Great British Summer Savings
The government have launched a summer savings scheme which slashes VAT on meals out and eligible activities. This will run from 25th June – 1st September 2026, and includes the following:
- Children’s menu meals served in restaurants for consumption on the premises
- Children’s and family tickets for cinemas, theatres, concerts, shows and exhibitions
- Admission tickets, for both children and adults, to a range of attractions, including:
amusement parks, fairs, museums, soft play centres, circuses, adventure parks, nature reserves, wildlife parks and observation attractions.
More information can be found on the government website.
Free Travel
Across summer in GM, children aged 5-15 can travel on any Bee Network bus for free throughout August:
- Valid for children aged 5 to 15
- Available on Bee Network buses and other participating buses across England
- Unlimited free travel during August
- No registration or sign-up required
More information here
Offers on food
Tesco – kids eat free with any adult purchase, which can include a piece for fruit for less than £1
ASDA – Kids eat for £1
Morrisons – Kids eat free with any adult spend of £5
Sainsbury's – Kids eat for £1 with any adult spend of £5.50
Beefeater pubs and Brewer’s Fayre – Free breakfast for two kids with one adult breakfast
Bella Italia – Kids get three courses and a drink for free with any adult purchase, Sunday –
Thursday
Bill’s – up to two kids eat free with any adult purchase
Sizzling Pubs – kids eat for £1 Monday – Friday from 12pm over the summer holidays with an adult main meal
Turtle Bay – kids eat free when an adult spends £15
Things to do
A list of free museums and art galleries across the North West can be found here
Junior Park Run: a free 2k run across local parks each Sunday from 9am. Check your nearest one here
Offers on cinema tickets
Vue – Mighty Mornings, with tickets from £2.49 when booked online for families with
children aged 4 – 11 years.
Cineworld – 15% less VAT on tickets for children and families.
Odeon – Odeon Kids screenings at selected cinemas, with kids tickets for £1
Dobbies Little Seedlings summer workshops
Get down to Dobbies for a fun-filled day out at one of their free gardening workshops (for children aged 4-10). By joining the workshops, your child will become a member of the Little Seedlings Club. Here, Dobbies help children and families to start growing, and encourage them to learn about wildlife, plants and the environment in their friendly group settings. Sign up to the newsletter for more information