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May is one of the best months of the year for deals. With two bank holidays and the school half-term around the corner, retailers, restaurants and travel firms are battling hard for your cash. That means big discounts, app-only rewards and even free food if you know where to look.

From kids eating free to £2 bus fares and loyalty card savings, there are plenty of ways to stretch your money further this month. Here is your full guide to the best savings, deals and freebies available in May 2026.

The May half-term starts on Monday, May 25, and this is when "Kids Eat Free" offers ramp up. Most require one paying adult.

Morrisons lets kids eat free all day, every day, with a £5 spend by an adult. It also has a "Feed the Family for £15" deal, including two adult mains, two kids' mains and four drinks.

Asda historically runs its "Kids Eat for £1" deal during school holidays with no minimum adult spend.

IKEA offers pasta with tomato sauce and a soft drink for 95p, or other kids' meals for £1.95.

The Real Greek allows kids to eat free every Sunday with a £10 adult spend.

TGI Fridays "Stripes Rewards" members get a free kids' meal with any adult main daily.

Purezza lets children under 10 eat free with every adult pizza purchased.

Whitbread chains, including Beefeater, Brewers Fayre and Table Table, offer two children a free unlimited breakfast with every paying adult breakfast (£10.99).

Many May-only vouchers are app-based.

Zizzi's "Zillionaires' Club" via its app offers £1 mains (when buying another main) until May 22.

Five Guys has launched a loyalty scheme offering a free portion of fries when you sign up.

Dave's Hot Chicken is offering a free soft drink with any meal purchase for app users throughout May.

Stonegate Pubs are giving away a free pint of Modelo through the MiXR app.

KFC is pushing digital-only deals, including a 60-piece popcorn chicken bucket for £5.99 until May 17, 20 Hot Wings for £15 until May 22, and student freebies via Student Beans. Blue Light Card holders can get 10% off.

McDonald's is offering 1,000 bonus points to new app users. Every Monday in May, expect £1.99 mains or "Spend £15, Save £5" vouchers. NHS staff get 20% off via the app.

Burger King app users can claim a free Whopper in their birthday month, and teachers get 20% off via the Discounts for Teachers app.

Nando's Rewards sign-ups get a free bowl of Chilli. NHS and emergency staff receive 20% off (up to £4). Students get 20% off from Sunday to Thursday.

Pizza Hut's weekday buffet is £10.99 for adults and £8.99 for kids until 3pm. Domino's "Appy Monday" offers any size pizza for £9.99 on collection. Subway continues its £4.99 Sub of the Day meal deal and rewards points scheme. Greggs app users get a free hot drink and a birthday sweet treat.

Always check the "Offers" tab on fast-food apps before ordering. Many of May's best deals are digital-only and can save you 30-50% compared to paying at the counter.

Loyalty cards are now essential and can help shoppers save big.

Lidl Plus offers monthly "Coupon Plus" rewards, including free bakery items or percentage discounts.

Tesco Clubcard holders can save up to 50% on "Summer Essentials", including BBQ food and drinks.

Co-op is offering free delivery with code MAYFD26 on orders over £25 until May 10.

TK Maxx Treasure members should check their app for a free chocolate bar.

Subway offers a free cookie when you register your birthday.

Brighton Festival (May 2-25) features more than 25 free outdoor events.

Manchester Jazz Festival (May 15-24) includes a free Piano Trail and gigs.

Plymouth Flavour Fest (May 29-31) is free to enter with chef demonstrations.

The National Trust often releases free visit vouchers through newspapers during May.

There are plenty of free events taking place locally, so be sure to check your Facebook Community page.

The April energy price cap reduction means average unit rates have fallen by around 7%. If you are on a Standard Variable Tariff, check that the reduction has been applied.

Unplugging "vampire" devices such as consoles and older TVs can save £45-£60 per year.

Switching to a water meter if you have more bedrooms than occupants can cut bills by 15-20%, and many providers offer a first-year lowest-bill guarantee.

People living alone are also entitled to a 25% discount on council tax, while those on low incomes may qualify for reductions of up to 100%.

Full-time students can be exempt from council tax entirely, while households with a disabled resident may be able to have their property placed in a lower band. People with severe mental impairment, such as dementia, may also be exempt in certain circumstances.

For the TV licence, those aged 75 or over who receive Pension Credit can get it for free, while registered blind people can receive a 50% discount. Residents in care homes may qualify for a reduced £7.50 licence.

Households that only watch on-demand services such as Netflix or Disney+ and do not use BBC iPlayer or watch live TV do not need a licence.

Never buy a Railcard at full price. Tesco Clubcard points can effectively reduce the cost of a one-year Railcard to £15. Three-year Railcards are currently available with £25 off via selected promo codes.

The £2 bus fare cap remains in place across many areas in England.

National Express and Megabus have released May "£5 seats" and "Penny Fares" for bookings made at least 3 weeks in advance.

If travelling to London, link your Railcard to your Oyster card to get one-third off off-peak fares and daily caps.