Dr Mobeus
A family day out sounds like a lovely idea until you add it up. Tickets, parking, lunch, snacks, the gift shop – suddenly you’ve blown £150 before the kids have even stopped moaning. It doesn’t have to be like that. With a bit of planning and some clever tricks, you can give the kids brilliant days out this summer without remortgaging the house.
Before You Leave the House
Check for Vouchers and Offers First
Before you book anything, search for discount codes. Check National Trust deals, English Heritage offers, and local attraction vouchers on sites like freebies.co.uk. Many attractions run 2-for-1 deals through cereal boxes, newspaper promotions, and loyalty schemes throughout the summer.
The National Rail Days Out Guide is a goldmine. Even if you’re not travelling by train, many of the 2-for-1 offers on there still work – you just buy the cheapest possible train ticket to the nearest station and use the voucher. It can save you £30+ on a single visit.
Pack Your Own Food and Drink
This is the single biggest money saver. A family of four buying lunch at a theme park or attraction cafe will easily spend £40-60. The same meal from a supermarket costs £8-12. Pack sandwiches, crisps, fruit, and water bottles. Most attractions allow packed lunches – check their website if you’re not sure.
Pro tip: Freeze water bottles the night before. They double as ice packs for your lunch bag and you get cold water throughout the day.
Go Early or Late for Cheaper Tickets
Many attractions offer cheaper tickets if you arrive after 3pm or 4pm. If you’ve got younger kids who are happy with a few hours, this can cut ticket prices by 40-50%. Some places also offer early bird discounts for online bookings made in advance.
Free Days Out That Kids Actually Love
Museums and Galleries
The UK has some of the best free museums in the world. The Natural History Museum, Science Museum, V&A Museum of Childhood, and dozens of regional museums are completely free. Many run special family activities during school holidays – craft workshops, trails, and interactive sessions that cost nothing extra.
Outside London, check out the National Museum of Scotland (Edinburgh), Museum of Science and Industry (Manchester), Thinktank (Birmingham – check for free days), and National Waterfront Museum (Swansea). Local council-run museums are almost always free.
Parks, Nature Reserves and Country Parks
Forget expensive soft play. The best days out for kids are often the cheapest. Country parks and nature reserves have adventure playgrounds, walking trails, visitor centres, and sometimes even miniature railways – all for the cost of parking (usually £2-5 for the day).
Look for Forestry England sites – many have brilliant Gruffalo trails, stick-man activities, and adventure playgrounds. The Wildlife Trusts also have nature reserves across the UK with free entry, pond dipping, and mini-beast hunts during summer.
Beaches
A day at the beach costs nothing if you pack food and avoid the amusement arcades. The UK has stunning coastline from Cornwall to Northumberland. Build sandcastles, go rock pooling, try bodyboarding, explore rock pools, or just run around with a kite. Check tide times online first so you don’t get caught out.
Free Events and Festivals
Summer in the UK means free events everywhere. Local councils, libraries, and community groups run free craft sessions, outdoor cinema screenings, music festivals, and sports taster days. Check your council’s website, local Facebook groups, and the freebies.co.uk blog for roundups.
Cheap Days Out That Feel Expensive
Farm Parks
Farm parks typically cost £8-15 per person – much cheaper than theme parks and younger kids love them. Many include animal feeding, tractor rides, indoor play barns, and sand pits. Look for local independent farms rather than the big chains.
Council Leisure Centres
Most council-run leisure centres offer cheap family swim sessions, soft play, and sports sessions during the holidays. A family swim is usually £10-15, compared to £40+ at a private water park. Some councils even offer free holiday activity programmes for kids on free school meals – ask at your local centre.
Cinema Clubs and Cheap Screenings
Cineworld, Odeon, Vue, and Showcase all run cheap family screenings during school holidays for around £2.50 per ticket. The films aren’t always brand new releases, but for a rainy afternoon it’s brilliant value. See our guide to cheap cinema tickets for more ways to save.
Money-Saving Hacks for Paid Attractions
Buy Online, Not at the Gate
This sounds obvious but people still turn up and pay gate prices. Buying online 24+ hours in advance usually saves 20-30% at places like Alton Towers, Legoland, and Chessington World of Adventures. Some attractions offer even bigger discounts if you book a week ahead.
Use Cashback Sites
Before buying tickets online, check Quidco and TopCashback. Many attraction websites offer 5-10% cashback on ticket purchases. It’s not instant savings, but it adds up over the summer.
Annual Passes vs Single Visits
If you’re planning three or more visits to the same attraction or group (like Merlin attractions), an annual pass almost always works out cheaper. The Merlin Annual Pass gives you access to Alton Towers, Legoland, Sea Life, Warwick Castle, and more. A Standard Pass costs around £89 per person – less than two individual Alton Towers visits.
The National Trust and English Heritage annual passes are even better value if you like historic houses, gardens, and coastline. National Trust family membership is roughly £150 a year – that’s about the cost of two family days out, and you get free entry to hundreds of places.
Blue Light Card and Armed Forces Discounts
If you or your partner works in the NHS, emergency services, or armed forces, you can get a Blue Light Card for £4.99. This gives discounts at hundreds of attractions, restaurants, and shops. Armed forces personnel and veterans can use the Defence Discount Service for similar savings.
The Gift Shop Trap
How to Avoid Spending a Fortune
The gift shop is where attractions make their real money. A cheap day out can easily become expensive when the kids spot the toys, keyrings, and overpriced pencils. Here’s how to handle it:
- Set expectations before you go. Tell the kids you’re not buying from the gift shop. Say it early, say it clearly, and stick to it.
- Give them a budget. If they’re desperate for a souvenir, give them £3-5 and let them choose something within that. It teaches them about budgeting too.
- Bring your own treats. Pack a few small snacks or stickers from home. Sometimes they just want something, anything – it doesn’t have to be from the shop.
- Take photos instead. Let them take photos on your phone throughout the day. They get to “collect” memories without spending a penny.
Planning Your Summer on a Budget
Create a Day Out Budget
Decide how much you can afford to spend on days out this summer and divide it up. If you’ve got £200 for the whole six weeks, that’s roughly £33 a week. Plan one paid day out a fortnight and fill the gaps with free activities.
Mix Free and Paid Days
The trick to a great summer on a budget is variety. Alternate free days (park, beach, museum) with the occasional paid attraction. The kids appreciate the paid days more when they’re not doing them every day, and you don’t feel guilty about the cost.
Team Up With Other Families
Many attractions offer group discounts for 10+ people. Get together with other families from school or your neighbourhood and book as a group. You’ll save on tickets and the kids get to go with their friends – everyone wins.
Quick Checklist Before Any Day Out
- Search for discount codes and vouchers first
- Book online rather than paying at the gate
- Pack lunch, snacks, and drinks
- Check for 2-for-1 deals on cereal boxes and rail offers
- Look for free alternatives nearby
- Set a souvenir budget (or skip it entirely)
- Check the weather forecast and have a rainy day backup
- Park further away for cheaper parking or use Park & Ride
A brilliant summer with the kids doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Free museums, parks, beaches, and cheap farm visits can be just as memorable as expensive theme parks. Plan ahead, pack your own food, and don’t fall for the gift shop – your bank balance will thank you come September.
For more money-saving tips and free days out ideas, check out the freebies.co.uk blog for weekly deals and guides.
