Under £10
3 hr
Ages 4+
Charity shop challenge
A fiver each, one charity shop, and a mission to find the best games. That's a whole weekend sorted.
Big days out
Big days out that are worth the money, clever ways to pay less, and brilliant free adventures most families never think of.
Tried and tested
Days out Club families have actually done, cheap and not so cheap, with everything you need to know.
Their savings
2 hr
Ages 5+
Marketplace mission
Saving up for something big? Hunt for a second-hand bargain together and turn the waiting into an adventure.
Tickets
8 hr
Ages 3+
Alton Towers with the kids
Eight goes on the Runaway Mine Train, one green-faced mummy, and a fab B&B ten minutes up the road.
Passes that pay for themselves
If you'll go more than twice, a pass or membership usually beats buying tickets on the day.
Discount appTry it for £1
Kids Pass
Up to half off family days out, cinemas and restaurants across the UK. One trip can cover the cost, so it's worth a look before you book anything.
Best for: Families who do a few days out a year and hate paying full price
See Kids Pass
Theme parks
Merlin Annual Pass
One pass for over 30 UK attractions, from theme parks and LEGOLAND to aquariums and the London Eye. Go twice or three times and it's usually paid for itself.
Best for: Rollercoaster fans and families within an hour of a big park
See Merlin Annual Pass
Castles and history
English Heritage membership
Castles, Roman forts, abbeys and Stonehenge: over 400 places to explore as often as you like. Brilliant for kids who want to storm a battlement every weekend.
Best for: Knights, Romans and anyone doing a castle topic at school
See English Heritage membershipBook a big day
For birthdays, holidays and the days you've promised them all term.
Treetop adventure
Go Ape
Wobbly bridges, rope swings and zip wires high in the trees, at forests all over the UK. There are junior courses for little ones too.
Best for: Brave climbers and big birthday treats
See Go Ape
Family ticket deals
Picniq
Hand-picked deals on UK attractions and family festivals, set up by a former head teacher and mum of three. No booking fees.
Best for: Finding a cheaper family ticket for somewhere you already fancy
See Picniq
Museums and attractions
Tiqets
Skip-the-queue tickets for museums, shows and attractions in the UK and abroad, straight to your phone. Handy for city breaks.
Best for: City days out and holidays where queues ruin the mood
See TiqetsSome links in this section are affiliate links. If you book through one, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes what we recommend. How this works
Printables to take with you
See the shopPrint at home, stick it in the bag and the day out comes with a mission.
The Anywhere Treasure Hunt Pack
Out-and-about bingo, missions and a photo hunt. Turns any park, beach or long walk into a quest.
My Star Spotter Journal
Pack it for a dark-sky night out. Find the Plough, Orion and the North Star, then log what you saw.
Mini Moon Study Journal
For moon-watching walks: spot tonight's phase and fill in the moon diary when you get home.
My Football Journal
Bring it to a match. Scoreboard, player ratings and a page for every game.
Free and nearly free
Days out that cost less than a soft play coffee, and that the kids will still talk about on Monday.
Brown sign roulette
Get in the car and follow the first brown tourist sign you see. Nobody knows where you'll end up. Pack a picnic in case it's a field.
Plane spotting picnic
Find a spot near your local airport where the planes come in low. Take a flask, a blanket and a list of airlines to tick off.
Bus to the end of the line
Let the kids pick a bus number and ride it all the way to the last stop. Explore whatever's there, then ride home. Little ones often travel free.
The garden centre aquarium
The fish section of a big garden centre is a free aquarium. Many have rabbits, chickens and a play area too. You'll leave with a plant. Everyone does.
Junior parkrun
A free, timed 2k run every Sunday morning for 4 to 14 year olds. Register once, print the barcode, and grown-ups can run alongside or cheer.
Non-league football
Local non-league clubs are cheap, friendly and you can stand right by the pitch. Kids' tickets are often a couple of pounds, and the pies are better.
Football JournalGeocaching
There are hidden treasure boxes in hedges, parks and lay-bys near you. Download a free geocaching app, follow the map and sign the logbook.
Treasure Hunt PackThe car wash ride
Ten minutes of giant spinning brushes and foam on the windows. For a small child it's basically a theme park ride, and the car comes out clean.
One room museum mission
Lots of big UK museums are free. Don't try to see it all: pick one room, give everyone a pencil and draw your favourite thing. Leave before anyone melts.
Fossil hunting
Beaches like Charmouth on the Jurassic Coast are full of ammonites. Search the loose stones on the beach, not the cliffs, and check the tide times first.
Open days
Fire stations, lifeboat stations, farms and old buildings open their doors for free on open days. Heritage Open Days runs every September.
Torchlit night walk
Same walk you always do, but after dark with torches. Listen for owls, look for bats and spot the stars on the way home.
Star Spotter JournalMore free ideas for the garden and the park are in Outdoors and Thrifty.
Honest reviews are coming
Real costs, the best age, where to park and whether the café is any good. The first reviews land in November.