Cheaper prices at Alton Towers and McDonald’s in VAT cut

The Government-backed scheme, dubbed “Great British Summer Savings”, launches on Thursday, June 25 and promises lower prices on everything from theme park tickets and children’s meals to family cinema trips.

Major attractions, including Alton Towers, Legoland and Peppa Pig World, are among those taking part, while restaurant giants including McDonald’s, Wetherspoons and Nando’s are also passing on savings to customers.

Which attractions are offering discounts?

Some of Britain’s best-known family attractions have already cut prices.

Merlin Entertainments, which owns attractions including Alton Towers and Legoland, has introduced “summer VAT savings” on tickets.

Advance tickets for both parks now start from £29.75, down from £34.

Longleat Safari Park has also reduced prices, with a family of four now able to buy advance tickets for £122.30, representing a saving of £17.50.

Cinema tickets are getting cheaper too

Families planning a trip to the cinema this summer could also see savings.

Major chains including Odeon, Vue and Cineworld have signed up to the scheme.

Odeon says a family ticket for two adults and two children will fall from £32 to £28.50 while the discount is in place.

Children’s meals slashed at major restaurant chains

The VAT cut is also being passed on by some of Britain’s biggest restaurant and pub groups.

Among those taking part are:

• McDonald’s
• Wetherspoons
• Nando’s
• Greene King pubs

Nando’s has reduced the price of its children’s “Nandino” meals from £6.95 to £6.08.

At Wetherspoons, a children’s meal costing £5.75 has fallen to £5.03.

Meanwhile, McDonald’s says a typical Happy Meal will cost £2.99, representing a reduction of around 27%.

Who qualifies?

The scheme applies across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and runs until September 1.

There is no legal requirement for businesses to participate, meaning discounts may vary between venues and locations.

Not every ticket qualifies, either.

Season passes and annual passes are generally excluded, meaning popular Merlin annual passes are not included in the savings programme.

Why is the Government doing this?

Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced the package as part of measures designed to ease pressure on household finances.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said many families have found everyday treats increasingly difficult to afford.

He said trips to the seaside, attractions and family days out should not feel out of reach for ordinary households.

The Treasury estimates the package will cost around £300 million. Alongside discounted attractions and meals, the initiative will also provide free bus travel for children aged five to 15 in England during August, potentially delivering further savings for families.

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How much could families save?

The exact savings depend on where families choose to visit.

However, households combining discounted attraction tickets, cheaper children’s meals and reduced cinema prices could save tens of pounds over a single day out.

For families planning multiple outings during the six-week summer holiday, the savings could quickly add up.

With millions preparing for the school break, the scheme offers a rare piece of good news for parents looking to keep children entertained without breaking the bank.

Will you be making the most of the cut? Tell us in the comments below.