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FAMILIES SPEND £50 PER CHILD OVER SUMMER HOLIDAYS ON 99 ICE CREAMS

31 July, 2026

More than half of parents say they are shocked by how much classic summer treats now cost, with families shelling out an average of more than £50 per child on ice creams over the six-week school break.

The research of 2,000 parents, conducted by supermarket Aldi, highlighted how the price of the humble 99 ice cream has changed, with 85 per cent agreeing that paying 99p for a cone is a thing of the past.

Parents pay £2.65 on average for a 99 ice cream on days out, with one in 10 spending £4 or more on a single cone. Leeds averages £2.86 per ice cream, followed by London at £2.82, and Bristol and Manchester at £2.80.

The research also revealed that the six-week summer break is expected to cost families an additional £200 on average compared with term time, and an extra £49 on weekly grocery bills.

Parents anticipate spending an average of £134 on eating out, £132 on day trips and £105 on holiday clubs across the summer, with even at-home activities such as arts and crafts setting families back £70 over the traditional six-week break.

The findings help explain why a third of parents say they worry about how much the summer holidays will cost, with 30 per cent budgeting in advance – with 21 per cent starting as early as January.

Julie Ashfield, Chief Commercial Officer at Aldi UK, said: “Summer holidays are becoming increasingly expensive for families, with the cost of everyday treats and activities quickly adding up.

“With so many families budgeting months in advance and worrying about costs, it’s never been more important that everyday essentials and family favourites remain affordable.

“That’s why we’re committed to keeping prices low on popular summer products as we know it can make a real difference, helping families enjoy the holiday period without having to compromise on the moments that matter most.”

To help support families through the school holidays, Aldi has made further price cuts to more than 300 family favourites as part of its wider £300 million investment to lower prices on more than 1,000 products this year.

Aldi has also launched a Summer Support Scheme, giving away £50 shops to families every day throughout July and August.

The research also found that 38 per cent of parents want to give their children the best summer possible but feel limited by what they can afford.

The top family excursions during the summer holidays include trips to the beach (68 per cent), the cinema (56 per cent) and the zoo (44 per cent), according to the OnePoll research.

ENDS

Research carried out in July 2026 by OnePoll on a sample of 2,000 parents of children aged four to 16.