Cheap and free things to do over the holidays

With household finances being squeezed by the cost of living crisis, you might be worried about how to keep the kids entertained over the school holidays.

Here, Which? rounds up things to do over the upcoming holidays that are either cheap or won’t cost a penny, with money-saving tips to keep activities affordable.

Look for ‘kids eat free’ offers

Lots of supermarket and store cafes offer ‘kids eat free’ deals or similar during the school holidays. Here are some of the best offers we’ve seen, where you won't have to spend more than a fiver.

IkeaMorrisons

We’ll update this page as more offers become available closer to the school holidays. 

Restaurant and pub deals

Bella ItaliaBeefeater Bill's Brewers Fayre Dobbies Garden Centres PretoHungry Horse The Real Greek 

Learn something new at a free museum 

Not only are museums and galleries great for learning, but many are free. 

Lots of museums have dedicated exhibitions for children, often featuring interactive displays.

At the Natural History Museum in London, kids can explore fossils and ancient life by taking part in free activities for all the family. 

And if your child is a train fanatic, it’s hard to beat York’s world-famous – and free – National Railway Museum, where visitors can pretend to ride locomotives and engines throughout history.

During the school holidays and weekends, some museums also run activity sessions or days where kids can get involved in crafts. Booking in advance is recommended.

Find out more: 

Pay less for theme parks and attractions 

If you can deal with the queues, theme parks and attractions are great fun for all the family, but a family ticket could set you back £200. 

Here are hacks for saving money if you're planning a day trip to a theme park or attraction. 

Book in advance Consider an annual pass Use Kellogg's vouchers Bring your own snacks 

Take a day trip (and save on travel)

If you fancy a trip to the seaside or day out in the city, there are ways you can save on public transport, so ditch the car and travel by train or bus.

If you're a Tesco Clubcard holder, you can convert the points you earn on your loyalty card into vouchers to spend with Tesco Clubcard Reward Partners. These can often be used at wildlife parks and other attractions.

Find out more:

Watch a movie or theatre show for less

It’s great to get out of the house to watch the latest blockbuster, from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 to the new Barbie film.  

Luckily, major cinema chains have offers for those wanting to watch a film with the family:

Cineworld’s Movies for Juniors screenings offer children's tickets for £2.50.

Odeon Kids has a deal where adults pay the same price as a child, with the deal running every day during the school holidays, as well as every Saturday and Sunday.

Vue has Mini Mornings screenings from 10am during the school holidays. Tickets for adults or children cost £2.49 each.

And if you fancy some live theatre, here are a few deals to help the cost of a trip:  

Disney Magical Mondays Enter lotteries Opt for cheaper seats Book direct Visit your local theatre

Plan outdoor fun in the sun

There’s plenty of ways to have fun without spending a penny, especially if the weather is nice. 

You could visit a festival. Here are a few big ones which happen every year:

Notting Hill Carnival Bristol International Balloon Fiesta Edinburgh Fringe Find out more

How to find free local events

Local councils sometimes run free half-term activities for kids, or sports workshops.  

To see if you can join any nearby events, search your local council's name, followed by 'half term activities' or ‘summer holidays’ to see what's going on in your area. 

If you're not sure which local council covers your area, you can search on Gov.uk using your postcode.

Find out more:

Try a reading challenge

Mini-bookworms can take part in the annual Summer Reading Challenge competition run by the Reading Agency to encourage primary schoolchildren to turn off the TV and get lost in a book instead. 

The reading challenge will begin on 24 June when the theme is announced. 

You don’t have to fork out to take part – just head down to your local library where you can pick up a free activity pack and borrow the recommended books. Once you’ve finished a story, head back to the library to collect stickers.

Look for free races and £1 swimming

Parkrun facilitates free weekly community running and walking events that take place all around the world. 

The main 5k events take place on Saturday mornings, with Junior Parkrun for children aged 4-14 on Sundays. There's no time limit and no one finishes last! 

Many leisure centres also have deals in the holidays where children can swim for £1, so it's worth checking what your local one has on.

Get help if you're struggling

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