Great British Summer Savings: VAT Cut to 5% on Cinema Tickets, Days Out and Kids' Meals Until 1 September

What the VAT Cut Actually Covers

The government has temporarily cut VAT from the standard 20% rate to a reduced 5% rate on a defined list of family activities, running from 25 June to 1 September 2026. The eligible categories are: children's menu meals served in restaurants for consumption on the premises; children's and family tickets for cinemas, theatres, concerts, shows and exhibitions; and admission tickets, for both children and adults, to a range of attractions including amusement parks, fairs, museums, zoos, soft play centres, circuses, adventure parks, nature reserves, wildlife parks and observation attractions. Because this is a change to the rate of VAT charged rather than a universal discount scheme, the saving only shows up in practice at businesses that have chosen to pass it on and have joined the government's list. A cinema or restaurant not listed on the tool below may still be charging VAT at the eligible reduced rate internally without advertising or itemising it as a discount, but families cannot rely on that being the case unless the business appears on the government's site.

How to Use summersavings.gov.uk

The government's new tool, summersavings.gov.uk, is designed to make finding a participating business straightforward. Users enter their postcode, then adjust a dial to set how far they are willing to travel from home. They can optionally filter by the type of attraction or food offer they are looking for, then click "Find offers" to see a list of businesses in the area along with their locations on a map. Once a suitable restaurant or attraction is found, the process is the same as normal: book a table or buy a ticket as usual, and the discount is applied automatically at that point, with no separate code or voucher required.

Which Businesses Are Already Signed Up

More than 1,700 businesses were listed on the tool at launch, spanning national chains and local independents across the UK. National names already participating include Nando's, Bill's, Las Iguanas, ODEON and The London Eye. Local examples given by the government include ASK Italian and an escape room experience at TENPIN in Swansea, YO! Sushi and Frankie & Benny's in Belfast, AirHop Adventure & Trampoline Park and Cineworld in Aberdeen, Playdale Farm Park in Scarborough, and Mini Kingdom Soft Play in Yeovil. The government states it is engaging daily with businesses that have not yet joined to encourage further sign-ups, so the list of participating venues is expected to grow rather than being fixed at its current size.

How This Fits Into Wider Cost of Living Measures

The summer VAT cut is presented alongside a broader set of measures the government points to as part of ongoing cost of living support, including a reduction to household energy bills, a freeze on rail fares and prescription charges, the rollout of free breakfasts for children, and increases to the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage. These measures are separate schemes with their own eligibility rules and timings, but the government frames the summer VAT cut as one part of a wider package intended to reduce day-to-day household costs during the summer holiday period specifically.

What Families Should Check Before Booking

Before assuming a discount applies, it is worth checking a specific venue on summersavings.gov.uk rather than assuming eligibility based on category alone, since only listed businesses are confirmed to be passing on the reduced rate. It is also worth checking exactly which items are covered: the restaurant meal discount applies specifically to children's menu items, not to adult meals ordered at the same table, and attraction admission is eligible for both children and adults, so the rules differ by category. Anyone booking should also confirm the date of their visit falls within the 25 June to 1 September 2026 window, since the reduced rate does not apply outside those dates. Because the discount is applied automatically through the normal booking or purchase process, there is no separate code to request or apply at checkout.

Frequently asked questions

Does the VAT cut apply automatically at every cinema or restaurant?

No. The VAT cut only shows up as a confirmed saving at businesses that have joined the government's scheme and appear on summersavings.gov.uk. A business not listed may or may not be passing on the reduced rate, so it is worth checking the tool before assuming a discount applies.

What counts as a children's meal for the discount?

The reduced rate applies to children's menu meals eaten on the premises at a participating restaurant. It does not extend to adult meals ordered at the same table, even where a restaurant is listed on the scheme.

Do I need a discount code or voucher to get the price cut?

No. Once a participating business is found on summersavings.gov.uk, booking a table or buying a ticket works as normal, and the discount is applied automatically without a separate code or voucher.

When does the Great British Summer Savings scheme end?

The temporary VAT cut and the associated scheme run from 25 June 2026 to 1 September 2026. The reduced rate does not apply to bookings or purchases outside that window.

Can adults also get discounted tickets, or is this only for children?

Attraction admission tickets, including to amusement parks, museums, zoos and similar venues, are eligible for both children and adults. The children's meal discount, by contrast, applies only to children's menu items in restaurants.