TRYING to fill the long school holidays without spending an absolute fortune can seem impossible.
However, the recently launched Great British Summer Savings scheme is offering loads of deals and discounts until September 1 – meaning family days out will cost a lot less at a whole host of attractions across the UK.
The temporary scheme is slashing VAT from 20 per cent to five per cent on family activities, children’s meals in restaurants, children’s tickets for theatres and cinemas and tickets for everyone for soft play, adventure centres, and theme parks.
And along with free local bus travel for kids aged between five and 15 this August, you can easily find an affordable day out.
With nearly 2,000 spots across the UK taking part in the scheme, we’ve found some of the best, with the biggest savings.
Blackpool Pleasure Beach Resort
With wooden rollercoasters and dark water rides, there is something for everyone at Blackpool Pleasure Beach, with an All You Can Ride eTicket costing £29 per person, instead of £60 on the gate.
You can also get an ‘Ultimate Ticket’, which includes Blackpool Pleasure Beach, Sandcastle Waterpark, The Blackpool Tower Eye, Blackpool Tower Dungeon and Madame Tussauds for £56.88, down from £65.
Savings: Up to £124 for a family of four
Zip World (various locations)
Across the eight different Zip World locations, families can now save money including ziplines and underground trampolines.
The biggest savings offered are on Velocity, which is the world’s fastest zip line. Instead of £124, tickets now cost £99 per person.
Savings: Up to £100 for a family of four
The Crystal Maze Experience, London or Manchester
Fans of the Crystal Maze TV show should try out the Crystal Maze Experience where you compete in a number of different challenges across an hour.
Tickets now cost £26.50 per person, instead of £39.50 – although you must get a minimum of three tickets per order, with one being a child (over nine).
Savings: Up to £52 for a family of four
Woodlands Adventure Park, Devon
Spread across 100 acres, Woodlands Family Theme Park is home to water coasters, rides, animals and a giant indoor soft play area.
If you book online in advance, tickets will cost just £20 instead of £29.15 per adult, and £15 instead of £21.45 per child.
Savings: Up to £31.20 per family of four
Spinnaker Tower, Portsmouth
You can capture panoramic views from the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth, right to the Isle of Wight.
An all-day adult ticket now costs £12 instead of £19.25, and an all-day child ticket costs £10 instead of £15.50 or a family of four ticket also now costs less – £40 instead of £68.50.
Savings: Up to £28.50 for a family of four
Go Ape (various locations)
Want to make the most of the sunshine? Go Ape has 37 sites across the UK, with up to 15 per cent off.
Tickets cost from £36.95 – prices may vary depending on location, and you need to use the code ‘VATSUMMER’.
Savings: Up to £26.96 for a family of four
Chaos Karts, Manchester
If you want to live out your Mario Kart dreams, then head to Chaos Karts in Manchester.
You can compete in immersive themed races with tickets now costing £21 per person, instead of £27 (though you must get a minimum of three tickets per order, with one being a child).
Savings: Up to £24 for a family of four
Drayton Manor, Staffordshire
Spread across 180 acres, Drayton Manor features four themed lands, including Thomas Land, Vikings, Adventure Cove and Frontier Falls and across these lands visitors can head on rides ideal for smaller children.
Day tickets cost from £39 instead of £45 per person.
Savings: Up to £24 for a family of four
Game of Thrones Studios Tour, Northern Ireland
Game of Thrones fans should head to the studio tour in Linen Mill Studios in Banbridge, Northern Ireland.
Tickets cost £23.50 per adult instead of £29.50, if you use the code ‘SUMMER’. Kids tickets then cost £4.80 each and youth (13 to 15-year-olds) cost £11.20 each.
Savings: Up to £24 for a family of four
Harry Potter Studio Tour, Watford
For Potterheads who haven’t been to the Warner Bros studio tour yet, now is the perfect time with five per cent off tickets.
Instead of £58.50 per adult, you now pay £51.19 and instead of £47 per child, it is now £41.13. The family offer, which used to be £188 per family of four, is now £164.52.
Savings: Up to £23.48 per family of four
Blenheim Palace
There are three different ticket types for Blenheim Palace but if you want the ultimate experience, opt for the palace, park, gardens and adventure play for £44.63 per adult (was £51) and £35.88 per child (was £41).
Alternatively, you could get a family ticket for £144.38, instead of £165.
Savings: Up to £20.62 for a family of four
Waterworld, Stoke-on-Trent
Waterworld is the UK’s number one indoor tropical aqua park with more than 30 rides and attractions, including a huge wave pool and the thrilling Thunderbolt trap-door slide.
Tickets now cost £20 per person over 1.1 metres tall, instead of £26 per person. Kids under 1.1 metres tall, cost £18 now instead of £22.
Savings: Up to £20 for a family of four
RockReef, Bournemouth
Found at the end of Bournemouth Pier, you can head to RockReef with 28 Clip ‘n Climb walls suitable for all ages and PierZip – which is the world’s first pier-to-shore zip wire.
A Clip ‘n Climb session now costs £15 per person, instead of £20.
Savings: Up to £20 for a family of four
Coronation Street Experience, Manchester
Corrie fans should use this summer to head to the world of Coronation Street in Manchester, where you can step onto the famous cobbles.
Guided tour tickets cost £35 instead of £40 per person.
Savings: Up to £20 for a family of four
Alton Towers, Stoke-on-Trent
You can enjoy Alton Towers‘ 40 rides and attractions for less now, as online tickets now cost £34.13 for a day pass instead of £39 (guests under 90cm still visit for free) when bought online in advance (you’d save £135.48 for a family of four compared to the original on the gate tickets).
You can save even more by getting the ‘twice the fun’ ticket that allows you into two theme parks for £34.13 until the last weekend of July, including Alton Towers, Legoland, Chessington World of Adventures and Thorpe Park.
Saving: Up to £19.48 for a family of four
Chessington World of Adventures, Surrey
Just 12 miles from the capital, Chessington World of Adventures is home to more than 40 rides and 1,000 animals.
A day ticket online costs from £34.13, instead of £39 per person (you’d save £127.48 for a family of four compared to the original on the gate tickets).
Savings: Up to £19.48 for a family of four
Legoland, Windsor
Great for little kids and Lego fans alike, online tickets to Legoland now cost from £34.13 for a day pass instead of £39 and guests under 90cm still visit for free (you’d save £135.48 for a family of four compared to the original on the gate tickets).
The park has 11 themed lands, with more than 55 rides as well as live shows.
Saving: Up to £19.48 for a family of four
Thorpe Park, Chertsey
With over 25 rides and attractions including rollercoaster The Smiler, there’s loads to see and do at Thorpe Park, with online tickets instead costing £34.13 for a day pass instead of £39 (you’d save £127.48 for a family of four compared to the original on the gate tickets).
With the day pass, kids under 1.2 metres tall go for free still and all day tickets include a free return visit.
Saving: Up to £19.48 for a family of four
English Heritage properties (various locations)
All English Heritage properties across the country are taking part in the scheme.
This means you can get 12.5 per cent off the ticket price, which is automatically applied at check out.
Savings vary depending on the attraction you are heading to, but for example, if you went to Stonehenge, an adult ticket would cost from £23.65 and a child ticket would cost from £11.82.
This is instead of £27.20 per adult and £17.20 per child.
Saving: Up to £17.86 for a family of four
Paultons Park
Often dubbed the UK’s most affordable theme park, Paultons Park is now even cheaper to visit – and thanks to a new £12million themed world – Valgard: Realm of the Vikings – there could not be a more perfect time to visit.
Tickets were previously £46.75, and now cost from £43.
Savings: Up to £15 for a family of four
Warwick Castle, Warwickshire
History buffs can head to Warwick Castle, which is home to over 1,100 years of history and inside the castle, you will find immersive experiences as well as a bird show.
Online tickets cost £25.38 instead of £29 per person (you’d save £54.44 for a family of four compared to the original on the gate tickets).
Savings: Up to £14.48 for a family of four
Gulliver’s World (all four locations)
Gulliver’s World has four locations across the UK including Milton Keynes, Matlock Bath, Warrington and Rotherham.
Ticket prices vary per park, but you could get half-day tickets for as little as £13.75 per person. Day tickets cost from £22.50 per person, instead of £26 per person.
Savings: Up to £14 for a family of four
London Eye, London
One of London’s landmarks sat on the banks of the River Thames is suitable for all ages and offers great views of the city.
Tickets now cost £25.38 per adult instead of £29, and £22.75 per child, instead of £26.
Savings: Up to £13.74 for a family of four
Splashdown Quaywest, Paignton
Fancy cooling off in all this heat? Then you could head to the largest outdoor waterpark in the UK, with 18 slides.
A day ticket used to cost £31 per adult or £26 per child under the age of nine-years-old but now, day tickets cost £27.15 per adult and £22.75 per child.
Savings: Up to £13.50 for a family of four
Sandcastle Waterpark, Blackpool
Sandcastle Waterpark in Blackpool is the biggest indoor waterpark in the UK, with 18 slides and attractions as well as a spa.
Tickets cost from £22.31 instead of £25.50 per adult or child aged eight to 11 and £13.96 instead of £16.50 per child aged three to seven.
You can also get an ‘Ultimate Ticket’, which includes a range of attractions in the seaside resort.
This includes Blackpool Pleasure Beach, Sandcastle Waterpark, The Blackpool Tower Eye, Blackpool Tower Dungeon and Madame Tussauds for £56.88, down from £65.
Savings: Up to £12.76 for a family of four
Madame Tussauds, London
You can spend the day up close to 150 lifelike wax figures of celebs, royals and historical figures at Madame Tussauds in London.
Instead of £27, you’d now pay £23.63 per adult and instead of £24, you’d pay £21 per child.
Savings: Up to £12.74 for a family of four
Camera Obscura and World of Illusions, Edinburgh
Located across five floors, you can visit Edinburgh‘s oldest visitor attraction with more than 100 interactive exhibits and the attraction even has panoramic rooftop views.
Adult tickets used to cost £24.95 and are now £21.85 per person, while children’s tickets used to cost £17.95 and are now £15.70 per person.
Savings: Up to £12.70 for a family of four
Kew Gardens, London
Sprawled across 326 acres, Kew Gardens features a myriad of different gardens to explore, including indoor gardens and there’s also a giant kids play area.
Tickets cost £21.85 per adult instead of £25, £1.75 per child under 16-years-old and £8.75 for those aged between 16 and 29-years-old.
Savings: Up to £12.60 for a family of four
Rugby Football Union, Twickenham
You could head to the World Rugby Museum in Twickenham, which is home to the world’s most prestigious collection of rugby memorabilia.
Family tickets have been reduced from £80 to £67.50 in the case of two adults and two children.
Savings: Up to £12.50 per family of four
Butlin’s (various locations)
Butlin’s has three resorts in the UK, all of which are taking part in the scheme.
Visitors can get reduced day visits during the school summer holidays, with access to the Splash Waterworld pools, unlimited fairground rides, all live shows on the Skyline Pavillion stage, playgrounds, soft play and paid-for activities.
Day visit tickets now cost £13.60 per child instead of £16 and £20.40 per adult, instead of £24.
Under two’s still go free.
Savings: Up to £12 for a family of four
Eden Project, Cornwall
Down in Cornwall, you could head to the Eden Project where you can explore the world’s largest indoor Rainforest.
Adult tickets cost from £31.06 instead of £35.50 and children’s tickets cost from £10.94, instead of £12.50.
Savings: Up to £12 for a family of four
Frameless, London
For something different, you could head to Frameless, which is the UK’s largest permanent immersive art destination with masterpieces including by Van Gogh and Monet.
Flexible adult tickets cost £31.06 instead of £35.50, and flexible child tickets cost £22.75 instead of £26 each. You can also get a family of four ticket for £19.69 per person, instead of £22.50.
Savings: Up to £11.24 for a family of four
Wake the Tiger, Bristol
You could head to an immersive ‘amazement park’ in Bristol, which meshes theatre with art and an immersive experience to make you feel as if you are in a different world.
Adult tickets cost £21.88 instead of £25 each and children’s tickets cost £17.50 instead of £20.
Savings: Up to £11.24 for a family of four
IWM Duxford
In Cambridge, you could head to IWM Duxford which is Britain’s largest aviation museum.
Adult tickets now cost £25 each instead of £28.60 and children’s tickets cost £10 instead of £11.40 each.
Savings: Up to £10 for a family of four
Flamingo Land, North Yorkshire
With over 40 rides, 140 species of animals and even a holiday park, you won’t be short of things to do at Flamingo Land Resort in North Yorkshire.
Tickets now cost £43.50 instead of £46 per person.
Savings: Up to £10 per family of four
Shrek’s Adventure, London
At Shrek’s Adventure in London, you can walk through an immersive experience with a 4D flying bus ride, mirror maze and 10 live shows.
Instead of £21 per adult, tickets cost £18.38 and for kids, tickets cost £14 instead of £16.
Savings: Up to £9.24 for a family of four
Cadbury World, Birmingham
If you are based in the north then you could head to Cadbury World for the day to find out about the history of the iconic chocolate brand – the self-guided tour features exhibits as well as a 4D cinema experience.
Tickets cost from £15.75 per person, instead of £18.
Savings: Up to £9 for a family of four
The Historic Dockyard Chatham
For Naval history fans, you could head to the Historic Dockyard Chatham and explore the ships, galleries and exhibitions – including Steve Backshall’s Awesome Oceans Family Trail.
Tickets for a family of four cost £70 instead of £79.
Savings: Up to £9 for a family of four
Techniquest, Cardiff
Techniquest is Wales‘ largest science discovery centre, spread across three floors with live shows and lab workshops.
Tickets used to cost £17 per adult and £15 per child, but are now £14.87 and £13.12 respectively.
Savings: Up to £8.02 for a family of four
The Big Sheep, North Devon
The Big Sheep family theme park in Bideford is home to both farm animals and rides, as well as live entertainment for when the weather isn’t great.
Tickets cost £14.95 per person instead of £16.95 and £6 instead of £8 per child under three-foot tall.