With six weeks of summer holidays to fill, keeping the kids entertained (and fed) can add up fast. Whether you’re planning day trips, staycations or just need somewhere to go on a sunny afternoon, we’ve got you covered. You could also try cooking with your kids in the kitchen with our healthy recipes, throw a bash with our easy party recipes or get them involved in some summer grilling with our kids’ burger recipes.
This summer, there’s extra help on the way: the UK Government has temporarily cut VAT on children’s meals from 20% to 5% until 1 September 2026, and restaurants, cafés and family-friendly chains across the country are passing those savings straight on. Some kids’ meals are dropping from £1 to as little as 88p, on top of existing “kids eat free” offers. From big-name chains to local favourites, we’ve rounded up the best deals and where to find them below, so you can start planning where to eat without worrying about the cost.
‘Kids eat free’ deals
1. Chiquito
When: 20 July – 1 September
Mexican-inspired chain Chiquito is going all in this summer, throwing in a completely free kids’ meal — main, sides, dessert and a drink — with every adult main. It’s on offer daily, weekends included, so there’s no need to save it for a special occasion.
2. Burger & Lobster (London and Brighton)
When: 25 June – 1 September
If you’re London or Brighton-based, Burger & Lobster’s summer offer is one of the more generous ones on this list. Under-12s eat entirely free from the Little Claws menu — think the Beef Burger, Mac & Cheese or Panko Chicken Strips — with a side and pot of ice cream thrown in, making it a great choice for a filling family meal.
3. Coconut Tree
When: 13 July – 6 September
Looking to mix things up beyond the usual chains? Coconut Tree’s Sri Lankan menu is free for under-10s all summer with a paying adult, making it a good shout if you’re after something the whole family hasn’t already had a dozen times this year.
4. Farmhouse Inns
When: 20 July – 28 August (England); 6 July – 14 August (Scotland)
Farmhouse Inns’ offer is generous enough to actually make a dent in a family outing: two free kids’ meals per adult main, up to eight children across four adults, covering breakfast, carvery and mains alike. Choices include omega-3 fish fingers, chicken nuggets, a 2oz beef burger, pork sausages, chilli or tomato pasta, plus an ice-cream scoop. Just steer clear of weekends and bank holidays in England, where it doesn’t apply.
5. TGI Friday’s
When: 25 June – 6 September (Scotland); 26 June – 6 September (England and Wales)
Kids eat free daily at TGI Fridays this summer, whether they’re after a chicken burger, a hot dog or crispy tenders (and yes, the fizzy fruit cooler is included).
6. Village Hotels (excludes Village Blackpool)
When: 20 July – 4 September
A useful one to tuck away if you’re near a Village Hotel: weekday lunchtimes (12-5pm) see a free kids’ main at the Pub & Grill with any adult main, running right through the school holidays.
7. Tesco
When: 25 June – 1 September
Kids eat free all week at The Café and The Coffee Shop in over 330 participating Tesco stores this summer. Simply scan your Tesco Clubcard with any full-price adult purchase (even something as small as an apple) to claim a free kids hot meal deal, kids breakfast or kids pick ‘n’ mix. There’s no limit on redemptions, so bigger families benefit too.
8. Bill’s
When: 25 June – 1 September
Bill’s is one of the few offering free kids’ meals right through the day, from breakfast to dinner on weekdays, and lets up to two children eat free per adult main.
9. ASK Italian
When: 29 June – 6 September (Scotland); 17 July – 6 September (England and Wales)
The Happy Face Pizza is free all summer at ASK Italian with any adult main, alongside a rotating pasta selection.
10. Café Rouge (select locations)
When: ongoing
For something a little more grown-up than the usual high-street offer, Café Rouge’s daily kids-eat-free window (12-4pm) pairs a French-inspired lunch for the adults with a free children’s meal. Think fish goujons or macaroni cheese for anyone under the table who isn’t quite ready for steak frites.
11. Banana Tree
When: ongoing
For a change of pace from the usual chain roster, Banana Tree brings Southeast Asian flavours to the table (think noodles, rice dishes and sticky sweet bites) with a free main, drink and dessert for kids every Sunday when an adult orders a main.
12. Marco Pierre White (select locations)
When: summer holidays
Proof that eating well with kids doesn’t have to mean compromising: order a full-price main from the à la carte menu and one child under 12 gets a free two-course meal. Dates and times may vary per location so check with your local restaurant before visiting.
13. Zizzi
When: summer holidays
Zizzi’s three-course kids’ offer covers all the bases: a starter, a pizza or pasta main, and something sweet to finish, free with any adult main. It’s available every day but you’ll need to join the Zillionaires’ Club app to get the offer code, and exact dates differ across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, so it’s worth checking before you go.
14. YO! Sushi
When: summer holidays
The conveyor belt alone is usually enough to win kids over, but YO! Sushi sweetens the deal further. Kids get a free bento box – prawn katsu or chicken teriyaki – when an adult spends £10 or more, on weekdays during local school holidays.
15. Table Table Pubs
When: ongoing
Early risers, take note: Table Table’s breakfast deal already undercuts most hotel buffets at £11.99, and two kids under 16 eat entirely free alongside it. A solid option if you’re trying to fuel up before a big day out without the extra spend.
16. Turtle Bay
When: ongoing
Turtle Bay’s promise is simple: spend £15 on adult mains and a child eats free, with Caribbean-leaning options like Kingston fried chicken and Martinique toast alongside the usual burger-and-nuggets.
17. Bella Italia (select locations)
When: ongoing
A dependable midweek choice: Bella Italia gives kids three courses and a drink free with an adult main, Sunday through Thursday, all year round.
18. Travelodge
When: ongoing
Staying over somewhere this summer? Travelodge’s Bar Cafés let under-15s eat breakfast for £1 with every full-paying adult. It is worth booking into your stay in advance if you want to skip the morning queue.
19. Preto
When: ongoing
For a change of pace from the usual chain-restaurant fare, Preto’s Brazilian rodízio lets under-10s eat free alongside a paying adult every week day from 4pm and all weekend. This is a fun, hands-on option for kids who like a bit of theatre with their dinner. Book ahead and flag the offer when you arrive, as proof of age may be requested.
20. Franco Manca (select locations)
When: ongoing
Sourdough pizza fans will already know Franco Manca, and its free-pizza-for-under-12s deal (with any full-priced adult main) makes it an easy, no-fuss option for a casual family dinner.
21. Las Iguanas (select locations)
When: ongoing
Las Iguanas’ offer isn’t tied to specific dates or days: it’s a standing app perk, so under-12s eat free any time you fancy quesadillas and churros. Simply download the app and show your perk whenever you want a mini fiesta.
22. The Real Greek
When: ongoing
If Sunday lunch is already the plan, The Real Greek’s offer is worth knowing. Spend £15 on adults’ food and a child under 12 eats free, with a main, drink and a choice of ice cream or sorbet, a nice way to introduce younger palates to sunny Mediterranean flavours.
23. Gordon Ramsay restaurants (select locations)
When: ongoing
For a night that feels a bit more special, select Gordon Ramsay restaurants let a child eat free from the kids’ menu when an adult orders two courses from the à la carte menu, with some locations offering it every day and others on weekdays only. This deal is proof that a celebrity chef meal out doesn’t have to break the bank entirely.
24. Beefeater and Brewers Fayre
When: ongoing
Early starts are easier with two free kids’ breakfasts per adult breakfast purchase (£10.99) — a full English or continental favourites, so everyone’s set up before a full day out.
25. Purezza
When: ongoing
The UK’s first vegan pizzeria is a solid choice for anyone catering to different diets, offering a free mini pizza for under-10s with any adult meal, plus high chairs and pram-friendly space.
26. Dunelm Pausa cafés
When: ongoing
If a homeware run is on the cards anyway, Dunelm’s Pausa cafés throw in a free kids’ meal deal — main, drink and two snacks — with an adult spend of just £5.
27. OK Diner (select locations)
When: ongoing
This retro-styled diner chain is a good option for road trips, with under-10s eating free alongside a paying adult ordering from the à la carte menu.
28. Morrisons
When: ongoing
Morrisons keeps things simple: under-16s eat free with any adult spend of £5 or more, every day, with Birds Eye Chicken Dippers, Birds Eye Fish Fingers, Birds Eye Green Cuisine Veggie Fingers and a Goodfella’s Mini 4 Cheese Pizza all on the kids’ menu, plus a drink.
Where can children eat for £1 and under?
29. Dobbies (select locations)
When: 25 June – 1 September
Thanks to the Government’s Great British Summer Savings scheme, a garden centre trip can double as an affordable family meal: 88p covers a kids’ breakfast, hot meal or Pick ‘n’ Mix Lunch Box (plus a drink) with any qualifying adult purchase.
30. Hungry Horse (select locations)
When: 20 July – 28 August, weekdays
The VAT cut is doing some real work here: with any adult main, you can add up to two kids’ meal deals — main, two sides, pudding and a drink — for just 88p each, or swap in a kids’ breakfast for the same price. Little ones after something bigger can trade up to a large main for an extra 43p. Just note it doesn’t stack with Hungry Horse’s Daily Deals and it’s weekdays only.
31. Flaming Grill Pubs
When: 20 July – 28 August, weekdays
Another 88p meal offer where kids can get one little appetites meal, a dessert AND a drink with one paying adult. If your little one’s feeling a bit hungrier, you can upgrade to a bigger appetites meals (with a dessert and a drink) for just £1.31.
32. IKEA
When: ongoing
Still one of the cheapest kids’ meals around from 95p, IKEA’s penne pasta and classic meatballs make a reliable pit stop, especially if you’re pairing it with one of the store’s free family workshops.
33. Sizzling Pubs
When: ongoing, weekdays
Sizzling Pubs’ kids’ menu already covers the basics well: pizza, fish fingers or build-your-own main, side and veg. Kids eat for £1 with any adult main from 12pm Monday to Friday during the school holidays (just Mondays the rest of the year). Feed the whole family for £17 or less.
For more kid-friendly activities:
Top 15 kids’ summer baking recipes
How to throw a kids’ party
Summer cooking recipes for kids
No-cook kids’ recipes
50 summer activities for kids
Vegetarian kids’ recipes