Family Day Trips that won’t Bust your Budget

Spending a fun day out with the family is really important from time to time. These occasions make great bonding experiences and they can leave you with memories to last a lifetime. The only trouble is, if you’re not careful, you can end up spending a fortune.

Thankfully, there are ways in which you can rein your spending in. For example, it’s worth heading online to see if you can find any coupons or other special offers. If you’re flexible in terms of which attractions you visit and when you go, there are plenty of bargains to take advantage of.

Big attractions like SeaLife Centres and theme parks such as Alton Towers are often discounted or offered at half-price online. Even if you’re family are more culturally-inclined, you can visit Shakespeare’s Birthplace in Stratford-upon-Avon for a lot less if you get five-hour passes rather than full tickets. This could save you a tidy sum overall. Booking attractions in advance can save you cold, hard cash.

Wherever you’re heading, make sure you investigate your transport options in advance. In some cases, it can be cheaper to travel by bus or train rather than by car and even get your attractions included in the price of the ticket. If you do decide to drive, make sure you factor in parking costs.

You can also reduce your spending by taking plenty of food and drink with you. Eating packed lunches is much cheaper than refuelling in cafes and restaurants, and it means you can cater for awkward family eating habits a lot more easily!

Another top money-saving tip is to make full use of the free attractions on offer. In terms of the quantity and quality of free visitor centres, London is hard to beat. In the capital, you and your family can enjoy treats including the British Museum, the Imperial War Museum, the Natural History Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum. Meanwhile, free galleries include the Tate Britain and Tate Modern, the National Portrait Gallery and the Saatchi Gallery, to name but a few.

During the summer, trips to the countryside and seaside, as well as to the UK’s most beautiful city parks, can also be a real highlight and you don’t have to pay a penny to explore these spaces. So with a little careful thought and planning, it’s certainly possible to organise fun family trips that won’t break the bank.

Image by Christine Matthews, used under Creative Comms license