With the six-week holidays almost upon us, parents of school-aged children know only too well the expense that comes with keeping the kids entertained at home.
Paddling pools in the garden, playdates with friends and family visits can help to relieve the boredom, but they can only go so far until it's time to give in, grab the gang and head out somewhere a little bit more exciting.
From cinema trips to theme parks, the cost of spending all that lovely quality family time together can add up all too quickly.
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Here in the UK, we are blessed with lots of brilliant attractions, but entry prices in the high season can be very expensive.
Add into the mix the cost of eating lunch out, plus numerous drinks and snacks, as well as transport, parking and other expenses a day out can soon make a family-size dent in your wallet.
According to reviews on Trip Advisor, a day trip to LEGOLAND Windsor, one of the UK’s most popular attractions, can cost upwards of £200 for a family of four, even when booking reduced tickets in advance.
With discounted tickets starting at £36 when purchased in advance online (or as much as £66 when you pay on arrival) and lunch on-site being at least £10 per head, prices can mount up without even taking into account the cost of getting there.
Book an excursion once a week over the course of the holidays and you could be looking at as much as £1200 spent on days out alone.
Of course, some attractions are more expensive than others, but we've looked at some of the entry prices to some of the busiest and best attractions the UK has to offer:
- Alton Towers - from £36
- LEGOLAND Windsor - from £36
- Blackpool Pleasure Beach - £33 - £40
- Thorpe Park- £37
- Drayton Manor - from £30
- Flamingo Land - £39
- Chessington World of Adventure -from £34
- Paultons Park - £41.75
- Lightwater Valley - £26.50
- Pleasurewood Hills - £18.75
Prices for children may cost less depending on age, or some cases height.
Regular visitors could save money by purchasing an annual pass, and the initial expense of a multi-attraction Merlin Pass could save money for families who attend several times a year.
The average price of a cinema ticket in the UK is £7.50 per screening, but Vue, Odeon, and Cineworld offer cheap seats for kids shows, annual passes and discount vouchers throughout the school holidays. There is no way to reduce the cost of the endless extortionate snacks your children will want to consume though, as most cinemas do not let you bring your own food in.
Fancy a trip to the zoo? A trip to see the monkeys and lions isn't cheap, with ticket prices, food and drink all a lot more now than you remember when you were a kid.
Entrance to the five biggest zoos in the UK will cost:
- London Zoo - £31
- Whipsnade Zoo - £30
- Chester Zoo - £32.50
- Longleat Safari Park - £39.95
- Colchester Zoo - £26.99
Prices will be less for children and purchasing an annual pass will help to save money if you plan to visit regularly.
Taking into account all of the above, and adding the occasional meal out here and a trip to the shops there, keeping the kids amused can be an expensive business.
In 2019, Cadbury Mini Bites surveyed 2,000 parents via an online poll and concluded that parents spent an average of £975 entertaining their kids over the summer holidays.
With prices on food, entertainment, fuel and eating out increased during the current cost of living crisis, that figure could be closer to £1500 in 2023.
Is it cheaper to just go on holiday?
A week away on a sunny beach may only entertain the kids for seven days, but a holiday is something to look forward to and a chance to make memories that will last forever.
While booking your holiday in advance can lead to cheaper deals and better incentives, there are still great deals to be found even this close to the school breaking up.
Some of the best deals we found include:
Costa Brava, Spain - Love Holidays is offering seven nights at the Bon Repos Hotel in Callela for £364 per person. Departing on August, 18 the price includes return flights and accommodation at this family-friendly hotel with a large pool close to the beach.
Ibiza - On The Beach is offering seven nights at the Globales Montemar in Cala Llonga for £411 per person. Flying out of Bristol Airport on August, 2, the price includes return flights and accommodation at a quiet family-friendly hotel just yards from the beautiful Cala Llonga beach.
Portugal - Stay for seven nights at the Pateo Village in Albufeira for £440 per person with easyJet Holidays. Departing from Luton on August, 18, the price includes return flights, accommodation, 10kg hand luggage, 22kg hold luggage, and the hotel offers a huge swimming pool, playground, entertainment programme and games room.
Turkey - Jet2 is offering seven nights at the Albatros Apartments in Marmaris for £440 per person. The price includes return flights, accommodation in a one-bedroom apartment, 10kg hand luggage, 22kg hold luggage, departing from Bristol on July, 31. The hotel has an outdoor swimming pool, a children's play area and an evening entertainment programme and is located close to the beach.
Tenerife, Canary Islands - For £423 per person, you and your crew can stay at the Vigilia Park apartments in Tenerife for seven nights from July, 16 with First Choice. Departing from Manchester, the price includes return flights, a one-bedroom apartment, transfers and baggage at this hotel with a pool, play area, mini golf, gym and sauna.
If you would rather take a break in the UK, companies like Parkdean and Haven have some late deals on caravan holidays in the UK, and if you are really lucky you may be able to find a good deal on a cottage with Sykes Cottages or Booking.com.
Home or away, the one thing you can be sure of is that having fun with the kids is priceless.
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