Only The Best Travel
It seems in a few short years that a lot about travel has changed, and that means even those of us who thought we were well-versed in how to travel had to relearn a lot. On a trip I took recently, I booked a …
By Allison Lampert and Inti Landauro (Reuters) -Escalating labour strife in Europe is driving anticipations of further travel head aches in the course of the occupied summer time, with airports and airlines clamouring to discover far more workers, minimize cancelled flights and cut down delays …
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
Thinking about going on a big rail adventure through Europe, getting remote in the US national parks or perhaps a sun and sand escape to some of the world’s best beaches? Well, you’re not alone. We polled the Lonely Planet community across our social media …
Editor’s Observe — Sign up for Unlocking the Entire world, CNN Travel’s weekly publication. Get information about destinations opening and closing, inspiration for future adventures, in addition the newest in aviation, food items and consume, in which to keep and other vacation developments. (CNN) — …
What’s cheaper this summer – a staycation or holiday abroad? We compare prices for staycation spots including Cornwall and Devon as well as Spain, Turkey, Portugal and France
Image: Caiaimage)
Holidays are back and for the first time in two years, Brits have more choice than ever when it comes to getaways.
While UK holidays reigned supreme last summer due to ongoing Covid travel rules and lockdowns, this year there are plenty of hotspots abroad welcoming back Brits including Spain, Turkey, France, Greece and Portugal are once again open to Brits.
Although UK travellers are splurging on revenge holidays to make up for lost time, if you’re after holiday deals then it’s worth comparing both staycations and trips abroad.
But which is cheaper? After all, UK holidays saw a surge in popularity in recent years – meaning price hikes in destinations like the Lake District, Cornwall and Devon. However, the travel industry took a hit due to restrictions so there may be similar rates when it comes to going abroad; Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary has already warned of rising flight costs.
Still, the good news is that there are bargains to be found on both sides.
We’ve done the leg work for you and compared prices for both holidays abroad and in the UK for the key holiday months.
Check out our top picks below…
Image:
Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Outside of the school holidays, there are similar price options whether you’re thinking of a mini break in the UK or want to head out for some sunshine. (We’ve got a guide to June’s best hot and sunny hotspots to give you a dose of inspiration).
For example, Warner Leisure Hotels is offering all-inclusive breaks in the Isle of Wight from £149pp for three nights. In comparison, TUI has Greece holidays from £169pp for three nights, although this is on a self-catering basis.
We also took a look at hotels and could find Cornwall stays from £75 a night on Booking.com, with breakfast included. Meanwhile on Tripadvisor there were Devon hotels from £67 a night, although it’s worth noting breakfast isn’t always included.
Interestingly, if you’re looking at hotels in those hotspots, then a holiday abroad could actually work out at better value overall.
For the same weeks, a TravelSupermarket search found holidays from £289pp including Tenerife – based on seven nights, and including flights. That works out at approximately £41pp a night, making it a cheaper option than the Cornwall stays.
Accommodation was similar. Airbnb has stays from £48 a night up to £180 for June, but when we compared to France there were prices ranging from £42 to £227, so there was plenty of scope to enjoy a similar budget.
Of course you still need to get to France – but Skyscanner showed there are return flights from £14 to the likes of Paris available in June so it’s still possible to visit on a budget.
THE VERDICT
UK holidays are cheaper in June and there are some tempting deals for hotspots if you want to avoid school holidays season. However, if you have a bit of budget to play with and want to go abroad, it’s not a huge difference in terms of cost, and in some cases it can work out better value.
In this instance, we’re comparing prices on dates outside of the school holidays, based on departures before July 22 when most schools break up. (If you’re after school holiday comparisons, those are in the next section).
If you’re after a staycation, you won’t be stuck for bargains.
Holiday parks giant Haven has holidays from £109 in Essex, £159 in Yorkshire and Somerset as well as prices from £169 in Dorset, all for the first weeks in July, which includes a pass to access the likes of the pools and entertainment.
If you’re after a cheap hotel stay Travelodge has plenty of rooms under £70 – in fact when we took a look we found Cornwall stays from £54 a night and Devon stays from £44 a night.
Mirror Holidays has is offering £50pp off on late Malta holidays.
Simply book a holiday departing before 30th June 2022 and enter discount code MALTALATES at the checkout to save £50 per person.
This article contains affiliate links, we may receive a commission on any sales we generate from it.Learn more
Holidays abroad are more expensive for the same weeks, but the good news is that there are still deals to be found because it’s outside of the school holidays.
For example, Mirror Holidays has deals such as Malta from £256pp, Tenerife from £272pp and Majorca from £339pp, while Loveholidays has plenty of breaks under £200pp including Portugal, France and Spain, based on two adults travelling.
THE VERDICT
If you’re after a cheap and cheerful break then UK holidays offer the best rates for July – but there are some good deals for Spain, Portugal and France out there if you do want to go abroad.
School holidays inevitably bring price hikes with them so it’s unlikely you’ll find cheap deals for late July and throughout August.
However when it comes to cheaper breaks, holidays abroad could actually be your best bet.
We searched for seven-night breaks for a family of four in the UK during the school holidays and found Haven holidays from £806, Butlin’s from £928, and Parkdean Resorts in Cornwall from £999. (Prices based on a family of four).
For hotel only stays we took a look on Hotels.com for a week in August and found Lake District hotels from £1,273, Devon from £834, Brighton from £1,313 and the Peak District from £698.
In comparison, TUI has all-inclusive Spain holidays from £597pp, On the Beach offers Portugal holidays from £505pp, while easyJet holidays offers Greece breaks from £558pp and Mirror Holidays has Cyprus holidays from £538pp.
If it’s holiday parks you’re after, Eurocamp has summer holidays from £711 including France, Italy, Croatia and Spain.
THE VERDICT
UK holidays work out cheaper for a family of four, but these don’t always include entertainment and meals. Holidays abroad may cost more per person, but you can get more bang for your buck – including some of the popular destinations where your accommodation, flights and meals are all included.
Covid tests
If you’re unvaccinated and a country is open to Brits, you’ll likely need a Covid test to be able to visit for a holiday. A lot of countries waive this requirement for children under 12. Check the Foreign Office travel advice for your chosen destination.
Antigen tests can start from £11pp with TUI package holidays, and most airlines offer discounts if you are planning a trip.
Transfers
Package holidays usually include transfers to the hotel but if you’re booking flights and accommodation separately, don’t forget to factor in the cost of getting from the airport to your hotel!
For UK holidays, it could be that you choose to travel by car, but if you’re planning to visit by train book in advance to avoid being hit by nasty high fares a few weeks before your trip.