Things To Do On A Budget During The Summer Holidays

With the warm weather, it’s nice to get outside and enjoy the fresh air and the buzz of nature around you. Jazz up the kid’s afternoon lunches, pack a picnic, and discover your new favourite outdoor spot! Plus, there are plenty of green spaces in and around your local area that you can take advantage of.

Whether you organise a themed picnic (like Italian, a specific colour, or your kid’s favourite foods) or make their normal lunches to be eaten outside!

We have some pretty cool inspirational picnics which could change your lunch game!

The iconic Notting Hill Carnival is just around the corner – which is free to experience! Jive to the music, enjoy the beat of the drums and end the holidays with this fun summer festivity that will certainly make a mark on your child’s summer memories.

Did you know it’s the world’s BIGGEST street festival? It’s the perfect free London event to head to.

Surprisingly, not all UK beaches are brown waters and rocky shores… We do have our fair share of idyllic sandy beaches and blue waters!

Head down to the southwest and experience the sunny and warm days in Cornwall or even Devon! Their beaches are iconic as they are beautiful.

Everyone loves a beach day. Whether you build sandcastles or a moat in the sand, fly a kite, or play frisbee, it’s time to head to the beach! Get the cooler boxes and fill them up with juice boxes, sandwiches, and snacks.

If you have furry friends who also deserve a day out, there are plenty of beaches around the UK for them!

If you have pavement slabs in your garden, why not encourage your kids to get a little creative with sidewalk chalk?

It’ll keep the kids busy for a couple of hours as they let their imaginations run wild. There are plenty of activities they can enjoy, from drawing pictures in all sorts of colours to playing hopscotch!

Then, if it rains, the chalk will wash away, leaving it looking brand new! Plus, it encourages the kids to leave their iPads inside and get some well-needed fresh air – it’s the perfect craft idea!

Or perhaps you like to get a little muddy? Then why not create a sanctuary for the insects that live in your garden and build a bug hotel? All you need are dry leaves, hollow stems, pine cones, bark and anything else natural that you can get your hands on. Some garden centres actually sell them if you don’t fancy making your own!

Is the day a little hot? Are the kids getting a bit angsty and stuck inside because they can’t cool down? Well…the best solution is heading to a splash pad near you!

Best of all… they’re really cheap or even FREE! It’s the perfect place to cool down this summer. PLUS, they have water features, water jets and slides to have fun on. It’s one of many super cheap activities you can enjoy this summer.

Splash pads and splash parks will keep you cool but amp up their summer fun! If you don’t fancy a splash park, why not head to your local leisure centre with a pool?

Got some energy to burn? There’s no better way to explore the country than a good ol’ hike!

Grab your walking boots, sunscreen, and caps and discover a whole new world – outside! Whether you hike along the coastline, up mountains or down the rolling hills. There’s plenty to discover in the UK. You don’t even have to stay local, travel out and explore somewhere new. From Cheddar Gorge and Malvern Hills to the Lake District and Snowdonia National Park!

Get those 10,000 steps in, and feel the fresh air blowing your hair and the rush of endorphins flowing through you. It’s the school summer holidays, after all – the time for making memories with family on days out!

With plenty of walking routes around you, from parks and forests to walking down canals, you can find a hiking adventure wherever you are!

You don’t necessarily have to enjoy hours of fun during the day… You can also experience nighttime activities with stargazing! There are plenty of places and dark sky discovery sites in the UK – it’s about time we check them out!

Head to the Peak District National Park, where you can take in stunning panoramic views of Brecon Beacons, and where the sky will twinkle with thousands of stars. Take in the world above you, and you might even spot a shooting star!

It’s a brilliant idea for kids to learn about the constellations in the northern hemisphere too. Did you know there are different constellations in the northern and southern hemispheres? That’s a fact you can teach your kids!

Bring some blankets and hot drinks and wrap up warm in case it’s cold!

If you sign up for our family membership, you can take advantage of our cinema deals and discounts! From cheaper child tickets to cinema bundles, including snacks!

You can even get the chance to win FREE cinema tickets each month!

Whether you book an ODEON kids’ movie night or are looking for some cheap scares and thrills, cinema nights create everlasting memories.

If you have a National Trust membership, you HAVE to take full advantage of it. You can make a trip and explore any National Trust site for FREE!

Whether reenact an iconic scene at a castle, discover a trickle or a gush of an ethereal waterfall, or navigate a yew maze!

National Trust has a plethora of beautiful and enchanting locations to visit. You could take a road trip to one every week! During the summer, many of them have all kinds of family activities going on. From themed workshops and scavenger hunts to family fun activities for kids and more!

It’s a brilliant and active way to enjoy the six-week summer holidays before term time creeps up on them.

Did you know that Hobbycraft holds creative workshops all year round? Workshops are perfect activities and fun ideas for kids to express their creativity!

From sunflower crochet bags to clay bead rainbow making, there’s something for everyone who loves colours. If they love colours, there’s a tie-dye class kit that can be sent home to try, as well as kids’ summer clay creatures and windchime making!

You can book workshops to attend or book ones where they send the creative kits home!

If you can’t quite justify spending money on a LEGO set, no worries. Those who live in Sheffield (or fancy travelling there), can head to Builders Brew Cafe for a LEGO day out!

There are hundreds of sets to choose from, and you can pick one to build for only £3.00! You’ll need to book in advance and can only build one set at a time (we don’t want any brick mixing!).

It’s a fun-tastic activity to keep the kids busy, and you can have a munch too!

August is the ideal time to bask in the gloriousness of sunflowers! Their bright and happy flower heads will bring joy to anyone. So, why not head to a sunflower farm near you and leisurely walk among acres of flowers? You can even pick your own to take home with you!

Capture picture-perfect moments this summer with the backdrop of sun-shining flowers and maybe even the setting sun! Some maze attractions have sunflower patches, so you can enjoy two activities at once, like the Great Worcestershire Maze Maize!