We’ve put together plenty of activities to keep the kids entertained, from theme park thrills to where kids can eat for £1.
1. Get a £1 meal
Lots of supermarket and store cafés 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.
AsdaIkeaMorrisonsSainsbury’sLots of restaurants also have kids offers during the holidays if you purchase a main meal. Remember to check the terms and conditions of the restaurant before booking.
Bella ItaliaBeefeaterBillsDobbies Garden CentresHungry HorseTGI FridaysTravelodgePremier InnPretoSizzling PubsThe Real GreekYou could also consider getting a dining card, which could save you up to 50% at thousands of restaurants across the UK.
Find out more:2. Theme park days out
If you're heading to a theme park over the holidays, there are some ways to save money on tickets.
Buy in advanceLook for couponsConvert loyalty points3. Watch the latest movies for less
From IF to The Fall Guy, if your kids want to watch the latest blockbuster in the cinema, make sure you save on tickets.
Most major cinema chains have offers during the school holidays.
You could also save money at the cinema with your dining card. For example, Gourmet Society offers 40% off at Odeon and Cineworld, and 30% off Vue. Meanwhile, Tastecard offers 25% off at hundreds of cinemas across the UK.
And if you have an Amazon Prime account, you can get two Odeon standard tickets for £10, or two Odeon Luxe tickets for £15 Monday - Thursday.
Find out more4. Netflix and Disney+ deals
If you fancy staying in to watch a film or stream a series with the family, make sure you're getting the best value for money from your subscription.
For example, you might be able to change your Netflix plan to save money or cancel and restart your memberships to alternate which subscription services you're signed up for each month rather than paying for all of them all the time.
Our experts have also gone through the latest Disney+ deals, to see which ones are the best value for money.
If you don’t want to pay for a subscription, there are plenty of films available to watch for free across ITVX, Channel 4 and BBC iPlayer, as long as you have a TV licence.
Find out more:5. Half-price days out
From beaches to botanical gardens, if you fancy a day out your train ticket can unlock savings.
Not only do some rail companies let youngsters travel for £1 when you buy an adult ticket, but National Rail offers two entry tickets for the price of one at a huge number of attractions nationwide, including the London Eye, Sea Life locations across Great Britain and several historic landmarks including Kew Gardens and Leeds Castle.
Before you book, check National Rail's Days Out Guide, which also explains which tickets are valid and what exclusions apply.
If you're a Tesco Clubcard holder, you can convert the points you earn on your loyalty card into vouchers to spend with its Tesco Clubcard Reward Partners. These can often be used at wildlife parks and other attractions.
Find out more:6. Cheap theatre tickets
Taking the whole family to the theatre can be pricey, but there are a few ways to save money:
Disney Day SeatsEnter lotteriesOpt for cheaper seatsBook direct7. Free in-store workshops
Lots of shops offer free or cheap in-store activities for children from learning about gardening to crafting sessions.
Find out more:8. Make the most of free museums
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, although you may have to pay to access some exhibitions.
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:9. Family fun on the farm
Many cities have urban farms and have free entry.
London has a number of city farms offering kids the chance to experience animals up close, including Mudchute Park and Farm, Spitalfields City Farm, Stepney City Farm, Belmont Children's Farm and Hackney City Farm.
If you live in the north or northwest of the UK, you could visit Ouseburn Farm, in Newcastle upon Tyne, or Rice Lane City Farm in Liverpool, which offers various free events.
10. Get active
If you fancy getting out and about, 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 four to 14 on Sundays. There is no time limit and no one finishes last!
11. Book swap with friends
If you fancy reading something new over the holidays, try arranging a book swap with your friends and family.
Or visit your local library, some will have digital magazines and newspapers that you can view there or from the comfort of your own home.
To find out what your nearby library offers, visit your local council's website and sign up for free.
Find out more12. 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' 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.
13. Board game fun
For those rainy days, why not have fun indoors with a board game marathon?
Our experts have reviewed hundreds of board games to bring you the very best, from classics like Monopoly and Articulate to newer games like Herd Mentality and Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza.
But rather than buying them all yourself, you could invite friends over and ask everyone to bring a game of their choice.
Find out more: undefinedsource https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/cheap-and-free-things-to-do-over-may-half-term-aKLBW1O0FwUH