Look no further for ideas on how to keep the kids entertained over the Easter break without breaking the bank. With the rising cost of living putting a strain on household finances, we’ve compiled a list of things you can do on a budget. Continue reading for advice on how to save money on travel for a day at the beach and how to get cheap theater and movie tickets.
Visit a free museum or gallery to learn something new
You could visit some must-see museums on a rainy day. Most national museums in the United Kingdom are free, so there’s plenty to see and do. Members rated the following museums and galleries as the best: St. Fagans National Museum of History in Cardiff. Beamish: The Living Museum of the North, County Durham National Railway Museum, York Royal Air Force Museum Cosford, Shropshire, and Edinburgh National Museum of Scotland Before you go, find out if you need to reserve a free ticket in advance and if any of the exhibits you want to see have an admission fee.
Take advantage of ‘kids eat free’ deals when dining out
During the holidays, a number of restaurants offer discounted or free children’s meals. We’ve compiled a list below, but it’s always worth asking if there are any specials at your favorite family restaurants. Before you eat, make sure you qualify for any of these deals by reading the terms and conditions. The time of day, location, age of your children, or the food on offer may differ.
Kids eat free at selected restaurants at Heathrow Airport between April 9 and April 24.
Morrisons cafe offers a free kids’ meal with every £4.50 adult meal purchased (from 3pm).
Preto: children under the age of ten eat for free every day. For every full paying adult rodizio, one child is provided.
Purezza: children under the age of ten receive a free mini pizza with their choice of toppings. One child eats for free for every adult who dines.
On Sundays, children eat for free at The Real Greek. One free meal for every adult who spends £10 or more.
Yo! Sushi: from 3.30-5.30pm Monday through Thursday, until April 7th, children under the age of ten eat free. One child eats free for every adult who spends £10 or more on food. A maximum of three children per table are permitted to eat for free.
You could also think about getting a dining card, which can save you up to 50% at thousands of restaurants across the UK. Tastecard and Gourmet Society both offer 90-day free trials. Simply set a reminder to cancel your subscription before the free trial expires.
With your shopping, you can get theme park discounts
A day trip to a theme park could keep the whole family entertained on sunny days. Look for promotional offers on grocery items in your weekly shop to save money on tickets to popular attractions. Some Carex handwash bottles, for example, can get you half-price admission to Alton Towers, Chessington World of Adventures, and Sea Life Centres and Sanctuaries. The vouchers are valid until May 31.
Selected Kellogg’s cereal packs and snacks are also currently offering a ‘adults go free’ voucher valid until June 2022 for Alton Towers, Legoland, Chessington, Sea Life centers, Madame Tussauds, and other Merlin attractions. In addition, if you have a Tesco Clubcard, you can convert your points into Tesco Reward Partners Vouchers. These can often be used to save up to three times as much at theme parks, wildlife parks, and other attractions. Remember that you can save up to 45 percent on some attractions by purchasing tickets in advance. An adult day pass to Alton Towers, for example, will cost £62 if purchased on the day, but £34 if purchased in advance online.
Watch the most recent films for less money
With Sonic 2, Morbius, and other blockbuster movies hitting theaters this Easter, a trip to the movies is likely to be a popular recommendation. At certain times of the day, usually in the morning, some cinema chains offer discounted screenings of family films. Odeon: During the holidays, ‘Odeon Kids’ screenings are held every day, and adults pay children’s prices. Tickets for the Picturehouse’s ‘Kids Club’ are £3 for adults and £3 for children. Vue: ‘Mini Mornings’ screenings for adults and children cost £2.49 or £2.99 if purchased online (£3.49/£3.99 if purchased at the venue) and begin daily at 10 a.m. during the school holidays.
If the timings or movie selection do not work, there are numerous other ways to save, including: Gourmet Society and Tastecard both offer up to 40% off select movie theater chains and offer 90-day free trials. Meerkat Movies: If you purchase a policy through the price comparison website Compare The Market, you will receive 2 for 1 cinema tickets on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for the entire year. You may have already purchased a policy and not claimed the offer, so see if any of your existing policies qualify for this benefit. O2 Priority: O2 customers can get a free Odeon movie ticket. On Tuesdays, tickets for the following Sunday or Monday are released on O2 Priority.
Sport will help you burn off the Easter chocolate
Parkruns are free, weekly community events that take place all over the world. On Saturday mornings, there are 5k events, and on Sundays, there are junior park runs for children aged four to fourteen. There is no time limit, and no one is ever the last to finish! Find out if there is a race near you by clicking here. On Easter Monday, you could also participate in a 10k race around Regents Park. Adults pay £20 to enter, and children pay £4 to participate in the race. The route takes you past the Money Fountain and the London Zoo. Check out your local council’s website for more free sporting opportunities. During the holidays, some offer free swimming lessons at local pools. Tennis sessions for all ages are provided at public parks across the UK by Charity Tennis for Free.
Spend less money on a trip to the city (or the beach)
With a trip to the city or the beach, you can avoid driving and save money on train tickets. During off-peak times, train companies Southeastern, Chiltern Railways, London Northwestern, and West Midlands Railway will allow up to four children (aged 5-15) to travel for £1 on a single or return journey when accompanied by an adult. We discovered that an adult and two children could travel from London to Margate and back on Southeastern services for less than £30, with children’s tickets costing £2.
If you’re traveling with two adults, see if you can save money by purchasing a railcard – the two together card costs £30 upfront but saves you a third on fares for a year. When you buy a train ticket, remember that National Rail offers two entry tickets for the price of one at a huge number of attractions across the country, including Thorpe Park, Chessington World of Adventures, and London Zoo.
Bake with any leftover chocolate
Make use of any leftover Easter chocolate by baking with it. Rice crispy cakes can be made in under 30 minutes with pantry ingredients you already have on hand. If you’re curious about what else you can make with leftover ingredients, apps like SuperCook and BigOven will tell you what you can make based on what you already have.
Look for free local events
Your local council may be offering free Easter activities for children. Manchester City Council, for example, will host springtime craft sessions and free swimming during the holidays, while Haringey Council will host free Easter workshops for teens aged 11 to 16 in creative writing, drama, and film. To find out what’s going on in your area, search your local council’s name followed by ‘half-term activities.’
Discover the wonderful world of nature
There are numerous free parks located throughout the country. Alternatively, organize a walk that the entire family can enjoy. Why not try geocaching for those looking for an adventure? To find hidden boxes known as ‘caches,’ you simply track co-ordinates on a smartphone app.