£15 entry per adult, £8 per child. Parking £5. Overpriced lunch from the café because you forgot to pack food. Ice cream. A toy they’ll abandon in the car.

Total: £80+ for a family of four for one afternoon.

And that’s just one day. Do that twice a month through summer and you’ve spent nearly £2,000.

I’m not saying you can’t spend money on days out. I’m saying you don’t have to every time. And honestly? Some of the best afternoons we’ve had cost absolutely nothing.

Here’s what we actually do.

Free Activities (They’re Genuinely Good)

Parks & Playgrounds

Most councils have at least 2–3 good playgrounds within 15 minutes. Free entry, usually free parking. Bring a picnic, stay for 2–3 hours, everyone’s tired and happy.

What we pack:

• Sandwiches or leftovers
• Water bottles
• Snacks
• A blanket to sit on
• A ball or bubbles (already at home)

Cost: £0–3 if you buy a drink from a café.

Pro tip: Midweek visits are quieter. If you can do Tuesday or Wednesday mornings, the playground is yours.

Beaches

Parking is often £3–5, sometimes free if you park away from the tourist bit. Entire afternoon entertained for less than the cost of a coffee.

What we take:

• Bucket and spade (£2 if you don’t own them; £0 if you do)
• Picnic
• Towels
• Sun cream

Cost: £3–6 including parking.

Nature Reserves & Woodland

Free entry. Free parking. Perfect for “exploring,” which is basically toddler-speak for “walking slowly and touching everything.”

Many have easy paths suitable for buggies. Some have ponds for dipping nets (if you have one; kids are just as entertained looking at the water without one).

Cost: £0, maybe £2 for parking.

Your Own Garden

I’m not being flippant. A water table (or even a mixing bowl), some plastic cups, and your toddler is entertained for an hour. Scavenger hunts for insects. Building with sticks. Bubbles.

Cost: £0.

Free Museum Hours & Heritage Sites

Many UK museums have free entry:

• British Museum (London)
• Natural History Museum (London)
• V&A Museum (London)
• Science Museum (London)
• Most local museums

Some charge but have free family hours or free days. Check their websites.

Cost: £0, maybe £2 parking.

Local note: Your library probably runs free story times and activity sessions. Check their website.

Libraries

Free entry. Story time sessions. Activity programs. Sometimes they have toys/puzzles you can borrow.

Cost: £0.

Cheap Days Out (£5–20 Per Family)

Working with Kidpass

Kidpass Annual Family Pass gives discounts at hundreds of UK attractions: farms, zoos, soft play, adventure parks, mini golf.

Member prices are usually 20–40% off standard entry.

Examples of Kidpass savings:

• Adventure golf: often £8–12 instead of £15–18 per round
• Farm attractions: often £12–16 instead of £18–22 per family
• Soft play centers: often £8–12 off peak instead of £15–20

The annual pass costs around £60–80 depending on membership level. If you do 4–5 paid days out per year, it pays for itself.

Cost per outing with Kidpass: £8–15 per family.

Soft Play Centers

Off-peak rates (weekday mornings, late afternoons) are usually 30–50% cheaper than peak times.

Most offer £5–8 off-peak entry vs. £15–20 peak.

Cost: £5–12 per family if you go off-peak.

Pro tip: Call ahead. Many have quiet hours you didn’t know about.

Farms & Pick-Your-Own

Entry is often £5–10 per family. Some let you pick fruit and vegetables (you pay separately for what you pick, usually reasonable).

Kids get to see animals, run around, and you get actual strawberries or apples.

Cost: £10–20 including picnic.

Local Swimming Pools

Family swim sessions are usually cheaper than casual entry (£8–15 vs. £15–25).

Many pools have a shallow toddler pool area.

Cost: £10–18 per family.

Seasonal Activities

Autumn: Pumpkin patches, apple picking, conker collecting (free in parks, honestly).

Winter: Christmas markets and light switch-ons (often free to watch; paid if you buy food).

Spring: Bluebell walks (free), Easter egg hunts at gardens (usually £8–15).

Summer: Open-air cinemas (£12–20 per person, but there’s popcorn at home in the car), outdoor theatre, festivals.

Cost: Varies, but budget £10–20 per family.

Premium Days Out (If You Go All-In)

These cost more but aren’t in the “£80” category:

National Trust – Annual Family Membership
Single entry: £15–20 per family. Annual membership: ~£180 for family. If you visit more than once or twice, it’s worth it. Hundreds of properties across the UK.

English Heritage – Annual Family Pass
Similar structure. Single entry £15–18. Annual pass ~£170. Good if you’re into castles and historical sites.

Cost with annual pass: essentially free per visit (amortised).

What to Pack (Budget Packing Checklist)

Food & Drink

• Sandwiches or leftovers (you were going to eat them anyway)
• Fruit (apples, grapes, berries)
• Snacks (crackers, cheese, raisins, dried fruit)
• Reusable Water Bottles (2-pack) – Amazon – fill at home
• Squash or juice (optional, saves on buying at café prices)

Cost saving: Pack lunch at home, save £8–12 per person vs. buying on-site.

Comfort & Entertainment

• Picnic Mat (Waterproof) – Amazon – great for grass, sand, or outdoor seating areas
• Old towels or a throw
• Sun cream (not branded; supermarket own-brand is identical and half the price)
• Portable Shade Pop-Up Tent – Amazon – £20–30 but worth it for summer days (blocks UV, keeps everyone cooler)
• Hats

Packing It

• Kids Backpack – Amazon – lightweight, easier for you to carry their stuff or they can carry snacks
• Reusable Picnic Plates & Cutlery Set – Amazon – no disposables, easy to rinse and pack away
• Wet wipes (already buying them anyway)

Entertainment

• Bubbles (£1, keeps them occupied for ages)
• Balls or balloons
• Activity Books/Colouring Packs – Baker Ross – sticker books especially for car/park sitting
• Nothing else required, honestly. Most kids are entertained by being outside.

Car Organization

• Car Seat Organizer – Amazon – keeps picnic stuff, sunscreen, toys, and wet wipes within reach instead of rolling around the car

Total investment in reusable gear: About £100–150 one-time. Lasts for years.

Money-Saving Tips That Actually Work

1. Go on weekdays. Seriously. Tuesday morning at a farm is a totally different experience than Saturday afternoon. Cheaper. Quieter. Better parking. Better experience.

2. Skip school holidays if you can. Peak prices, peak crowds. If you work school hours, take a random Friday in October instead.

3. Check free entry days. Many attractions have “free family days” or “half price Thursday” sort of things. Most advertise these on their websites or social media.

4. Pack your own food. This is the single biggest saving. £15 on café lunch for two kids vs. £3 for a packed lunch.

5. Look for Groupon deals. Not all attractions use it, but some discount days are genuinely good (e.g., £5 off entry, £10 off experience days).

6. National Trust & English Heritage memberships. If you do 3+ visits per year, the annual pass pays for itself.

7. Free parking days. Many car parks have free after 3pm or free on Sundays in summer. Plan your visit around that.

8. Plan around nap time. If you leave at 2pm when they’re supposed to nap, you’ve wasted your afternoon on soothing a fractious toddler. Time it so naps happen at home or in the car on the way back.

9. Use Kidpass. It’s £60–80/year and works out to less than a single discounted entry if you use it even 4–5 times.

10. Go local first. You don’t need to drive an hour to the “big” attraction. Your local park is free and takes 5 minutes.

FAQ: Budget Days Out

Can you take your own food into attractions?
Most yes, but check individual sites’ policies. Some allow picnics in designated areas. Some charge if you bring your own. It’s worth a quick call beforehand.

What’s the best time to visit if I want to save money?
Weekday mornings, outside school holidays, during rainy season (fewer people = no crowds). Off-peak entry at soft play is usually 10am–3pm on weekdays.

Is this for all ages?
I’ve written this for 0–5, but the principles work for older kids too. The specifics (farm visits, story time) change, but free parks and beaches work for everyone.

What if the weather is bad?
Free museums, libraries, soft play (pay what’s listed), community centres (sometimes free activity sessions). Or reschedule. A rainy day isn’t a day out day.

How often should we do paid days out?
Depends on budget and kid energy. We do one proper paid day out per month, then free stuff the rest of the time. Keeps everyone happy and budget intact.

Is Kidpass worth it for one child?
The math is similar—4–5 visits per year and it pays for itself. If your kid enjoys attractions, it’s worth joining.

Related Posts

• Best Compact Prams UK (for Getting Around)
• Starting Reception Checklist: What They Actually Need
• Best Toddler Lunch Boxes & Food Storage for Nursery
• Screen Time as a Parenting Tool: My Intentional Approach

This post contains affiliate links to products we genuinely use and recommend. We earn a small commission if you purchase through these links, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting Mum Approved UK.