Great British summer savings: grab family deals on days out, films and more

From Thursday families can enjoy a cut-price trip to Legoland or the cinema to watch Toy Story 5 as the government’s school holiday discount scheme Great British summer savings gets under way. Billed by Rachel Reeves as a way to “ support families with the little treats in life” , the temporary VAT cut will reduce ticket prices at family attractions such as zoos and theme parks as well as the cost of children’s cinema tickets and restaurant meals. Here is a guide to the scheme. What is happening? The chancellor has temporarily cut VAT from 20% to 5% on a range of family-friendly activities from when schools break up in Scotland on 25 June until children return to classrooms in England, Wales and Northern Ireland on 1 September. The reduced rate, which businesses can choose to pass on, applies to: children’s and family tickets for cinemas, theatres, concerts, shows and exhibitions; admission tickets, for children and adults, to attractions, including: amusement parks, zoos, soft play centres, nature reserves and wildlife parks; and children’s meals in restaurants. The initiative is designed to ease the cost of living, and if companies pass on the reduced rate, the government says savings for a family of two adults and two children equate to £20 on a theme park outing, £17 for a wildlife park, £1.50 off children’s cinema tickets and £2 off children’s meals. …