpg|thumb|'SPARKS 1', a cut down FirstGroup play bus, located in the Sparks Bristol department store in September 2025]] A '''play bus''' (or '''playbus''' or '''learning bus''') is a bus used for providing a mobile facility for a variety of activities surrounding entertainment and education, usually for children of pre-school or school age.
Play buses are specially converted for their purpose, usually from second hand vehicles, although occasionally are purpose built by a bus manufacturer. Play buses can be of any size, from minibuses to double-deckers, and may be operated by charities, education authorities or as private businesses. The latter particularly market their services as a mobile party venue for children's birthday celebrations and the like.
Depending on usage and fittings, play buses may provide mobile playgrounds, gymnasiums, library services, or education centres as a mobile classroom.
In the United Kingdom, the National Playbus Association is a charity that provides support and advice to organisations, wishing to operate play buses. Formed in 1969, it is now supported by various government departments.<ref>[http://www.playbus.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=64&Itemid=100 National Playbus Association]History page, accessed 29 September 2008 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070727064921/http://www.playbus.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=64&Itemid=100 |date=27 July 2007 }}</ref>
==Gallery== <gallery widths="180px" heights="120px"> Leeds Paint Shops (10654313345).jpg|Northern Counties Palatine bodied Leyland Olympian in October 2013 Childrens Fun Bus (HRN 98N), Haynes International Motor Museum, 31 July 2013.jpg|Leyland Atlantean AN68 in July 2013 Playbuses at rally, Scotland, 30 April 1983.jpg|Multiple play buses at a rally in April 1983 </gallery>
== See also == {{Portal|Buses}} * Bookmobile * Biobus
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == {{Commons|Category:Play buses in the United Kingdom|Play buses}} {{Wiktionary}} * [http://www.workingonwheels.org Working on Wheels (the working title of National Playbus in the UK) ] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161031133232/http://workingonwheels.org/ |date=2016-10-31 }}
Category:Learning Category:Play (activity) Category:Buses by type