Many UK parents are opting to send children to holiday clubs in France and Belgium as a practical response to rising childcare costs at home. The move offers cheaper week‑long childcare, structured activities and an immersion in French that families say delivers both convenience and educational upside.
Cost, convenience and a language bonus
According to figures from children’s charity Coram, the average weekly cost of summer holiday childcare in the UK is about £191, rising to around £226 in the south‑east. By contrast, many continental holiday clubs charge roughly £60–£80 per week, often including warm lunches and three‑course meals as part of the package.
The financial argument is straightforward: families can secure a full week of supervised activities for a few dozen pounds and, as a result, combine childcare with the chance to work remotely, take a break themselves or fold the club into a family holiday on the continent.
Structured days, varied activities
Parents who use the camps describe highly organised daily timetables that mix sports, cultural trips and specialist workshops. Typical programmes highlighted by users include visits to museums, châteaux and aquariums, coach excursions, ice‑skating and swimming, plus visiting performers and focused courses such as football coaching run by professional clubs.
- Price: £60–£80 per week in France for many holiday clubs.
- Meals: camps often provide three‑course lunches or substantial catering as part of the fee.
- Activities: organised excursions, sports, arts and specialist workshops are commonly included.
One parent, Claire Crowley, who lives in London and has taken her children to these camps for several years, stresses the structured nature of the experience and the calibre of the food and programming. Her children — son Dominic, nearly 14, and daughter Henrietta, five — have benefitted from the routine and the language environment; Claire says she has been using continental clubs since her son was two.
“My kids really enjoy the clubs,” she says. “My children might think they’re doing a sports club, or going out to explore, but in my mind it’s a week long French lesson – and most of them only cost £80 per week.”
Premium experiences for less
Claire also highlighted opportunities that might otherwise be prohibitively expensive in the UK. For example, a Paris Saint‑Germain football course booked through a provider in France cost her less than comparable camps run in England by elite clubs; while pricier than local clubs, she estimates it was around a quarter of the price of equivalent UK programmes.
| Location | Typical weekly fee |
|---|---|
| UK (national average) | £191 |
| UK (south‑east) | £226 |
| France/Belgium (holiday clubs) | £60–£80 |
The savings can be significant when multiplied across multiple children or several weeks. Beyond the cost, parents report that the experience often leaves children with improved spoken French and confidence from independent travel and new social circles.
Practicalities and considerations
Families choosing overseas clubs tend to plan logistics in advance: travel, insurance, dietary needs and any required documentation for minors. Many parents also combine shorter camp sessions with their own holidays or remote working arrangements to make the trip feasible.
While these continental options will not suit every household — travel time, differing supervisory standards and language barriers may be deterrents — they are emerging as an attractive, value‑for‑money solution for those looking to reduce the UK childcare bill while offering children a structured, activity‑rich week abroad.
For families weighing options this summer, holiday clubs on the continent offer a compelling blend of affordability, food and organised activities — and an unintended bonus: the chance to come home with a little French.
