Family-fun-and-activities

Family activities on a budget

Great family activities – cheap or free!

If you want to escape the hustle bustle and take your family on a great adventure - exploring the great outdoors, bringing history alive, seeing movies for half the cost or travelling on the cheap?

Then check out these great ideas out for fun-filled activities that won’t break the bank.

At a glance

  • There are lots of free days out around Britain
  • You don't have to focus on history, there are sporting and other fun days out too
  • If travelling by train, always book in advance as it will be cheaper
family-activities-on-a-budget

For castles, beaches, amazing playgrounds and more!

Join the National Trust and get hundreds of great days out for free at castles, beaches, gardens, forests, farmland, islands, nature reserves and more. Many places have amazing playgrounds, acres of space to run around, family-friendly cafes and loads of fun activities like treasure hunts, nature trails and den building. Your kids can also start 50 things to do before you’re 11¾. And if you don’t want to pay, they often do free weekends too! For more great ideas and find places close to you, visit the National Trust.

Bring history alive!

Another great organisation is English Heritage, which offer some great free attractions. If you want to hear great tales of battle from a Viking warrior, gem up on your spy skills, prepare some Victorian nosh or tackle a fun-filled nature trail, check out their website for great ideas for family days out right near you! For more great ideas, check out Historic Scotland

Love nature!

There are family-friendly farms everywhere – nestled in the heart of cities and scattered across the countryside. Or check out the Woodland Trust website for all your nearest woodlands. 

Free libraries, sport and events 

Your local council’s website will have loads of info on great parks, child centres, and even free sports in your area. Libraries around the country offer free events like ‘Rhyme time’ a nursery rhyme and action song session for toddlers. Expect lots of noise and heaps of fun!

Cheap and free Britain

For a whole host of ideas check out Visit Britain. Whether you’re looking for cheap hotels and restaurants, cut-price travel or free days out you’ll find countless family-friendly things for you to do. 

On your doorstep

For the inside track on local events, there are some great websites out there, just brimming with ideas. A good place to start is Days Out With Kids.

Pay with vouchers

Spending your Tesco Clubcard and Sainsbury’s Nectar points on vouchers for days out including zoos, aquariums and theme parks is fab as it generally gives you more value than spending them in store.

Travel cheap

Booking your tickets in advance on the trainline.com will help you cut the cost of travel – and family railcards are a great investment if you travel a few times a year together.

So what are you waiting for? It’s time to have some serious family fun! 

Why not share your favourites days out in the Bounty community?

At a glance

  • There are lots of free days out around Britain
  • You don't have to focus on history, there are sporting and other fun days out too
  • If travelling by train, always book in advance as it will be cheaper
Your local council’s website will have loads of info on great parks, child centres, and even free sports in your area

Family activities on a budget