Summer school holidays set to get cheaper as government cuts VAT on days out

Families are set to save on days out this summer under new government plans to cut VAT on a range of children’s meals and leisure activities.

From 25 June to 1 September 2026, VAT will be reduced from 20% to 5% on eligible family activities, including children’s meals in restaurants, cinema and theatre tickets, and entry to attractions such as theme parks, zoos, museums, soft play centres and aquariums.

The aim is to make it easier for families to afford small treats during the school holidays, at a time when many household budgets are under pressure from the rising cost of living.

What will be included in the VAT cut?

If businesses pass the full savings on to customers, families could see reduced prices across a wide range of popular activities.

Estimated savings include:

• around £20 off a family theme park trip
• about £11 off an aquarium visit
• around £9 off circus tickets
• roughly £6 off wildlife park entry
• around £2 off children’s meals when eating out
• and smaller savings of around £1-£2 on cinema and soft play tickets

The reduced VAT rate will apply across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and will cover the full summer school holiday period.

Free bus travel for children during August

Alongside the VAT changes, all children aged 5 to 15 in England will be able to travel for free on local bus services during August.

This builds on existing schemes in London and is designed to help families get out and about without transport costs adding up over the school holidays.

What could this mean for your budget?

For many households, summer is one of the most expensive times of the year.

With children off school, parents often face higher spending on keeping the kids occupied during the holidays.

Even small savings on tickets or meals can add up over the six-week break, especially for families trying to plan multiple activities on a tight budget.

However, the real impact will depend on whether businesses pass the VAT cut on through lower prices. If they do, families could see some welcome relief on the cost of popular days out.

Why the impact might be different in different places 

While the VAT cut applies nationally, it won’t automatically guarantee lower prices everywhere.

Some businesses may choose to pass on the full saving, while others may only pass on part of it depending on their own costs and pricing decisions.

That means families may see different prices depending on where they go, even for similar activities.

Support already available for some families

While new measures like VAT cuts and free bus travel may help reduce some costs over the summer, it’s worth remembering that many low-income households may already be eligible for discounted or reduced-price days out.

Families receiving universal credit or other means-tested benefits can often get lower prices at a range of attractions. This depends on individual venues but includes lots of museums, galleries, zoos, heritage sites and leisure attractions. In some cases, entry may be as low as £1 to £5 for eligible families, although availability and pricing vary.

Examples include concession or reduced-price entry at major cultural attractions such as:

• Chester Zoo
• London Zoo
• Buckingham Palace
• London Transport Museum
• Eureka! Science & Discovery Museum
• As well as lots of heritage sites and historic properties

It’s always worth checking the individual attraction’s website before booking, as discounts are set locally and are not available everywhere.

Discount websites and savings tools

Alongside venue-based concessions, some families also use discount websites and apps to bring down the cost of days out.

These include services such as:

• Kids Pass
• Days Out With The Kids

These are paid-for subscription services that offer savings on attractions, cinema tickets and restaurants, so it’s worth weighing up whether the potential savings will outweigh the cost for you.

Holiday activities and food (HAF) programme

For families with children who receive free school meals, there is also additional support available through the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme.

This government-funded scheme runs during school holidays and is delivered through local councils. It typically provides:

• free meals for children
• free or low-cost activities
• sports, crafts, clubs and organised day trips

The programme is designed to support families during the school holidays when both food and childcare costs can rise.

Availability varies by local authority, so what’s on offer depends on where you live.