How much does it cost to keep kids entertained during the summer holidays?

The cost of childcare, days out and activities

Childcare and holiday clubs 

Last year, parents were faced with spending an average of £1,076 per child on holiday clubs and childcare over the six-week summer holiday break, according to children’s charity Coram. 

The cost varies based on where you live, but in general a holiday club is slightly cheaper than a childminder. 

Holiday clubs tend to open for shorter hours, usually 9-4pm, while childminders’ operating hours vary, but they tend to run for longer periods, closer to a full day. 

Cost of days out during summer holidays* 

The cost of entertaining kids during the holidays varies massively. You can go for a free or low-cost option, such as a local park or museum; a mid-range option like swimming or the cinemas; or a more expensive treat, such as a theme park trip where one day out could cost you £250.

When you’re looking at how much you can afford to spend, you need to factor in the cost of the attraction, transport and food costs.

Last year, the average cost of the summer holidays (based on household spending on food, transport, activities, clothing, pocket money and childcare) hit £1,662 per child, according to mutual Shepherds Friendly. 

Costs of activities vary massively based on where you live, so it’s worth comparing prices before you book any activity.

Prices will also vary between chains; for example, a ticket to Toy Story 5 at the Odeon is £10.99 per adult and £7.11 per child in most venues, whereas Vue is charging from £7.49 per adult. 

Cinema chains will also offer discounts for selected viewings; for example, Vue has Mighty Mornings for kids aged 4 to 11, which cost from £2.49 per ticket, and Odeon does offer tickets from £1 for selected viewings. 

If you fancy taking the kids swimming, then costs range from £2-£5 per child and £6-£10 per adult; it may be cheaper to buy a monthly pass depending on how often you plan on going. Children can swim for free if they have a swimming lesson booked at Better Gyms, so it’s worth checking for local discounts. 

Free and low-cost days out

We’ve put a list together of 14 free or low-cost days out and ideas for kids during the summer hols. 

• Museums - Such as the Science Museum, Natural History Museum and Young V&A. Find a local one near you
• Free local events - Your local council website should list free events running over the summer, such as classes or stay and play sessions at children’s centres
• Use Facebook - Look at local Facebook groups and WhatsApp groups to find local events being organised by charities or existing groups
• Find your local library - They often have free baby classes, story time or Lego play afternoon sessions; some even put on films
• Find an English Heritage site - There are over 30 free English Heritage sites to visit across the UK, or find a free local farm
• Visit a local park - find the best one in your area; it’s a free day out
• Find a local splash park or fountain - Best for hot, sunny days as a free way to cool off
• Dobbies offers free gardening workshops for 4-10 year-olds
• Game, set and match! If you're a fan of tennis, then the LTA offers free tennis coaching and lessons on select dates
• Blue Peter badge - A Blue Peter badge will get your child in for free at 200 attractions
• Visit a local farm - Most are free and have decent cafes; some even have soft play and activities for kids
• Go green - Visit a garden centre. Some have cafes, and my favourite even has a soft play that costs £2.50
• Create a treasure hunt - Visit your local park and lay out clues for the kids
• Create an obstacle course in your garden/local park - A free and great activity to get outside in the nice weather

How else can you save money over the summer?

Free or £1 meals 

Lots of restaurant chains and supermarket cafes offer ‘kids eat free’ or £1 children’s meals over school holidays.
It’s worth checking the terms and conditions, as many of them are only available if you buy an adult meal or if you go on certain days or times. 

How to find discounts 

From June 25, the government is reducing the rate of VAT on summer holiday activities such as theme parks and museum trips from 20% to 5%. We’ve calculated it could save families £60 over the summer holidays - read our guide. 

Lots of popular attractions and days out offer discounts. For example, if you register with Days Out Guide, you can get 33% off tickets to Chessington, Thorpe Park, Legoland and more if you have a valid rail ticket. Visit Days Out Guide’s website for more info. 

You could use loyalty scheme points to get discounts too. For example, you can use Tesco Clubcard vouchers to convert £5 worth of points into £10 worth of vouchers at places like Alton Towers, Chessington, Thorpe Park, Blackpool Zoo and Cadbury World. 

It’s worth checking before booking if you could save money by booking a family discount, as some do offer deals for multiple or group bookings. 

If you visit regularly, then work out whether you’d save money buying an annual ticket instead of single ones. 

Childcare

First, you need to work out how much childcare you’ll need. The cheapest place to start is by working out how much holiday you and your partner can take. Depending on your budget, you could use annual leave to replace childcare costs. It’s also worth speaking to family and friends who have children of a similar age to see if you could arrange to share childcare. 

To find a holiday club, it’s worth checking with local charities and church groups, as they sometimes offer low-cost options. You can use the government website to find a local one.

Don’t forget that you can use tax-free childcare for eligible holiday clubs and wraparound childcare, as long as you earn under £100,000.
It means you get £2 top-up for every £8 you add to your account, up to a maximum of £2,000 a year per child or £4,000 if they are disabled.
If you use an Ofsted-registered nanny or childminder, you can use tax-free childcare too. More information on the tax-free childcare government website. 

Grandparents could also top up their state pension national insurance contributions if they do help you out over the summer holidays by caring for their grandchildren under the age of 12.
The Specialist Adult Childcare credits scheme is worth up to £6,000 in total; more information on the gov.uk website. 

*Prices correct June 17 2026