PRICE GUIDE · CHILDCARE & FAMILY · 2026–2027
Holiday Childcare cost in the UK
£30–£50 per day. Typically £45.
A day at a school holiday club costs about £30–£50 per child, typically £45. Long days from early morning to evening, specialist sports or activity camps and clubs in London and the South East cost most, while early-bird and full-week bookings bring the daily price down.
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HOW MUCH IT COSTS
How much does holiday childcare cost in the UK?
| Low end | £30 | a school-run club, shorter day |
|---|---|---|
| Typical | £45 | what most people pay |
| High end | £50 | a long day at a specialist camp |
Locufy guide prices for 2026–2027. Updated 2026. A national range, not a quote — enter your town above for real prices from the babysitters, childminders, nannies, crèches and agencies near you.
What moves the price
- Hours covered — a holiday club day running eight to six costs more than a shorter day ending mid-afternoon
- Activity camps — specialist sport, drama or coding holiday camps charge more than a general play scheme
- Booking early — many holiday clubs offer an early-bird daily rate paid weeks before the holidays
- Full weeks — booking a whole holiday week usually costs less per day than single days
- Nation and region — Coram's survey found holiday childcare dearest in Wales and lowest in Scotland
- Meals — holiday clubs that provide lunch charge more than those asking for a packed lunch
WHAT YOU GET
What a holiday childcare booking includes
Takes: A day session, usually from about 8am or 8.30am to between 4pm and 6pm. Not included: Childminder holiday days, a nanny at home and term-time after-school clubs are priced separately — see the related guides below.
WHAT PEOPLE BOOK
Common holiday childcare jobs
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Holiday Childcare near you, with prices shown
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How to pay less
- Book holiday club places early to get the early-bird daily rate where the club offers one
- Ask whether a full holiday week costs less per day than booking holiday club days one at a time
- Use Tax-Free Childcare to pay a registered holiday club and claim the government top-up
Before you book
- Check the holiday club is registered — Ofsted in England, the Care Inspectorate in Scotland, CIW in Wales
- Ask what the holiday club day includes: lunch, trips, kit, and early drop-off or late pick-up
- Ask whether your child is eligible for a free funded holiday activity place through the council
- Read the holiday club's cancellation and refund rules before you pay for a whole week
Holiday Childcare cost: questions people ask
Around £30–£50 a day per child, typically £45. Shorter days at a school-run club cost least; long days at a specialist camp in the South East cost most.
Most run a working day, from around eight or half past to between four and six. Some offer half days at a lower price.
Children who get benefits-related free school meals may be able to use a funded holiday activity and food place, run through the council in England. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland run their own holiday programmes, so check with your council or school.
Many holiday clubs take single days, though some only sell full weeks in the summer. A whole week often works out cheaper per day.
Childminder days, nanny care at home and term-time after-school sessions are separate services, priced on their own.
They are Locufy guide prices for the UK, built from published day rates at holiday clubs and the national holiday childcare survey. They are a range, not a quote.