DATA-BACKED GUIDE · UPDATED JULY 2026
How much does holiday club cost per day in the UK?
A holiday club covers full days during the school holidays, when term-time care stops but work carries on. It is usually priced per day, and while one day looks manageable, six weeks of summer can stack up into one of the year's bigger surprises. This guide covers what parents pay and how to soften it.
The quick version
- Holiday clubs are priced per day and run full days through the school breaks.
- Summer is the big one, with roughly six weeks to cover on top of shorter half-term breaks.
- Funded hours are aimed at pre-school children, so they do not help with school-age holiday cover.
- Tax-Free Childcare and the Universal Credit childcare element both apply to holiday clubs.
- Trips, activities and lunch can be extra, so the day rate is not always the whole story.
What people actually paid
The gap: advertised vs actually paid (medians)
People reported paying 16% less than the advertised list price for holiday club.
List prices are advertised prices; paid figures are what people reported, often for different cases. Treat the gap as a signal, not a quote.
Real prices, in people's own words
- £30“Ours are about £30 a day”
- £30“I charge £30 a day for my holiday club”
- £32“£32 per day central London, 9am-5pm”
- £43“Midlands £43 a day and we send a packed lunch”
- £50“£50 a day for a full 9-5 day but tax-free childcare takes a tenner off”
Genuine amounts posted publicly. We publish the price and the quote, never the person.
Why the price varies so much
Holiday club prices depend on the length of the day, what is included and where you live. A club with trips, sports coaching or a hot lunch costs more than one that stays on site with packed lunches from home. Full days from early morning to early evening cost more than shorter ones. Location follows the usual pattern, with London and the South East above the rest. Booking a full week or the whole holiday often unlocks a better daily rate than paying for single days as you go.
How to pay less
- Pay through a Tax-Free Childcare account, which works for holiday clubs as well as term-time care.
- Claim the Universal Credit childcare element if you qualify, as it covers holiday cover too.
- Book early, since many clubs offer a lower rate for early or block bookings across a whole week.
- Split the weeks with a partner, family or a childminder to cut the number of paid days.
- Check what the day rate includes, as some clubs add trips and lunch that others fold in.
Common questions
Why does summer feel so expensive?
The summer break runs around six weeks, so full-day cover for every working day adds up quickly. Unlike an after-school club, which is only a few hours, a holiday club fills the whole day, and there is no term-time routine to lean on.
Do funded hours help with holiday clubs?
No. The funded hours are for pre-school children during term time, so they do not cover school-age holiday care. Tax-Free Childcare and the Universal Credit childcare element are the schemes to use for holiday clubs.
How can I cut the number of days I pay for?
Sharing the weeks helps. Splitting cover with a partner, grandparents or a childminder, or mixing a couple of club days with days at home, lowers the total without needing full-week bookings every week.
Are block bookings cheaper than single days?
Often yes. Many clubs give a better rate for a full week or an early booking than for single days dropped in at the last minute, so planning the holidays ahead can save a useful amount.