Cheap school holiday fun
Written by: Maria Brett
The school summer holidays are now upon us and the thought of keeping the kids entertained for six to seven whole weeks can have parents tearing their hair out. Fret not though, as we’ve come up with some ideas for cheap and cheerful school holiday fun.
Go out to play
One of the wonders of childhood is going out to play. Whether it’s on their own in the garden or off around the street with their friends, you may be surprised at how long children can stay entertained when they’re outside. If you don’t have a suitable place at your home for playing out then take a walk along to the park and let them run off their energy there.
Cycling
Summer is the best time of year to learn to ride a bike. And once the kids have all mastered it then family bike rides can become a great way to pass the day. All you’ll need is a bag with food, drink, a bottle of sun cream and perhaps a puncture repair kit and you’re good to go.
Visit the seaside
If you live close enough to the sea then the whole family will love a visit to the beach. If you take a picnic and snacks with you then it doesn’t need to cost a huge amount. Spend the day building sandcastles, paddling in the sea, exploring rock pools and generally chilling out.
Theme parks
Theme parks are notoriously expensive for a day out but if you plan ahead you can get a good deal on entrance prices. Look out for vouchers on Kellogg’s cereal packets and check if you can swap Tesco Clubcard or Nectar points for tickets.
Cinema
Like theme parks, the cinema isn’t renowned for being an inexpensive trip out. However, it can be if you go at the right time. Many cinemas show special kids screenings costing from around £1.50 per ticket. If you take your own snacks then this can work out as a pretty good deal, particularly as adults get in for the same price as children. The only downside is that these screenings tend to take place at around 9.30 to 10 o’clock in the morning so you have to be out and about quite early.
Museums
Back in the day the thought of visiting a museum would be frowned upon by kids. But these days they are a whole lot different and are the perfect place in which to spend a rainy day. Hosting everything from Formula 1 cars to dinosaur skeletons, you’re sure to find something to pique your children’s interest and they might even learn something new. Many museums, including the National Football Museum in Manchester and the V&A Museum of Childhood in London are free to get into and most are family friendly.
Travel
Of course, one of the major costs of a day out is travelling there and back. Whether you’re driving or taking public transport the costs can soon mount up so make sure you’re up to date with the latest public transport offers. For example, Scotrail runs a Kids Go Free scheme where one or two children aged up to 15 can travel for free with an adult who has purchased a ticket. You can even show the Kids Go Free ticket at some tourist attractions to get free entry for a child with a paying adult.
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