Things to do in the school holidays

Another difficult school year is behind us, and children all over the UK are enjoying a well-deserved break. Parents, on the other hand, might be looking ahead at the school summer holidays with a little trepidation. So we’ve put together some ideas for school holiday activities to keep your whole family entertained – without going over budget. Scroll to the end of the article for some useful links to help you find out what’s on.

Visit family attractions for less

• Don’t underestimate how much fun you can have for free! And we’re not just talking about parks and libraries, although both are hugely valuable. Hundreds of museums and art galleries around the country are free, too. Many offer activities for children as well as engaging exhibits, and some have a space to eat your packed lunch – helping you cut out one of the most expensive aspects of a day out.
• Use our app for discounts on theme parks and outdoor activities.
• Groupon can be great as long as you’re not tempted by ‘deals’ on things you wouldn’t otherwise buy. So they’re a great place to look for discounts on days out.
• Your supermarket rewards card might come with money off family attractions, too!

What’s on near you

Take a look at your local council’s website to find out what’s happening in your area. They’ll be able to point you in the direction of family friendly activities happening near you. That includes completely free activities, like the Summer Reading Challenge at your local library! (You can also take part online at summerreadingchallenge.org.uk.) And in some areas children can swim for free, or at a discount, at your local pool or water park.

Make your own fun at home

• Can’t make it to a National Trust visitor attraction? Try their website – it has some great ideas for family activities you can do at home! We love the sensory ‘treasure hunt’, where children use all five senses to find ‘hidden treasures’ around your house and garden. Plenty of fun with minimal effort from you!
• If your kids loved the Joe Wicks workouts last year, look online for ways to get sporty at home. As well as Joe himself we love Cosmic Kids Yoga. (Remember: it’s best not to leave kids watching YouTube unsupervised.)
• On a hot day, you can’t go wrong with a paddling pool. So don’t forget you can get a discount at Argos via our app too!

Give yourself a break

We promise you – almost no-one is doing expensive, educational or intricate Pinterest-inspired activities with their children every day. If you find you’re comparing yourself unfavourably to other parents on Facebook, just close Facebook. You and your children have earned a break, and even if they spend it in front of an iPad screen, they’ll be just fine.

Directory

• National Trust
• English Heritage
• Historic Scotland
• Cadw (Wales)
• Heritage Ireland
• dayoutwiththekids.co.uk
• museums.co.uk

Whatever you have planned for the summer holidays, have fun – and stay cool!