Only The Best Travel
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Summer is fast approaching with its long school holidays, but the cost of living crisis means that families across the country and budgeting and worrying about how to entertain the children without breaking the bank.
Research released today from Travelzoo revealed that an overwhelming majority of Brits – 98{e9f0aada585b9d73d0d08d3c277fd760092386ec23cac37d50f4b8cd792b062a} – are concerned by the rising living costs with many of us having to make sacrifices on enjoyable experiences in an attempt to get by.
Amongst the main things we are cutting back on are holidays and days out or experiences with the family.
But days out and experiences are hugely important to us with 86{e9f0aada585b9d73d0d08d3c277fd760092386ec23cac37d50f4b8cd792b062a} holding them in higher regard than material goods. So we have scoured the country and picked out the best bargain family days out across the UK this summer.
Grab a wand and join your robed guide on the original tour of Edinburgh designed especially for Potter fans!
You’ll discover the magical locations that inspired characters and scenes in the series, visit the places where JK Rowling wrote the books, and even learn a spell or two along the way…
Free tours available, more info here.
Free activities run all day every day including a walking trail around historic Stratford, the chance to dress up in real costumes used on stage in Shakespeare plays, and join in with a host of play cart activities in the cafes and shared spaces in and around the theatre.
Almost 300 rail vehicles, including a Japanese bullet train, are housed in the world’s biggest collection of model railways at York’s National Railway Museum. There’s always a range of interactive activities for both at York and at sister museum NRM Shildon in County Durham, which is also free.
Tickets free, more info here.
Both are free to visit but pre-booking for certain exhibitions and events is essential. The NHM has a sister site in Tring, Hertfordshire that is also free, and in Oxford you’ll find the free History of Science Museum and Museum of Natural History.
London’s largest leisure development since the Olympics will open its gates in July, just in time for the school holidays. Located in Hounslow, and spanning more than 126 acres, Hobbledown is a rain or shine experience featuring three villages where kids can climb towers, crawl through the tunnels, and step inside one of the largest indoor play arenas in the country, and all while coming face-to-face with goats, alpacas, meerkats, lemurs, and many other exotic and traditional farm animals. Under-2s go free and tickets start at £15 for entry to the whole attraction.
The perfect day out for families looking to admire London’s skyline from above and for those on a budget as access is completely free. Located 155 metres up as London’s highest public garden, Sky Garden is a gourmet garden oasis offering spectacular 360-degree views across the capital. Inside, experience an abundance of lush greenery, exquisitely landscaped gardens, and panoramic views of London’s skyline from observation decks and an open-air terrace, as well as a variety of dining options including a ‘best of British’ menu on level 36 at Darwin Brasserie.
During public hours, children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult aged 18 years or over and are not permitted to enter Sky Garden after 6pm on weekdays and 9pm on weekends. Adults can visit with a maximum of three children. Access is free but visits must be booked in advance and spaces are limited. Free tickets are released every Monday here.
All of Wales’ National Museums have free entry. The best options with kids include the National Museum Cardiff, where you can get up close to a huge woolly mammoth, and St Fagans Museum of History, which allows you to step back in time in more than 40 historic buildings.
From the lush New Forest to the lofty Cairngorms, the UK’s 15 National Parks offer endless options for outdoor fun, from gentle walking to action filled adventure. Covering a staggering 16,267 square kilometres, they’re much closer and more accessible than many realise.
The skies above the pretty market town of Oswestry will be filled with giant hot air balloons on 20-21st August as the North Shropshire town stages its annual Balloon Carnival. More than 25 balloons will set off on a mass morning then sunset launch from Cae Glas Park. Artisanal food pop-ups, local produce and craft stalls, live music and street entertainers will provide day-long entertainment for families attending the free event weekend-long event which will raise funds via an optional £1 donation to Nightingale House Hospice.
Warwick is famous for its castle, which offers packages and discounts on visits year-round, but there are a host of other things to do in the city, many of them free. From historic trails to an array of museums, plus parks packed with activities, there’s plenty of fun for all the family, and much at a budget cost. For example, St Nicholas Park has its own family area with activities priced at £1 per credit, while the Guy of Warwick Trail aimed at families is free to take part in.
Both have dominated the Lincoln skyline for almost 1,000 years and offer free access to the grounds for families on days out in the city.
From 16 June to 25 August The Hares of Hampshire will bound into Southampton with a free public art trail. Perfect for posing alongside, there will be 30 brightly painted and larger than life statues scattered across various locations in and around the city and beyond.
Another art trail, this time of thirty 5ft tall ‘Rubber Duck’ sculptures positioned along the Sussex coast from Hastings to Bexhill this summer. The trail encourages people to engage with their local environment, get outside and get active in search of the 30 sculptures, and to discover new places. The ducks will be in situ for 10 weeks throughout the summer and each will host a wellbeing activity. The full trail will be manageable on foot or via public transport within one day.
When planning days out it’s always worth exploring offers and deals ahead of the day. Pre-booking can dramatically reduce the cost of a family day out, and brands such as Kelloggs include vouchers on the side of packets offering free adult tickets when paying for a child at a host of attractions nationwide.
This summer is the perfect chance to grab a discount or freebie at your favourite places to eat. Food spots such as McDonald’s, Taco Bell, Greggs and Krispy Kreme offer free food and other rewards when you download their app and sign up for free membership. Some bars and pubs also offer free drinks when you download their app or sign up to a mailing list.
Families with children under 12 can often bag a discount at a local restaurant. Chains including Gordon Ramsay restaurants and The Real Greek offer free kids’ meals for every adult who buys from the main menu.
If you fancy getting creative in the kitchen, swapping restaurants for whipping up your favourite dishes can help you save. Making the most of summer days with a barbeque or picnic can cut costs too.
Families can experience movie magic at a discount over the summer. Cinemas across the UK offer cheap tickets to morning screenings of children’s movies for as little as £2.49 per person.
Children aged 17 and under can see over 40 top London shows for free throughout August when accompanied by a full-paying adult as part of Kids Week.
Keeping an eye out for free and cheap events popping up in your local area on social media or by signing up for event mailing lists can help keep costs down too. You can also sign up to a seat-filler website and get tickets to theatre, music and comedy shows for less than £10 a ticket.
Lane7 bowling alleys are doing a deal all summer for two games plus a drink for £10 per child.
Savvy travel spending
Whether you’re booking a train for a staycation or flights to jet off abroad, it pays to use price comparison websites to find the cheapest journeys and save money. Booking your transport as early as possible can also help vastly reduce the cost of your journey.
Nest Friends is a website created by dad Rick Oliver to keep his kids entertained during lockdown. It features a number of free downloadable resources to help teach children about birds they spot, from create-your-own bird sheets to colouring pages and tick-off charts.
The beauty of treasure trail apps such as Geocaching and Pokémon is that they can be enjoyed absolutely anywhere, from your local park to holiday destinations. Simply download the app, press go and follow the clues. Take a picnic and make a day of it, or use it to kill a few hours without spending any cash. Or take a look at AllTrails for local walks with tips on what to spot on the way.
Use Heart of England’s free Butterfly Guide and go on a butterfly hunt. Use this handy spotter’s guides to identify butterflies.
Many local councils are offering free activity days and sessions over the summer, so check your local council website to see what’s on offer. Join Facebook groups for parents in your area, and take a look at signs in your local library advertising free activities. There’s a lot out there, you just need to know where to look!
READ MORE: 7 tips for travelling with toddlers
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East Midlands Airport has issued a statement as travellers up and down the country face huge delays and flight cancellations. Airlines such as easyJet and Tui have been affected by a lack of staff.
East Midlands Airport has assured passengers it will be able to ensure smooth travel for them. It insists “plans are in place to ensure we respond to this extra demand”.
Government ministers have been accused of failing to “step up” as holidaymakers continue to suffer major disruption at several UK airports, reports Leicestershire Live. Shadow financial secretary to the Treasury James Murray claimed the Government “hasn’t prepared” for the rise in demand for travel.
Read more: TUI, Jet2, EasyJet and Ryanair outline correct times to arrive for flights
Aviation data firm Cirium said 291 departures from major UK airports have been cancelled between May 25 and Tuesday. During the chaotic fallout for passengers, a spokeswoman for the Government has insisted the aviation industry was “responsible for making sure they have enough staff to meet demand”.
Airline passengers have been hit by cancellations and long delays at some airports for several months, with the situation appearing to worsen this week during the half-term school holiday and ahead of the Platinum Jubilee bank holiday period. Tui Airways will cancel around six flights at Manchester Airport every day until the end of June. A total of 291 departures from major UK airports had been cancelled between May 25 and May 31.
The airline said in a statement this is due to “ongoing challenges in our operation”. In response, the airport said the carrier and its ground handler, Swissport, are suffering from staff shortages and are experiencing “significant challenges with their check-in and baggage reclaim operations”.
It added: “We understand Tui’s difficult decision to cancel a number of services over the course of the next month, although we are obviously disappointed to see passengers’ plans disrupted in this way.”
EasyJet cancelled at least 31 flights at Gatwick on Tuesday. British Airways is continuing to cancel dozens of flights each day, although the airline said passengers are being told several days in advance.
Passengers at airports such as Heathrow, Gatwick and Bristol are reporting long delays, although East Midlands Airport has not seen the same chaos.
An East Midlands Airport spokesperson said: “The Covid Pandemic, from which the entire aviation sector is still recovering, was the biggest ever shock to international travel. The challenges it currently faces as passenger demand grows following two years of significant disruption is a global issue, and not unique to the UK.
“As each day passes, East Midlands Airport (EMA) feels more like it should at this time of year. Rewind 12 months and the contrast could not be greater. In May 2021, as restrictions were starting to be eased, we welcomed 400 passengers a day.
“Today we’re seeing 14,000 daily passengers. Throughout this half-term week, we anticipate that 170,000 passengers will travel through EMA, most of whom are flying to popular holiday destinations across Europe.
“While there have been isolated incidents of disruption, we don’t envisage there being significant issues in the coming days. As the core summer months approach, passenger numbers will increase.
“Together, with our airline partners, plans are in place to ensure we respond to this extra demand. Thanks to the team’s hard work, the progress we’ve made with recruitment and the flexibility of colleagues to cover busy shifts, our passengers are getting through security without delay.”
“We also encourage passengers to do their bit to help themselves by:
The aviation industry is suffering from staff shortages after thousands were let go during the coronavirus pandemic. They are now struggling to recruit new workers and have their security checks processed.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps introduced legislation last month to allow new aviation recruits to begin training before passing security checks to reduce the time it takes for them to start work. A Government spokeswoman said airports are “busier than usual” due to “an exceptionally high number of people travelling” this week.