Here’s our fun-filled programme of activities for children & families during the school break
And we’re very excited to announce a special children’s magic show with Tricky Ricky on Friday 21st February, 2pm.
*book your free spaces for children to attend: https://TrickyRicky_MagicShow.eventbrite.co.uk
Don’t worry if you are struggling to come up with ideas on how to keep your kids entertained this October break.
We have lots of fun tips to help – for wee ones, older kids & even teenagers!
Check out our autumn activities hub:
http://parentclub.scot/articles/things-do-autumn…
A mixture of old and new faces are heading to Vue venues in Edinburgh this October Scottish half term – offering plenty of opportunities for audiences of all ages to enjoy a trip to the big screen.
Families and film fans are invited to Cybertron in Transformers One, which rolls out at Vue sites just in time for the Scottish school holidays on 11 October. Learn the untold origin story of the iconic Autobot hero Optimus Prime and the villainous Megatron – and discover how these two sworn enemies were once close friends.
The first-ever fully CG-animated Transformers movie to appear on the big screen, Transformers One will be an action-packed adventure with everyone’s favourite Robots in Disguise.
Also for the Scottish half term, film fans eager to catch Dreamwork’s The Wild Robot will be able to enjoy Scotland only exclusive screenings at Vue on the 16th & 17th October, promising a beautiful, wild ride for all the family.
Following the charming tale of Roz, a futuristic robot who finds themselves on a deserted island filled with adorable animals, The Wild Robot is set to be a hugely emotional journey packed with discovery when it hits the big screen this month.
One of 2024’s most popular family favourite is also returning to the big screen this October, screening everyday of the school holidays as part of Vue’s Mighty Mornings with our favourite emotions in Pixar’s Inside Out 2 – available from just £2.49 when booked online.
Providing a short and sweet set of screenings for younger audience members, Vue’s Big Shorts will invite audiences to spend time with some of their favourite TV characters, with Bing & Friends: Birthday Celebration showing each day from 11 October.
From just £3.99 when booked online, these screenings offer a relaxed big screen environment with dimmed lights and reduced sound, tailor-made for younger film fans aged one to four.
Robert Smith, General Manager at Vue Edinburgh Omni, said: “We’ve got a great selection of new films and family favourites heading to the big screen this October half term, offering an ideal way to enjoy quality family time together this school holiday.
“Parents and children can come along, switch off and immerse themselves in great stories.”
Tickets are available at www.myvue.com
Family Fun this October Half Term at Vue line-up
Transformers One – from 11 October
Vue’s Big Shorts – Bing & Friends: Birthday Celebration – w/c 11 October
Mighty Mornings: Inside Out 2 – from 11 October & 18 October
The Wild Robot – from 16 October
Hellooooo!! The October break is only a week away and we have fantastic events running through the week!
All are free and there is no need to book 
See you there!
You might be wondering… what is Pokémon day? Well I’ll tell you!
We are going to have a scavenger hunt around the library with 3D printed Pokémon and once you’ve found the Pokémon and spell out the secret word, you’ll get a prize! There are only 70 prizes to give out so you’ll have to be speedy!
There will also be lures placed on all the Pokéstops surrounding the library in Pokémon Go so be sure to catch ’em all!
AN AMAZING A – Z OF PLACES TO GO DURING THE SCHOOL HOLIDAYS!
PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS, FAMILY, FRIENDS & VISITORS! 
The BIG LIST of places to take the kids is updated for 2024 and bigger and better than ever!
With the school summer holidays upon us, we’ve been busy updating our list of must-visit places in Scotland! 
We’ve removed closed venues, added exciting new spots, and updated prices to keep you informed. 
Before you head out, remember to double-check the venues’ or events’ social media pages for the latest updates, as things can change quickly.
If you’re planning to visit multiple places marked as National Trust or Historic Scotland (especially Edinburgh Castle, Stirling Castle, and Culzean Castle) then a yearly membership of these organisations may save you money.
If you’re eligible for a Young Scot card (free for 11-26 year olds) then applying for one (at “www.young.scot”) will also save you money on some entrance fees.
We hope this helps keep your little ones entertained over the holidays! Have a fantastic summer exploring all that Scotland has to offer!
Updated 2024 list
= costs
= free (ie. no admittance fee)
= sunny days
= rainy days
= dog friendly
= accessible
Aberdeen Art Gallery. FREE
Aberdeen Maritime Museum. FREE
Aberdour Beach, Fife FREE
Aberfoyle (David Marshall lodge, Lodge forest Visitor Centre) FREE
Above Adventure, Kilmarnock. Indoor climbing & bouldering. From £6
Adventure Golf Island, Dunfermline £5-£9
Adventure Planet softplay centres, Cumbernauld and Paisley, £7.95 – £9.95
Aerial Adventures soft play, Livingston. £2 – £8
Agnew Park, Stranraer. Play park, mini railway, boats, putting, go karts. FREE entry. Mini railway £1.20 children £1.95 adults, Mini cars £1.20, Boats £4-£5.25, Go-karts £3.10.
Airthrill, East Kilbride. Trampoline & inflatable park. From £12.95
Almond Valley farm park, Livingston. Outdoor play, indoor play, animals, picnic, soft play, walks. £10 – £12
Almondell & Calderwood country park, Broxburn FREE
Amazonia @ M&Ds, Motherwell, £5.20 – £6.80
Andrew Carnegie Birthplace Museum (& gardens), Dunfermline. FREE
Ardkinglas Gruffalo Trail & Woodland Garden, Cairndow Loch Fyne £2.50 – £5 (under 4s FREE)
Ardeer Beach, Stevenston. Sandy beach with “Doon the Beach” beach hub/cafe & toilets. FREE
Ardrossan/Saltcoats beach. Play parks, large sandy beach FREE
Arran Alpacas & Balmichael Glamping, Shiskine, Isle of Arran. £
Arran Heritage Museum, nr Brodick, Isle of Arran. Museum £3-£5, gardens 50p adults, children FREE
Astoria Cinema, Ayr. £
Aviemore Ice Rink. From £8
Aviemore Kart Raceway. From £13. Age 4+
Ayr Beach. Lots of parking, large play park, kiosks. FREE
Auchingarrich wildlife centre, Comrie £12- £14, under 3s free
Balloch Country Park – loch side walks / tree trails/ picnicking / sandy play park FREE
Baltic Street Adventure Playground, Dalmarnock. FREE. (Can register kids online) Tues-Sat
Bannockburn House & gardens, Stirling. House tours from £6
Barnhill Farm shop, Inchinnan, Renfrewshire. Softplay bus, sand pit, farm trail, go karts. FREE entry(some activities chargeable)
Barons Haugh Nature Reserve, Motherwell, FREE
Barshaw Park, Paisley – duck pond / model railway / small animals / play park FREE Bearsden Ski Club £120 for 6 week block, tubing sessions £
Beech Tree Inn, Drumgoyne by Killearn – Bar/restaurant with small animals
Beecraigs Country Park, Linlithgow FREE
Bellahouston Park, Glasgow. Play parks, fairy trail, sculptures to sit/climb on (house for an art lover garden), sports courts. FREE
Belleisle Park, Ayr. Play area, glasshouse, cafe, walled garden, deer park. FREE
Blair Drummond Safari Park, Stirlingshire £15.50 – £22 (kennels for dogs at entrance)
Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway & Museum of Scottish Railways, Bo’ness, West Lothian. Steam train rides £9 – £16 (under 4s FREE). Museum adult £7, child £2 (under 5s free)
Boswell’s Estate, Auchinleck – play area, gorge walks, castle ruins, coffee shop Botanic Gardens & Kibble Palace, Glasgow. Play park, glasshouses, river walk, cafe. FREE
Bounce Station inflatable park, Irvine. Inflatables, laser tag, nerf, tubing, indoor and outdoor. From £8.50
Briarlands Farm Park, Stirling. Adventure play park £7.50 – £9.50, under 2s FREE
Bridgend Golf & Footgolf, Linlithgow. Tues-Sun. From £8 adult, £5 child (club, ball hire extra)
Broadwood Stadium Gym Play, Cumbernauld £
Brodick Castle, Isle of Arran. Woodland play area, walks, castle tours. £9 – £15 (National Trust) Catch ferry from Ardrossan (from £4)
Brodie Castle & Estate, nr. Forres. Castle tours, grounds, playful garden. March-October.
Playful garden FREE entry for 2024 only.
Castle £8.50-£14 (Young Scot card holder £1) (National Trust) Parking £5.
Broughty Castle Museum, Broughty Ferry. FREE
Bubbles soft play, Partick, Glasgow. £5 – £7 (under 1 £1) Age 0-9
Burngreen park Kilsyth, play area, putting green, trampolines , from 90p
Burntisland, Fife. Beach and funfair FREE (attractions £2/3 each)
Burrell Collection, Glasgow FREE
Caerlaverock Castle, Dumfries. Medieval castle, grounds with play park, visitor centre. £3.50-£6, under 7s free. (Historic Scotland)
Cafe Ceramico, East Kilbride from £13
Cairnie Farm & Maze, Cupar, Fife – Mar-Oct, from £7.50, under 3s FREE (extra for fruit picking)
Calderglen Country Park, East Kilbride. Large play park, zoo, walks (zoo entry £4 adults, £2 children, under 3 free) Park entry FREE
Callendar House, Falkirk. Historic house with cafe and play park. Closed Tuesdays. FREE
Camera Obscura, Edinburgh £16.95 – £21.95
Campsie Soft Play, Lennoxtown £6.50
Carmichael Estate, Biggr. farm shop and tea room £ / FREE entry
Carnegie Leisure Centre, Dunfermline.swimming £3.80-£5.40 (under 5s £1), soft play £2.70 for 60min, climbing wall £4.30-£6.40 (requires induction-paid)
Castle Cary holiday park indoor & outdoor pools & cafe, Creetown – open to non-residents. Adults £2.50, children £2. April/May – end of summer only.
Castle & Gardens of Mey, Thurso. castle, walks, animal centre. £5.50 – £16
Castle House Museum, Dunoon. Tues-Sat. Adults £3.50, Concessions £3, Children Free
Castle of St John, Stranraer. FREE
Castle Semple Country Park, Lochwinnoch, walking trails and coffee shop FREE
Celtic Park Stadium Tours, Glasgow. Adult £17.50, Child £12, under 5s free
Chatelherault Country Park, adventure park and walking trail. Market on some Sundays
Cineworld & Odeon Kids Club from £2.50
City Kids Adventure Play, Glasgow (East End). Indoor soft play £
City Sightseeing Tour, Glasgow & Edinburgh (Hop on Hop off) from £15
Clambers Soft Play, Edinburgh. £1.05-£11.99 (under 6 months free)
Clark’s Little Ark, Sanquhar, D&G. Farm animals and park FREE
ClimbZone at Xsite, Braehead. Climbing, aerial course, giant indoor slides. Slides £1 or 12 for £10, other activities from £19
Cloybank Farm, Bonnybridge. FREE entry to walks, animal areas, cafe. Indoor & outdoor play areas children over 1 £5, adults £1.50, under 1s free.
Clyde Cycle Park, Cambuslang. Bike track, cycling lessons, roller skating/discos. Outdoor
Clyde Valley Family Park, South Lanarkshire. Farm park, go karts, water play, mini golf. £7.25 – £17.50 (under 2s FREE)
Coats Observatory, Paisley FREE – CURRENTLY CLOSED (summer 2024)
Cocoabean Chocolate Factory, nr Kircudbright, chocolate workshops, outdoor play, indoor play, cafe. £10 – £25.95
Codona’s, Aberdeen. Indoor and outdoor play, go karts, mini golf. From £4
Colourplay CIC, Kirkintilloch. Messy play and art activities £
Colzium Estate, Kilsyth – visitor centre, cafe, play area etc. FREE
Conifox Adventure Park, Kirkliston. Outdoor play £3.50 – £9.50 (under 1s free) Indoor soft play £2.75 – £13.95 (under 1s free). 30% discount on indoor+outdoor tickets
Cowan Park, Barrhead. Large play area, walks, trim trail with gym equipment, tennis courts (April-Sept, free to use, free coaching sessions in summer). FREE
Craft Daft on a Raft, Kirkintilloch. Studio fee £4.50, pottery to paint from £8. £15 minimum spend per table.
Crafty Workshops, Jedburgh. Age 3+. £
Craigend Nursery – indoor sandpit, Cumbernauld £4
Craigie’s Farm Shop, Edinburgh. Play area and pick your own fruit. From £5
Craigtoun Country Park, St. Andrews. Free entry, £10 wristband for attractions.
Crawick Multiverse, Sanquhar, D&G. Outdoor walks, sculptures, climbable landscapes, events. Entry from £4
Cream o’ Galloway, Gatehouse of Fleet – ice cream parlour, mini golf/croquet, nature reserve,ice cream making workshop. FREE entry, activities chargeable (adventure playground no longer there)
Creation Mill CIC, Langholm. Textile & craft workshops age 8+
Creepy Crawlies Soft Play, Irvine. £6.50 – £8
Culzean Castle, Maybole. House tours, walks, Wild Woodland & Adventure Cove adventure playparks £12 – £20 (Young Scot card holders £1) (National Trust)
Cuningar Loop, Dalmarnock. Woodland park, bike tracks, bouldering. FREE
Dalgarven Mill, Museum of Ayrshire Country Life & Costume, Kilwinning £5 – £7.50
Dalkeith Country Park, free entry to park. Adventure park from £4. Go ape from £21
Dalscone Farm Park, Dumfries. Indoor and outdoor playpark and farm. From £11.50
Dams to Darnley County Park, Glasgow. Events posted online throughout year. FREE
Dark Sky Planetarium, Kirkcudbright
Interactive Museum & planetarium £8 – £15
David Livingston Centre, Blantyre. Entry to playpark is free. Museum £3- £7.50
Dean Castle Country Park, Kilmarnock. Castle tours/museum, play park, walks and café. FREE
Deep Sea World, North Queensferry, £12 – £18
Devil’s Porridge Museum, Dumfries & Galloway. From £8
Dhoon Beach, Kirkcudbright FREE
Dino Park, Dumfries £5- £10. Soft play extra, under 1s FREE
Discovery Point & RRS Discovery, Dundee. £9.50 – £17
Dock Park, Dumfries. Play park, walks, bandstand. FREE
Doon Valley Railway, East Ayrshire. Heritage train rides. Open days – most Sundays in summer. From £4 (under 3s free)
Doune Castle, Perthshire. With woodland walk & Roman fort. Child £6, Adult £10, under 7s FREE (Historic Scotland)
Drumlanrig Castle, gardens and adventure park £6-8. Tours of castle on selected dates
Drumpellier Country Park, Coatbridge. Playpark, pedal boats, walks FREE
Dumbarton Castle, £4.50 child, £7.50 adult, under 7s free (Historic Scotland)
Dumbreck Outdoor Playbarn & Yoga Barn, Glasgow. Stay & Play £10 per child (reduction for siblings)
Dumfries & Galloway Aviation Museum. Wed-Sat + bank holiday Mondays. £4.50 – £7.50
Dumfries house, Cumnock. Adventure playground, walled garden FREE. Tours from £7.50
Dumfries Museum FREE entry. Camera Obscura £2-£4
Dumfries Ice Bowl. Skating from £3
Duncarron Medieval Village, Carron Valley £ payable events
Dundonald Castle, nr. Kilmarnock £7- £10, under 5s FREE (Historic Scotland). Grounds & Play park FREE
Dunollie Castle, museum & gardens, Oban. £4-£10 (under 5s free). Pay once, visit all year. March-October.
Dunrobin Castle, Golspie. Museum, walks, falconry. March – October. £9 – £14.50
Dunstaffnage Castle & grounds, Dunbeg, by Oban. £4.50-£7.50 (under 7s free, Young Scot card holders £1). March-Sept.(Historic Scotland)
Dunvegan Castle & Gardens, Skye. April-October. £11.50 – £16.50 (Seal boat trips April-September additional £9-£12)
Dyemill Bike Park, Lamlash, Arran. Mountain bike trails & pump track. FREE
Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh. Interactive science. £12 – £19.50
East Kilbride Ice Rink. £3.30-£7 (plus skate hire £2.50)
East Links Family Park, Dunbar £8 – £18, under 2s FREE
East Yonderton Farm, Renfrew (fruit picking) Seasonal – Pay per weight
Easter Road stadium tour, Edinburgh. Adult £15, child £5. Selected dates only (usually Fridays), check website
Eden Park, Peterhead. Play areas & walks. FREE
Edenmill Farm Shop, Blanefield. Soft play £7, alpaca trek £13.50, petting zoo £7.95
Edinburgh Castle £11.40 – £19.50 (Historic Scotland)
Edinburgh Zoo £17 – £26.50
Eglinton country park, Irvine. Adventure playground, STEM trail, ruins FREE
EICA Ratho – Clip ‘n Climb from £7.50 and Scrambles soft play from £1.50
Electric Thrill, East Kilbride. Crazy Golf & Arcade. From £3.95
Elgin Kart Raceway. £
Ernespie Farm Park, Castle Douglas.
Outdoor play, indoor soft play, cafe, garden centre. £4 – £12
Falkirk Wheel £9.50 – £17.50 (other activities separate charge)
Farmer’s Den soft play, Dumfries & Annan. £5
Fife Zoo £4 – £6
Finlaystone Country Park, Port Glasgow. Woodland play areas and walks £4-£6 under 3 free
Firepit & Kiln Carvery & Pottery, Glasgow Quay. £
5 Sisters Zoo, West Calder, £13.95 – £18.95, under 3s FREE
Flanders Moss national nature reserve, nr Kippen, Stirlingshire FREE
Flip Out Trampoline Park, Rutherglen £9.45 – £14.45
Forgotten Worlds, Stewarton. Large retro game shop and arcade. One hour unlimited arcade gaming pass £5
Fossilfield Training Centre, Auchinleck, East Ayrshire. Pony/horse riding social enterprise for children, young people and adults who experience social and economic barriers.
Foxlake Adventures CIC outdoor water park, assault course, segways, Dunbar – various prices starting at £15
Frankie & Lola’s soft play, Inverness. From £1.99
Friockheim Park, Arbroath. Football Pitches, Woodland, Large Children’s Play Areas, BMX Bike Area. FREE
Fun Street, Silverburn, Glasgow. Soft play, mini town, interactive gaming. £1.99 – £15.99
Furry Murry’s soft play, Paisley. £5 – £7.95 (non-walkers FREE)
Galleon Centre, Kilmarnock. 25m swimming pool with kids pool and flume, ice rink, squash, sports courts. £
Galloway Activity Centre, Parton (Loch Ken) Water sports, outdoor sports, board/boat/bike hire, laser tag, outdoor water park & water slide. From £20
Garage Bowling, go karting and adventure golf, Kilmarnock. From £5.50
Garrison Funfair, Millport, Cumbrae. Vintage rides, games, inflatables. Easter – September (open all week in school summer holidays, otherwise weekends only). Tokens £2.50
Garscube Playrooms, Glasgow £15 annual membership plus £4 per visit
Gem Rock Museum, Creetown. £6
Glasgow Climbing Centre from £26
Glasgow Green, adventure park, walks. FREE
Glasgow Museum Resource Centre, FREE pre booked tours.
Glasgow Science Centre, £11.50 – £14.75
Glasgow Ski & Snowboard Centre, Bellahouston 6 week ski/snowboard course £90 – £96. Tubing sessions from £12
Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust – Bridgeton Bus Garage, Glasgow. Open on selected weekends Spring-Autumn for visits & FREE historic bus rides, guided tours by arrangement in winter.
Gooey Events Limited, Livingston events from £30
Gourock Outdoor Pool £3.70 – £4.50
Grampian Transport Museum, Alford. £5-£13 (under 3s free)
Gravity Trampoline Park, Glasgow Xsite Braehead and Edinburgh Fountain Park. From £4
Greenbank garden, Clarkston £6.50 – £9 (National Trust)
Gruffalo trail – ardkinglas estate, Argyll £2.50 – £5 (under 3’s free)
Hamilton Water Palace. Indoor pool with pirate ship area for under 8s (check times as they vary). Child (4-17) : £2.30
Adult (18+) : £4.70. Under 4s free
Hannahston Alpacas, Drongan. £10-£15 Fri-Mon
Hazlehead Park, Aberdeen. Playground, golf, maze, mini zoo. FREE entry
Heads of Ayr farm park, Ayr – animals & play park indoor/ outdoor £15.50 (under 1 free)
Highland Folk Museum, Newtonmore. Open air museum. March-October. FREE (£2 for parking)
Highland Wildlife Park, Kincraig. £16.85 – £22.50
HistoryLinks Museum, Dornoch. £
Hollywood Bowl, Springfield Quay & Bargeddie. Kids eat,drink and play from £7.50
Holmwood House, Cathcart £8.50 (National Trust)
Hopetoun House & grounds, South Queensferry. March – Sept. £4 – £13.50 (Young Scot card holders £1) Dogs – grounds only.
Howard Park, Kilmarnock. Large play area, sports courts. FREE
Hunterian Museum & Art Gallery @ Glasgow Uni FREE
Infinity Trampoline Park, Inverness. From £4.99
Inflata Nation, Kinning Park Glasgow. Inflatable park (indoor). £6.99 – £10.99
Innoflate inflatable parks. Glasgow, Livingston, Cumbernauld, Dundee, Aberdeen. From £5.95
Inveraray Jail, from £9.50 – £15.50
Inverness Kart Raceway. From £26.Age 8+
Inverness Museum & Art Gallery. FREE
Irvine Beach Park. Sandy beach, sand dunes, extensive grassy dune area with walking paths and stone dragon sculpture, pond, skate park, toilets, kiosk, free parking. FREE
Jabberwocky Soft Play, Haddington. £4.50-£6.95 (under 1s free)
James Hamilton Heritage Park, East Kilbride, FREE (£ activities)
Jedburgh Castle Jail & Museum, Borders. FREE
Jim Clark Motorsport Museum, Duns, Berwickshire. £3.50-£8.50 (under 5s free). Pay once, visit all year.
Jolly tots & Cookies play cafe, Uddingston £1 – £4.50 (under 1 free)
Jump-N-Joy Trampoline Park, Tullibody. From £12- £15
Jumpin’ Jack’s soft play, Glenrothes. £6-£9 (under 6m free, 6m-1yr £1, adults £1)
Jungle Creek Soft Play & Adventure Golf, Glasgow (Soccerworld). Usually a deal available on Groupon. £5-£10
Juniors Play Cafe, Hamilton. £4 per child, include lunch for an extra £2.50. Babies aged 0-12 months go free. £6.00 deposit books your table (redeemable in the centre)
Jupiter Artland, Edinburgh £7.50 – £11.50 (under 3 free)
Jupiter Urban Wildlife Centre, Grangemouth FREE
Jurassic Parrr Adventure Golf, World of Golf, Clydebank £3.50 – £8.50
Jurassic Jungle soft play, Possilpark £6.75 – £8.50 (under 1 £1)
Kay Park, Kilmarnock. Large play area, kids bike track, pond, gym equipment. FREE
Kelburn Castle. forest trail, indoor/outdoor play, alpacahs, tree climbing. All activities charged separately.
Kelpies & Helix Park, Falkirk FREE (tours from £6.50)
Kelvingrove Museum, Glasgow FREE
Kelvingrove Park. Play park, bandstand, walks. FREE
Kelvin Hall Glasgow Clip & Climb £12-£15, Soft Play £5-£7 (under 1s free)
Kidz Play soft play, Prestwick. From £6.50
Kilmardinny Loch (in bearsden for a Gruffalo Hunt) FREE
Kiltoonies, Kilsyth. Mini town play centre. From £5
Kings park, Stirling – adventure playground FREE
Kirroughtree Visitor Centre, Galloway Forest. Walks, mountain bike trails, wildlife hides, play parks, cafe. FREE entry, parking £2-£4
Kitchen Coos & Ewes, Newton Stewart. Highland cow safaris & tours £12 – £46
L’s Little Stars, Troon. Kids’ crafts, pottery painting. £
LA Bowl, Ayr. Ten pin bowling & laser quest. From £6
Lake of Menteith / Inchmahome Priory, nr Stirling £6 – £10 (under 7 free)
Lamont Farm Project, Erskine. City farm. FREE (some chargeable events)
Landmark Adventure Park, Aviemore, £14 – £31 (under 3 free)
Langloch Farm CCI, Lanark. Nature trail, rope course, play park, cafe. FREE
Largs beach, kids’ rides, amusements, play park. FREE
Laser Station, Xsite Braehead. From £5.99
Leadhills & Wanlockhead Heritage Railway. Sundays in summer. From £3.50
Linlithgow Canal Centre, Cruises from £40
Linlithgow Palace £4 – £8, under 7s FREE
Linn Caves and waterfalls, Baldernock FREE
Linn Park Adventure playground, Glasgow indoor + outdoor play centre for children with ASN and their families (booking advisable) FREE
Little Lions Play Cafe, Bellshill. £6 per child (under 6s only)
Little Play Planet, Ayr. Mini town play centre. From £5
Little World of Play, Cowdenbeath. Mini town play centre. £12.95 (non-walkers £3.50)
Loch Katrine, Trossachs FREE (boat ride chargeable)
Loch Leven RSPB, Kinross FREE
Loch Lomond Bird of Prey Centre, Balloch, £5 – £9.50 under 3’s free
Loch Lomond Faerie Trail, Luss £6.50 (under 2s FREE)
Loch Lomond shores – shops, cafes, sea life centre, water sports, outdoor play park. From FREE
Lochwinnoch RSPB FREE
Lollipop Land soft play, East Kilbride £5.95 – £8.95
Loopy Lou’s soft play, Boddam, nr Peterhead. Indoor soft play with outdoor play area & astro sports pitch. £6-£10 (under 1s free)
Low Park Museum, Hamilton FREE
Lunderston Bay, Gourock, FREE
Lynn Glen, Dalry, Ayrshire. River walk with fairy houses, waterfall. FREE
Mabie Farm Park, Dumfries (Mar-Oct) £10 under 2s FREE
Make Do & Grow, Govan. Free drop in arts and crafts and workshops
M&D’s, Motherwell – funfair All day wristband £21.95. Other packages available
Mariner Leisure Centre, Falkirk £3 – £5.20 (Under 3’s go free)
Mary Queen of Scots Visitor Centre, Jedburgh. FREE
McDiarmid Park, Barrhead. New play park including accessible equipment. FREE
McMoos ice cream parlour and cafe, Boness
Merkinch Nature Reserve, Inverness. FREE
Merlin Cinema, Thurso. £
Milk Barn, Falkirk – ice cream parlour on farm, £
Messy Nessy Playcentre & Ceramic Cafe, Thurso. From £3.50
Millport, Isle of Cumbrae. Catch ferry from Largs (£2 – £15.20) – hire a bike / play on beach £ / FREE
Monty’s Farm Park, Ardardan, Cardross. Outdoor play: adult (13+) £5, child £9.50, age 1-2 £8, under 1 free. Indoor play additional £3.50 for children age 1+ (adults free)
Movement Park, Whiteinch. Parkour, BMX, Skateboarding, urban sports. From £6.50
Mugdock Park, nr Milngavie – muddy walks/ ranger activities / garden centre FREE
Muiravonside Country Park, nr Falkirk, FREE (some events cost)
Muirshiel Country Park, Lochwinnoch, FREE (some events cost)
Museum of Childhood, Edinburgh FREE
Museum of Edinburgh. FREE
Museum of Lead Mining, Wanlockhead. Mine tours and gold panning available. From £6.50
Museum of Scottish Fire Heritage, Edinburgh. Tues-Sat. FREE entry (suggested donation £3)
Museums of the University of St Andrews. FREE
National Museum of Flight, North Berwick, from £8.50 – £13.50, under 5s FREE
National Museum of Rural Life, East Kilbride, £7 – £10, under 5s FREE (National Trust-affiliated)
National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh, FREE
New Cumnock outdoor pool, £2.50 – £3.50
New Lanark -play area/walks, indoor play, cafe, museum. Indoor entry £6 – £12
Newark Castle, Port Glasgow, from £4.50 – £7.50 (under 7s FREE)
Newhailes House & Garden inc. Weehailes Adventure Playpark, Musselburgh. March-October. £8-£15 (Young Scot card holders £1) (National Trust)
Newmilns Snow & sports complex, East Ayrshire. Dry ski slope, snowboarding, tubing. Activities from £9
Newton Park, Ayr. Play area, pond, lawn bowls, multi-sports court, gym equipment. FREE
Newton Stewart Cinema. £5.50-£7.50
Nith Valley Alpacas, nr Thornhill. From £25
Oban War & Peace Museum. FREE
Old Bridge House Museum, Dumfries FREE
Old Byre Visitor Centre, Machrie, Isle of Arran. Outdoor play, cafe, shop. £2.50 per child
Overtoun Park, Burnside, FREE
Paisley museum FREE. CURRENTLY CLOSED (summer 2024)
Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh, from £10 – £22, under 5s FREE
PalaceRigg Country Park, Cumbernauld. Play parks, walks. FREE
Paradise Island Adventure Golf, Glasgow (Braehead) & Livingston. From £5.50
Peakaboo Play Cafe, Airdrie. £4.50 per child
Perthshire Garden Railway, Gask, Auchterarder. Model railways, garden and cafe. Weekends 11am-5pm. Over 5s £5, under 5s free
Peterhead Prison Musem. £7.50-£12 (under 5s free)
Pick me up paints, Ayr. £5 table fee (covers 4 people), pottery to paint priced individually
Pinz Bowling, Elgin. Ten-pin bowling, gaming bus. From £4.50
Pirate Pete’s, Ayr. Soft play, laser quest, mini golf, fairground rides. £2.50 – £12 (Next to FREE outdoor play area and beach)
Pittodrie stadium tour, Aberdeen. Tues & Wed 9-11am. Adults £10, children £5
Play Town soft play, Bishopbriggs £2-£11.95 (under 6 months free)
Plean Country Park, Stirling FREE
Police Museum, Glasgow merchant city, FREE
Polkemmet Country Park, Bathgate FREE
Pollok Country Park, Glasgow (inc. dinosaur trail & fairy garden) FREE
Polmonthill Snowsports Centre, Falkirk. Skiing, snowboarding, tubing. £
Potter Around, Kirknewton (nr Edinburgh). Potters Wheel sessions from £20, painting and craft workshops £
Professor Balance, Kilsyth. Cycling lessons £20 – £40
Premier Cinema, Saltcoats. Cinema (£6.95 – £8.95), soft piay (£5.95 – £6.95), restaurant
Puppy Play Time, various Ayrshire locations. Play with miniature dachshunds. £10 first child, £5 siblings. Adults £5
Purves Puppets, Biggar £10 – £12
Queen’s Park, Shawlands, Glasgow. Play parks, walks, pond, tennis courts. FREE
R&A World Golf Museum, St Andrews. Interactive museum & cafe. Adults £17.50, under 16s & students FREE
R-Cade, Saltmarket , Glasgow. Retro console gaming centre and cafe. From £7.50
Rainforest Adventure soft play, Motherwell £4.95 – £9.95
Rangers football club museum & stadium tour, Glasgow. Museum £11.50 adult, £6.50 child, stadium £20 adult, £12 child. Combined tickets available. Under 3s free
Ravenscraig Activity Centre, Greenock. Learn to climb, soft play from £13.50
Renfrew Museum (within Renfrew town hall). Mon-Fri 10-4. FREE
Ride Right cycling lessons & club, Strathclyde Park & Bellshill, £20 per session
Riverside (transport) Museum & Tall Ship, Glasgow. Museum FREE, Tall ship £4.50 adults, £2.70 children, £12.70 for family of four, under 5s free.
Robert Burns Birthplace, Alloway. Museum, outdoor play area, cafe, sculpture trail.£7 – £12 (National Trust)
RollerStop, Kinning Park. Roller discos/lessons/skating rink from £8
Rothesay Castle, From £4.50 – £7.50, under 7s FREE
Rouken Glen Park, Giffnock FREE
Rouken Glen Pottery, Giffnock. Pieces from £5
Rozelle Park, Ayr. Museum & gallery, woodland walks, sculpture trail, tea room, park run. Outdoor areas FREE
Ruff and Tumble soft play, Glasgow (Pollokshaws) £2-£9.50
Sanquhar Tolbooth Museum, Sanquhar. Children’s activity area. April-Sept. FREE
Scotkart, Cambuslang & Clydebank from £43.70
Scottish Deer Centre, Cupar. Website advertising ‘pay as you please’
Scottish Football Museum & stadium tour, Hampden Park, Glasgow. From £9 adult, £5 child, under 5s FREE
Scottish maritime museum, Dumbarton & Irvine, £4- £9 (up to 3 kids FREE with paying adults)
Scottish Mask & Puppet Centre, Glasgow west. Performances from £6.95 – £7.95
Scottish Owl Centre, Bathgate, £7.50 – £9.50, under 3s & carers FREE
Scottish Parliament building, Edinburgh, FREE (booking recommended)
Scottish Rugby Stadium Tours, Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh. Mon-Sat. Adults £12, Children £7, under 5s free
Seadrift Dunnet Visitor Centre & Nature Reserve, Dunnet, Caithness. April-Sept. Tues-Sun. Free and chargeable events also available.
Sealife centres & Aquariums, Loch Lomond and Oban, £15 – £18
Sensory Hub Glasgow CIC, Easterhouse £5.50
Sharmanka Kinetic Theatre, Trongate Glasgow, from £9 – £15
Skye Museum of Island Life. Easter – September. Adults £6, children under 15 FREE
Soccerworld Glasgow. Football pitches indoor/outdoor, adventure golf, soft play (see Jungle Creek entry above). £
Southerness Beach FREE
Sporty Kids soft play, Thornliebank,East Renfrewshire. From £5
Station Park, Moffat. FREE entry. Walks, boats (from £1 per person, under 3s free), putting (From £1.20, under 5s free), play area.
Stay and Play, Ayr. Daily activities for young kids, check Facebook for details. £
St Andrews Aquarium. £12.50 – £15
St. Andrews Botanic Gardens, £5 – £6
St Mungo’s Museum, Glasgow FREE
St Vigeans Sculptured Stones & Museum, Arbroath. March-Sept. £4.50-£7.50 (under 7s free, Young Scot card holders £1) (Historic Scotland)
Stirling Castle £10.50 -£17.50 (under 7’s FREE) (Historic Scotland)
Stoneykirk Aviation Museum, nr Stranraer. Most Sundays April – October £3.50 – £6 (under 5s FREE)
Stranraer Museum FREE
Strathaven Park, play park FREE. Miniature train rides (summer weekends only), boating pond, putting, cafe. £
Strathclyde Country Park. Walks, play park. FREE. Water sports & bike hire £
Summerlee Museum of Scottish Industrial Life, Coatbridge FREE (tram rides small charge)
Sunnyside Garden Centre, Kilmarnock. Cafe with outdoor kids play area. FREE
Surgeons Hall Museums, Edinburgh. Adults – £9.50, Child (5-17)- £5.00, Under 5s – Free
Tantallon Castle, North Berwick £4.50 – £7.50, under 7s FREE
Tentsmuir, Fife – Nature Reserve, Beach, Forest, FREE
The Alpaca Trekking Centre, Thornhill, Stirling from £22
The Ark on the Clyde CIC, Port Glasgow. Animal encounters from £9.95 (entrance charges for Finlaystone Park apply)
The Bubbles Factory soft play, Carluke. £7.99 – £8.99
The Children’s Wood, Glasgow West, from £1
The Craft Pottery, Glasgow City from £5
The Ecology Centre, Burntisland, Fife £
The Experience, Hillington Bookable FREE events
The Gallery of Modern Art, Glasgow FREE (some exhibitions £)
The Highlanders Museum, Fort George, near Inverness. Museum FREE. Fort George £9 adult, £5.40 child, under 5s free (Historic Scotland)
The Japanese Garden at Cowden, Clackmannanshire. Walks, gardens, treehouse, activity boardwalk. £9.25 entry
The Kids Village, Saltcoats. Play cafe, gaming room, sensory room. From £5
The Lonely Broomstick, Falkirk. Harry Potter themed shop. Wand and potion experiences £15
The McManus: Dundee’s Art Gallery & Museum. FREE
The Playbarn at Auchrannie, Isle of Arran. £5 – £7.50 (free for hotel guests). Swimming pool also on site £
The Playbarn at Smithstone, Stonehouse South Lanarkshire. Indoor soft play with outdoor play area. 0-6 months: Free, 6 months – 2 years: £4.50, 2 years and above: £6. FREE entry for two adults per booking. £1 entry fee for additional adults.
The Play Barn at Whitekirk Hill, North Berwick. Indoor play area £3-£10 (max height 1.5m), outdoor play park FREE
£1 entry special offer for July 2024
The Secret Garden & Play Barn, Callendar Park, Falkirk. £5 first child, £2 each additional child
The Stewartry Museum, Kirkcudbright. FREE
The Tall Ship, Glasgow Riverside – museum / cafe / teeny under 5 soft play. £4.50 adults, £2.70 children, £12.70 for family of four, under 5 free.
The Wee Play Place & Cafe, Alexandria. £5-£7 (adults £1)
Time Capsule, Coatbridge – fun swim pool £3.55 – £6.85 (under 3 FREE)
Time Twisters, Edinburgh (Sighthill). Soft play, laser tag, build a bear. £
Tir Na Nog, Balfron – holistic centre & shop/cafe £
Tollcross Farm, Glasgow – small animals – FREE
Tots Spot play cafe, East Calder. Open Mon-Fri school hours, Sat morning. Age 0 – 11 months: FREE, 1-3 years old: £5.00, 4 years old+: £6.00, Adults: FREE
Treasure Land soft play, Hawick. £3.50-£3.75
Tree Top Tumble soft play, Mackinnon Mills, Coatbridge. £3 for 60 mins (max height 145cm)
Trimontium Trust & Museum, Melrose. Roman History Museum with VR Roman fort experience. from £6 (under 5s free)
Troon beach, South Ayrshire. Large beach, kiosk, mini golf, fairground, play park. FREE
Tumbles Soft Play, Edinburgh (Portobello). £1.05-£11.99 (under 6 months free)
Tumbliboo soft play, Peebles. £4
Tynecastle Park stadium tour & museum, Edinburgh. £12 adult, £10 child, under 3s free. Weekends only
V&A Museum, Dundee. FREE admission (some paid exhibits)
Valley View Adventure Park, Rosebank. Go karts, footgolf, mini golf, play areas, maize maze, soft play. £3 – £10.95
Vanilla Joes, Irvine. Ice cream parlour with indoor slide. £
Verdant Works Museum, Dundee. Children FREE
Victoria park, Glasgow west – fossil trees & play park FREE
Vikingar, Largs. Interactive museum £5.50 – £8
Wallace Monument, Stirling £7.10 – £11.30 (under 5s FREE)
Waverley Excursions, Lancefield Quay – boat trip £varies each journey
The Wearable Art Company, Kilwinning. Art & craft workshops. From £10
Wee Playhouse soft play, East Kilbride. £3 – £11 (under 6 months free)
Wellwood Alpacas, Cumnock. Weekend only. From £20
West Highland Museum, Fort William. FREE
West of Scotland Padel, Stevenston. Indoor court hire £15/30min (2-4 players)
Whin Park, Inverness. Playground, mini train, walks, mini golf. From FREE
Whitelee Wind Farm, nr Eaglesham. Walks & indoor interactive exhibit. Regular kids activities (science centre affiliated) FREE
Whithorn Story Visitor Centre, Galloway. Includes guided roundhouse tour. March-Oct, Sunday-Friday. £4.50-£7.50 (under 7s FREE) Discount for Historic Scotland members.
Wigtown Museum, Wigtown. FREE
Wild Adventure (soft play), Drumchapel, £2 – £9
Wild Goat Park, Galloway Forest. Free parking, own food required to feed goats.
Wild Shore outdoor water park, Dundee – tickets from £19
Wonderworld Softplay, Glasgow (Kinning Park), East Kilbride, Edinburgh, Falkirk, Kirkcaldy, Perth. £1 – £14.95
World of Wings Birds of Prey Centre, Cumbernauld, £6 – £10 under 3s free
WWT Caerlaverock Wetland Centre, Dumfries. £6-£9.95 (under 4s Free). Pond dipping included in entry price.
Zip Trek Adventure Park, Aviemore. From £40. Age 8+
#summer2024 #summerholidays2024 #summerholidayfun #summerholidayactivities #scotlandtravel #scotlandwithkids #scottishparents #glasgowwithkids #edinburghwithkids #ThingsToDoWithKids #thingstodoinglasgow #thingstodoinedinburgh #thingstodoinstirling #scottishmums #scotlandexploring
As the cost of living continues to bite this summer, Clarks today announces that it’s keeping its market-leading school shoes at 2023 prices.
The brand is also reducing the price of 33% of its Back-to-School collection, so parents can rest assured that they will pay less, or the same, as last year – win win!
CLARKS HAVE IT COVERED
From a reassuring 3-month fit guarantee to money-saving bundles, Clarks have also got plenty of offers to make life a little easier for parents this back-to-school season.
MORE THAN A FIT. IT’S A GUARANTEE.
If kids’ shoes don’t fit three months from their in-store fitting, parents can exchange them for a new pair. It’s as simple as that.
BUY TOGETHER AND SAVE
Parents can buy those back to school essentials together this season and get some great savings. Like £10 off a pair of kids trainers when you buy a full price pair of school shoes. Less time shopping, more money in the pocket.
WHY BUY CLARKS SCHOOL SHOES?
QUALITY THAT LASTS…
Clarks promise unbeatable quality. Clarks School Shoes are made with premium materials and are packed with kid friendly features and benefits for long-lasting comfort. Prices start from £38.
LIGHT
All our school shoes are specifically designed to be lightweight, helping children’s feet and ankles move the way they’re meant to.
BREATHABLE
Kids’ feet sweat twice as much as adults’ feet. So, all our kids’ school shoes use leather uppers and mesh linings with an antimicrobial treatment – keeping them breathable all day long.
FLEXIBLE
Clarks school shoes support kids’ natural gait cycle, helping children walk freely and confiently.
TOUGH
As well as charging around the playground, more than half of kids walk or cycle to school. With robust materials and durable constructions, Clarks shoes withstand this wear.
CUSHIONED
Kids take 10-16,000 steps a day on average – so shoes need to be comfortable. Crafted with cushioned footbeds, our shoes reduce impact and add softness to each stride.
WE’VE DONE OUR HOMEWORK
With almost 200 years of children’s foot health expertise, parents trust Clarks to deliver perfectly fitting, science-backed pairs of shoes that empower kids to be their very best selves – all day, all term, all year.
WE KNOWS THE SCIENCE OF KIDS FEET
Clarks partner with podiatry experts at the University of Salford and have recently carried out one of the largest studies in children’s biomechanics. With over 1200 3D scans across 300 children. So customers can rest assured that Clarks school shoes help kids move comfortably and freely.
IN-STORE FITTINGS AND QUIET TIME
If shoe shopping is overwhelming for little ones, customers can visit Clarks stores at a time when there are fewer crowds, less noise and gentler lights. Pre-book an appointment or just walk-in, the option is yours…
MEASURED AT HOME
With a Clarks foot gauge, which can easily be ordered from www.clarks.com, it’s simple to get their shoe size spot on from the comfort of home.
Schools in Scotland are being warned to take precautions amid fears of a spike in crime over the summer holidays.
As many schools across the country close their doors for the summer holidays, specialist insurer Ecclesiastical says schools will be an attractive target for criminals over the coming months.
Ecclesiastical is encouraging Scotland residents who live near local schools to be vigilant this summer and report any unusual or suspicious activity they notice on school grounds.
Ecclesiastical reports schools have been targeted over the summer months including vandalism, arson, break-ins, smashed windows, theft of lead from roofs and stolen laptops.
Amid the high cost of living and more facing economic hardship, there are worries there will be a rise in criminal activity.
Laura Carter, customer segment director at Ecclesiastical Insurance, said: “Schools are more vulnerable during the summer holidays when school buildings are closed and largely unoccupied, tempting opportunists.
“With the high cost of living and more facing economic hardship, it is more important than ever that schools take steps to protect their premises from offenders. There are a number of measures schools can take to better secure school property and assets, which would ideally be a combination of both physical and electronic protection.
“Fencing around the perimeter can often offer a good first line of defence against unwanted visitors, while CCTV can act as a visual deterrent for those not wanting to be caught on camera. Vigilance from the local community can be a huge help. We urge those who live near schools to be vigilant this summer and report any unusual or suspicious activity they notice on school grounds.”
How to protect schools in Scotland this summer
Ecclesiastical Insurance offers a range of risk management support and guidance to help schools manage the risks they face.
For more information, visit the Ecclesiastical website for education risk guidance here.
A joint initiative between the Scottish Government and the Scottish Football Association is supporting low-income families.
Launched by the First Minister with a £2million Scottish Government investment last year, the programme provides before-school, after-school and holiday activities for around 2,700 children each week.
The Extra Time programme aims to tackle poverty by delivering accessible and affordable activity clubs for children from low-income families.
During a visit to Dundee United Sports Club, which received £95,000 from the fund and provides support during term time and school holidays, Deputy First Minister Shona Robison said: “School holidays should be a time for fun and enjoyment for children, but for many families it is a time of added financial pressure.
“Scotland currently has one of the most generous childcare offers in the UK, and our investment in early learning and childcare, and school age childcare, is a key part of our goal to tackle child poverty.
“We are committed to building a system of school age childcare that helps to support parents and carers into employment, training or study. Our investment is helping to reduce inequalities that exist for children from lower income families who might otherwise struggle to participate in activities before or after school or during the holidays.
“Our Extra Time partnership with the Scottish Football Association is in the early stages of delivery, but we are already seeing the positive impacts that access to term time and holiday clubs are having on both children and parents.
“For example, we have early evidence from families that they feel better supported to work, with children seeing the benefits of increased physical activity as well as other benefits such as improved attendance, and improved behaviour at school’.
Chief Executive of the Scottish Football Association, Ian Maxwell, said: “It is fantastic to see the impact this vital programme is already having across the country since its launch last year, building on the initial success of the pilot in Ayr.
“Every child should have the opportunity to experience our national game and play with their friends within their local communities. There is no doubt that initiatives such as the Extra Time programme help remove barriers for children and their families around accessing after school and holiday activity clubs.
“We are appreciative of the continued support of the Scottish Government on this project, as we continue to pursue avenues in which the power of football can make a tangible difference in the lives of people in Scotland.”
A host of brand-new animated adventures and all-time family favourites are landing at Vue this Easter, meaning there are plenty of opportunities to spend quality family time at the big screen during the school holidays.
For the first time in almost a decade, the world’s most unlikely kung fu master Po bounces back onto this big screen with a hilarious new chapter, in Kung Fu Panda 4 on 28 March.
Facing his most fearsome foe yet in the many forms of the powerful sorceress The Chameleon, Po (voiced by the iconic Jack Black) must use his courageous Dragon Warrior martial arts skills to defend the Valley of Peace. However, he’s not alone, as he must team up with the crafty fox thief Zhen (voiced by Awkwafina) in this butt-kicking mission to ensure the world remains peaceful and at balance.
This Easter break will also see some familiar heroes take up the call when Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire brings paranormal pranks and ghostly grins to Vue from 22 March. Returning to New York City, the Spengler Family from Ghostbusters: Afterlife must unite with the original Ghostbusters to take on an evil force that threatens the world with a second Ice Age.
With a cast that includes newer names such as Paul Rudd and Finn Wolfhard and original ‘busters Bill Murray and Dan Akyroyd, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire looks to provide eerie thrills for the entire family this half term.
Sweeter than a spoonful of sugar, both Mary Poppins and its recent sequel Mary Poppins Returns are heading back to the big screen at Vue this Easter, marking 60 years since the release of the iconic first film.
Making its debut on the big screen after exclusively releasing on streaming platforms, Disney’s recent adventure Luca will be playing at Vue from the 5 April. Set in a beautiful seaside town on the Italian Riviera, this animated adventure tells a coming-of-age story about one young boy’s unforgettable summer filled with gelato, scooters and his new best friend – who turns out to be a sea monster from a secret world below the ocean.
Vue will also be bringing back some of the biggest family films from the past year, perfect for Easter viewing including the chocolatey charm of Wonka from 29 March and Disney’s Wish from 5 April as part of the Vue Mini Mornings series, shown every day across Half Term at 10am.
Robert Lea, Head of Screen Content at Vue Entertainment, said ‘We’ve got a great selection of new films and big screen entertainment on show this Easter providing the perfect way to enjoy quality time with the family over the school break.
‘With film screenings from just £4.99 online at selected venues the big screen experience at Vue is the perfect treat during the Easter holidays.
‘Even better, our Vue Mini Mornings at 10am, will continue to show the latest kids’ films at just £2.49 a ticket if purchased online and £3.49 in venue. Parents and children can come along, switch off and immerse themselves in great stories.”
Tickets are available now at www.myvue.com.
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is reminding working families to save money on their childcare costs in time for the school holidays
With the Easter break just weeks away, families yet to sign up for Tax-Free Childcare could be missing out on annual savings of up to £2,000 per child, or £4,000 if their child is disabled.
Tax-Free Childcare can help pay for approved childcare for children aged 11 or under, or up to 16 if the child has a disability. Parents can receive up to £500 (or £1,000 if their child is disabled) every 3 months, which means for every £8 paid into their online account, they will automatically receive an additional £2 top up from the UK Government.
It takes just 20 minutes to apply online for a Tax-Free Childcare account and can be used to help pay for a child’s nursery, childminder, breakfast or after school club or holiday activity club.
Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Director General for Customer Services, said: “Springtime is a good opportunity to take a fresh look at family finances.
“A quick check online and you can find out how Tax-Free Childcare can help cut the cost of your childcare bills. Every bit of financial support helps – I would urge families to ’hop to it’ and search ‘Tax-Free Childcare’ on GOV.UK to find out how you could be better off and open your account today.”
Once an account is opened, parents can deposit money immediately, so it is ready to be used whenever it is needed; and unused money in the account can be withdrawn at any time.
Families could be eligible for Tax-Free Childcare if they:
A full list of the eligibility criteria is available on GOV.UK.
Families can learn more about the childcare offers available to them and what could fit their family by visiting Childcare Choices.
The UK Government is offering help for households. Check GOV.UK to find out what cost of living support, including help with childcare costs, families could be eligible for.
