Some British parents are turning to summer holiday camps in France and Belgium as a cost-effective alternative to childcare during school breaks, taking advantage of significantly lower prices and the opportunity for their children to gain language skills.

Childcare costs in the UK can be prohibitively expensive, with weekly summer holiday childcare averaging £191 nationally and rising to £226 in the South East, according to data from children’s charity Coram. By contrast, holiday clubs in France typically charge between £60 and £80 per week, often including three-course meals. Camps in Belgium also offer lower rates; for example, a week-long club in Brussels runs for approximately £105.

For many parents, the appeal extends beyond the cost savings. Claire Crowley, a communications specialist and single mother based in London, has been sending her children to holiday camps abroad since her son was two years old. Her two children, Dominic, 13, and Henrietta, five, have participated in a variety of activities at these camps, ranging from sports and swimming to cultural visits at chateaus, museums, and vineyards. “My kids really enjoy the clubs,” Crowley said, noting that while the activities appear recreational to her children, they serve as immersive French language lessons. She highlighted that these camps typically offer structured days with quality food included.

Crowley emphasized the value of the Paris Saint-Germain football camp for her son, organized through Urban Soccer. Though more expensive than other French camps, it still costs roughly one-quarter of the price of comparable UK programs run by Premier League clubs. This camp included a personalized kit, a stadium tour, and team photos, providing a comprehensive experience for young football enthusiasts.

Beyond France, Crowley’s family has also explored camps in Belgium, where her son is learning Flemish and her daughter benefits from exposure to multiple European languages through interaction with other children. These camps require children to bring packed lunches focused on healthy foods such as sandwiches and fresh produce, contrasting with the French camps that generally provide meals.

Other families, like Nathalie Barnetche and Rob Powell from Hove, similarly value French holiday camps (centre de loisirs) for their affordability and cultural immersion. They have enrolled their children Rémy, seven, Inés, five, and Odetta, one, in these camps when visiting family in France. Barnetche described the camps as highly affordable, costing about £12 per day for tourists and subsidized to around €8 for local families. Their eldest children have benefited from immersive French-only environments, nutritious meals, and varied activities, including sports and cultural games like pelota, a Basque ball sport.

However, experiences can vary. Barnetche noted that during their second visit, the language immersion aspect was less consistent as some younger staff members tried to practice English, reducing the exclusive use of French.

In addition to lower costs and language exposure, parents find that combining these camps with personal travel allows for easier management of the long summer holidays, which typically span 30 days in the UK but are constrained by limited annual leave allowances. Parents often stay with friends, rent local accommodations, or house-swap to facilitate their children’s attendance.

While there are logistical challenges—the French camps frequently require detailed documentation including identification, insurance, and medical forms, whereas Belgian camps typically only ask for the family’s accommodation address—many families consider the benefits to outweigh the complexities.

Overall, UK parents using European summer clubs report that these options make school holidays more affordable, enrich children’s language abilities, and provide balanced, engaging childcare, all while allowing parents some flexibility during the summer months.