Where do kids eat for free in London and the UK?

Remember the feeling of breaking up for the holidays as a kid? The blissful feeling of walking out of school, knowing you wouldn’t be back for at least a week or two - six if it's summer. There would be so much ahead of you: sleepovers, trudging around museums, maybe a beach holiday and a sandcastle if you’re lucky. Being out and about is all well and good but finding decent, well-priced food for multiple hungry kids isn’t always easy. If you’re looking for places to eat with kids, you’ve come to the right place - we’ve rounded up a whole host of reliable restaurants and cafes where kids can eat free, or for the lowly price of £1.

There are lots of big UK-wide restaurant chains that offer free meals for children. The beauty of large chains and multisites is that you know what you get, for the most part, and they almost always have children’s menus of easy-going favourites, so even the fussier eaters in your family are catered for.

The tricky bit comes with timings and dates - some chains only offer kids discounts during school holidays, whilst others keep their deals going for longer. There are also some that only offer free kids meals in certain stores or outlets, so make sure to read the details under each deal as we’ve done our best to elaborate on any need-to-know details.

London is a whole different beast, of course, so we’ve created a separate section for London restaurants and groups that offer discounted and free meals for kids. Bear in mind that if you’re looking for free kids meals in London, many of the UK-wide groups also have multiple sites in London, so in truth, you’re especially blessed with options if you’re in the capital.

Where can kids eat for free UK?

These reliable cafes and restaurants all have special deals on, both over the holidays and all year round, where kids can eat for free (usually alongside a paying adult). 

Franco Manca

What: Pizza is always a reliable option for little ones, and who does it better than Franco Manca? The Franco family are offering free kids pizzas to anyone under the age of 12 years old for every full-priced adult main meal. Do note that this offer is valid at the following locations: Stoke Newington, East Dulwich, Balham, Chiswick, Kilburn, Bishops Stortford, Cheltenham, Hove, Manchester Didsbury, Manchester Trafford Centre, and Peterborough.
Book now: Franco Manca Kilburn, Franco Manca Chiswick, Franco Manca Balham, Franco Manca Manchester and more

Banana Tree

What: This relaxed restaurant chain served Pan-Asian street food at 20 locations across the UK. Better still, children under the age of 12 years old can eat for free at them, with dishes like chicken katsu curry, sweetcorn fritters and coconut ice cream up for grabs. Kids are entitled to a main and dessert for every full price main meal ordered - fun for all the family!
Book now: Banana Tree Chelmsford, Banana Tree Milton Keynes, Banana Tree Angel, Banana Tree Clapham Junction and more

Preto

What: Brazilian restaurant Preto boasts six sites across London and Colchester and offers 'children eat free' vouchers that you can download and present to the restaurant when you dine. The offer is available for kids up to 10 years old and is valid every weekday from 4pm, and all day on weekends. Little ones are bound to love choosing their favourite dishes from the salad bar, while favourites likes cheesy bread, fried banana, chicken croquettes and delicious desserts are all ultra kid-friendly.
Book now: Preto Putney, Preto Soho, Preto Colchester, Preto Queensway and more

F1® Arcade

What: Calling all little racers! Monday to Friday, from 15 July to 30 August, kids eat totally free at F1 Arcade with the purchase of an adult meal. Ordinarily coming in at £9.50, kids can tuck into cheeseburgers, pizzas, or macaroni cheese with a scoop of ice cream and a drink. It’s an ideal midweek treat, simulated racing for ages 7 and up that all the family can get involved with.
Book now: F1® Arcade London, F1® Arcade Birmingham

The Real Greek

What: The Real Greek has sites in lots of major cities around the country, offering fresh, authentic Greek cooking at pretty reasonable prices. It offers a kids eat free deal on Sundays in all branches.
Book now: The Real Greek Covent Garden, The Real Greek Bristol, The Real Greek Bournemouth and more

Bill’s

What: Once a beloved Brighton hangout, Bill’s has become a nationwide powerhouse thanks to an easy-going menu of all-day delights. When one adult orders any main dish, up to two kids can eat for free from the children’s menu. The deal is valid Monday to Friday at selected times, and includes dishes like buttermilk pancakes, fish fingers and chips, and mac & cheese.
Book now: Bill's Birmingham, Bill's Manchester, Bill's Bath, Bill's Borough and more

Yo! Sushi

What: Up to three kids can enjoy a free kids bento box at Yo! Sushi from 1 July to 30 August 2024 per £10 spent by a paying adult. The offer is valid all day Monday to Friday, but it excludes the following sites: Heathrow T2, Heathrow T3, Manchester Piccadilly Station, St Pancras Station, York Outlet and London Luton Airport. 
Book now: Yo! Sushi Brighton, Yo! Sushi Birmingham, Yo! Sushi Bristol, Yo! Sushi Cambridge and more

Morrisons

What: Every Morrisons cafe has this kids eat for free deal, which is especially good as it covers kids up to 16 years old (where most others usually stretch to 10). The kids eat free Morrisons deal gets you a free meal from the kids menu for every adult meal you buy (you must spend £5 or more). Choose from The Breakfasts, The Classics or The Chippy. 

Purezza

What: Pizzas are always a good shout if you’re looking for easy, delicious kids food - what kid doesn’t love pizza? Purezza’s deal is a good’un too - for every adult pizza, you get a free kids pizza. Simple. And it's only £5 for every additional child's pizza. This offer applies to children under 10 years old.
Book now: Purezza Brighton, Purezza Camden and Purezza Manchester

Tesco

What: Kids eat free at Tesco cafes nationwide between 22 July and 30 August 2024. The offer applies when an adult makes any purchase in The Cafe for dine-in only, and includes both breakfast and lunch meals. Think little crumpets, chicken goujons and tomato pasta shells. 

Where can kids eat for £1 UK?

Some restaurants have similar deals but have you pay a nominal £1 for your kids' meals, rather than handing them out for free. As above, this often requires an adult to buy a standard meal as well, in order to qualify for a discounted kids meal.

Hungry Horse

What: Kids eat for £1 every Monday at Hungry Horse's restaurants all over the country, and the kids menu includes family favourites like sausage and mash, chicken nuggets, beef burgers and tomato pasta, as well as plant-based options. During the summer holidays, it's also running a great-value deal that includes two adult mains and two kid's meals for just £15. Available 1 July - 30 August 2024. 

The Banc

What: North Londoners - listen up! The Banc in Tottenham offers free kids meals for those up to 12 years old. All you have to do is state the offer when booking. Choose from mains off the kids menu such as a wagyu beef burger with fries, meatballs with mash, and butter and parmesan pasta. 
Book now: The Banc

Bella Italia

What: Good news! Kids eat for free all day on Thursdays at Bella Italia, or for just £1 between 4-6pm, Sunday to Wednesday. It's a greal deal too. The meal includes three courses and a drink for anyone aged between two and 11 years old. Choose from cheesy garlic bread, crunchy chicken fillets, vegan nuggets and other tasty plates. 
Book now: Bella Italia Birmingham, Bella Italia Brighton, Bella Italia Bristol, Bella Italia Lancaster and more

Asda

What: Asda’s deal works similarly to other supermarkets - it’s active across every single Asda UK-wide and gets you a kids meal for just £1 when you’re buying an adult meal at the same time. Perfect if you’re out doing a big shop and you have a hangry child that needs feeding.

IKEA

What: IKEA is offering 95p kids meals across many of its branches, which includes a full meal with mac n cheese or tomato pasta, a soft drink and a piece of fruit for less than a pound. Adults don’t need to buy anything to redeem it either, so once you’re done shopping you can just go straight to the restaurant to grab cheap meals for your little ones. Alternatively, you can purchase any other kid's meal for £1.50.

Where can kids eat for free in London?

It can seem nearly impossible to eat out in London on the cheap, especially with families, but these killer kids-eat-free deals make that dream a reality. 

The Hoxton, Various London locations

What: Every weekend from 12-5pm in July, and every day between 12-5pm in August, kids under 10 years-old can eat for free at The Hoxton's restaurants with a dining adult. Hop on over to its sites in Shoreditch, Holborn, Southwark and Shepherd's Bush to let little ones tuck into the likes of fish goujons, cheeseburgers, mac 'n' cheese or a tuna melt - all completely free. This offer is valid at Albie, Chet’s, Hox Grill and Rondo.
Where: Various London locations
Book now: Albie, Chet's, Rondo

Cinnamon Collection, Various London locations

What: Treat adventurous little diners to a free meal at one of Vivek Singh’s modern Indian restaurants, with kids under eight eating free during the summer holidays. The offer is available at both Cinnamon Bazaar and Cinnamon Kitchen restaurants, and includes subtly spiced, child-friendly dishes such as naan and cheesy peas pizza, rice and lentil khichdi with veggies, and pan-fried sea bream with cream coconut sauce. The deal includes a soft drink and a scoop of vanilla ice cream to finish. They're sure to love it! 
Where: Various London locations
Book now: Cinnamon Bazaar Covent Garden, Cinnamon Bazaar Richmond, Cinnamon Kitchen City, Cinnamon Kitchen Battersea 

Padella, Shoreditch

What: You can't go wrong with a plate of pasta for kids and adults alike! Luckily, children can eat for free at Padella Shoreditch during the summer holidays, from 25 July to 30 August! Tuck into dishes like tagliarini with slow-cooked tomato sauce, and a smaller portion of its famous eight-hour beef shin ragu. What a treat. 
Where: 1 Phipp Street, EC2A 4PS
Book now: Padella Shoreditch

Chatora, Richmond

What: Local to leafy Richmond in south west London? Head to modern Indian restaurant Chatora with the whole family, because kids eat for free! They can choose from butter chicken or mattar paneer with rice, and the adults have plenty to tuck into too, including lobster moilee curry and pistachio chicken korma. 
Where: 100 Kew Road, TW9 2PQ
Book now: Chatora

Harvey Nichols Fifth Floor Café, Knightsbridge

What: If you're planning to visit a few west London attractions - Hyde Park, or the Natural History Museum, perhaps - then consider booking lunch at the excellent Harvey Nichols Fifth Floor Cafe in nearby Knightsbridge. Kids under 12 eat free here all day on Sundays with a paying adult, with a complimentary meal from the kids menu.
Where: 109-125 Knightsbridge, SW1X 7RJ
Book now: Harvey Nichols Fifth Floor Café

Luci, Covent Garden

What: If you're venturing into central London with the family this summer, take note, because casual Italian restaurant Luci is offering an eat-for-free deal on its kids menu. Usually £10 for a drink, main and dessert, littles ones can tuck into the likes of tagliatelle ragu bolognese, margherita pizza or spaghetti with tomato sauce, plus fruit juice and gelato, completely free. Located in the heart of Covent Garden, it's the perfect stop-off after a day of sight-seeing. This deal is available from 25 July to 2 September. 
Where: 136 Long Acre, WC2E 9AD
Book now: Luci

Mallow, Canary Wharf

What: Vegan restaurant Mallow is running a special pop-up on a couple of dates in July and August that sees little ones eat for free. It's called The Kids' Table, with children invited to take part in crafts, games and table-top fun while adults enjoy a lovely, leisurely meal. A team of playworkers will look after them for an hour or two so you can relax - sounds dreamy, right? The pop-up is taking place on 29 July and 5 August, and it's available for ages three to 10 years old.
Where: 12 Park Drive, Wood Wharf, E14 9ZW
Book now: Mallow Canary Wharf

Barbican Kitchen, Barbican

What: The Barbican Centre is home to an array of dining destinations, but Barbican Kitchen is its most casual offering and a great option for families. Plus, children under 10 years old receive a free meal from the kids' menu with every adult meal over £10. A useful hack if you're doing some sightseeing in this part of town.  
Where: Silk Street, EC2Y 8DS

Kricket, White City

What: From 22 July to 31 August 2024, kids dining with an adult at Kricket eat for free. And this offer is especially delicious, with dishes like butter chicken served alongside rice, cheesy naan and broccoli up for grabs. Take note: this offer is only available at its White City location. 
Where: 101 Wood Lane, W12 7FR
Book now: Kricket White City

Babur, Brockley

What: South East London gem Babur is offering free kids' meals throughout the summer holidays for children under the age of 10 years old. Receive a complimentary kids' dish for every adult one ordered, with options including subtly spiced chicken tikka and a tasty Indian platter. This offer is available Monday to Thursday at lunchtime. 
Where: 119 Brockley Rise, SE23 1JP
Book now: Babur

If you want to browse some more options, we’ve picked out a handy list of the best children-friendly restaurants in London, where your little connoisseurs couldn’t possibly turn their noses up at the menu!