The best summer holiday money saving deals every parent needs to know about

Take advantage of the over 200 National Trust gardens and parks at a discount this summer (Picture: monkeybusinessimages/ Images/iStockphoto) With the summer holidays kicking off, many parents are facing six weeks of trying to keep their kids entertained, without spending a fortune. The good news is, that from discounted days out to free food, there are plenty of ways to make your money go further this July and August. And, the Government’s Great British Summer Savings scheme is back, temporarily cutting VAT from 20% to 5% on many family-friendly activities. Here’s our round-up of the best offers you need to know about. Food and Drink Morrisons Morrisons and Kellogg’s have brought back their free summer Breakfast Clubs. Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. At participating Morrisons’ cafes, children and adults can choose a free bowl of Kellogg’s cereal with dairy or non-dairy milk, plus a free apple or banana. The offer runs until September 6 at Morrisons Cafes nationwide. The supermarket has launched summer savings across July and August, including three-for-£5 fruit deals and two-for-£3 offers on 500ml drinks. Morrisons is providing free breakfasts this summer (Picture: Shutterstock / Irina Wilhauk) McDonalds Until August 28, McDonald’s has reduced Happy Meals to £2.99, down from the usual price of £4.29 – £4.69. The offer is easy to claim, all you have to do is order via the McDonald’s app, which is free to download. Nando’s Nando’s has also cut down the price of kids’ meals. Don't miss our Money tips! Add us as a Preferred Source At Metro Money, we're here to bring you all the latest news and advice on personal finance, cost of living, saving and investing. As part of our vibrant community of highly engaged readers, we want to make sure you never miss our articles when searching for stories. Click the button below and tick Metro.co.uk to ensure you see stories from us first in Google Search. Add us as a Preferred Source Our Money experts are here to give you the latest tips and insider guides The chicken chain has reduced its Nandino kids’ meals from £6.95 to £6.08. The meal includes a main, two sides and either a drink or dessert. Wetherspoons The bastion of cheap pub eats, Wetherspoons is giving money off children’s meals too, with prices throughout the summer down from £5.75 to £5.03. Available until September 1, it includes dishes such as cheese burgers, chicken goujons and fish fingers. Keep your kids fed for under £3 (Picture: Shutterstock / ChameleonsEye) Greene King Greene King pubs have 2,600 venues across the UK. Until August 28, they’re offering a kids’ meal, dessert and a drink for just 88p. You can only claim the offer if bought with a paying adult, but that’s still quite the bargain. The Big Table Group The Big Table Group includes household names like Frankie & Benny’s, Las Iguanas, Bella Italia, and Banana Tree. At every restaurant, kids eat free all day, every day throughout the summer. Until September 1, all children get a full meal (a main course, sides, a dessert and a drink) completely free with every adult main. Days Out Cinema A trip to see Toy Story 5 could be the perfect day out for the kids and adults alike. Cinemas including Odeon, Vue and Cineworld are taking part in the Government’s Great British Summer Savings, offering reduced child and family tickets. Prices are dependent on the venue, so it would be best to check online for your local cinema when your booking Minions & Monsters. Vue is also running its Mighty Mornings screenings, with tickets costing £2.49 for children aged four to 12 and accompanying adults on weekends after 10am, plus every morning during the school holidays. Watching Moana will be much more affordable this summer (Picture: Shutterstock/ Nina Buday) The London Eye A day out to London can get pricey, but The London Eye has reduced ticket prices from September 1. Adult tickets are now £25.38, reduced from £29, while child tickets have dropped from £35 to £30.63. You can book online through their website. Theme Parks A trip to a theme park can be the event of the summer, and Merlin Entertainment, home to some of the biggest theme parks in the UK, are offering discounts. Tickets for Alton Towers, Legoland and Chessington World of Adventures start from £34.13 per person, down from £39. If your child is desperate to meet Peppa’s new sister, Evie, the good news is Paultons Park, known for Peppa Pig World, is joining in the fun too. Day prices are now £45 per person, down from £59. This includes free parking. Merlin Entertainments are participating in the Great British Summer Savings scheme (Picture: Shutterstock / Brocreative) National Trust For families who prefer the great outdoors and exploring the countryside, National Trust properties are reducing admission prices and children’s meals in their cafes until September 1. Admission prices vary by property. To confirm the price of your trip, the website recommends contacting them directly or booking in person upon arrival for the new reduced rates. Explorer Passes have also been discounted. A four-day Explorer Pass now starts at £31.50, while family passes start from £35.85 for one adult or £56 for two adults. Football camps After the World Cup, football is at the front of many people’s minds, with kids eager to recreate Saka’s hattrick. But football camps aren’t always the cheapest. Luckily, Kellogg’s is sponsoring free places at 73 football camps this summer nationwide, in places such as London, Glasgow or Doncaster. Parents can claim a place by buying a promotional pack of cereal and entering the code online. IKEA IKEA has launched its Summer Funhouse, offering free arts, crafts, games and competitions, including hot air balloon workshops, frame decorating and play dough modelling. Available across the school holidays only, you can find out their local stores’ events online. Pets At Home Animal lovers can take part in free pet workshops from Pets At Home during the holidays. The sessions, available for children aged four to 10, include meeting animals such as guinea pigs and hamsters and learning how to care for them. Complete with a certificate for your proud little ones to show they can take care of pets, the only thing you need to worry about is taking one home when you can’t resist the cuteness. Kellogg’s are sponsoring football clubs (Picture: Shutterstock / Monkey Business Images) The British Motor Museum Home to the world’s largest collection of historic British cars, offering free tours and over 400 classic cars, the British Motor Museum in Warwickshire is offering entry for just £1 for children aged 16 and under. The discounted tickets are available when accompanied by a full-paying adult until September 1. Theatre Theatre fans can take advantage of London Theatre’s Kids Week, where children aged 17 and under can get free tickets to selected performances until August 31 when an adult ticket is purchased. Details of shows and timings can be found on their website. Travel Bus The Government is allowing children aged five to 15 in England to travel for free on participating local buses throughout August – with unlimited journeys available. When the offer was announced in May 2026, the now former Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: ‘We know many hard‑working families are still feeling the squeeze and too often think they have to hold back. Secure cheaper or even free train and bus journeys (Picture: Shutterstock / hedgehog94) ‘By giving every child free bus travel throughout August and cutting tariffs on everyday food items, we’re putting money back into people’s pockets and making life that bit easier.’ Adults can benefit from cheaper bus travel this summer too, with the new Weekend Hopper fare in London, announced this May. On weekends between July 25 and August 31, the cost of a single bus fare (£1.75) will allow Londoners to hop on as many buses and trams as they like throughout the rest of the day. Do you have a story you’d like to share? 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