Affordable and fun for all the family: These days trips won't break the bank this summer

With school holidays kicking off, the search is on for family days out that provide as much fun for as little money as possible. In an effort to reduce costs for families this summer, several organisations are making days out accessible for nearly every budget. Here’s some of the best deals for family outings across the country. 

English Heritage

As a charity, English Heritage manages more than 400 historic sites across the UK, and this summer they want to make it as easy and affordable as possible to enjoy all they have on offer.  

“Heritage lives in places and people, memories and stories, artefacts and traditions,” they say.  

In July and August, the charity is offering 25% off annual membership. A family membership with two adults costing £144 will be down to £108 and will give families unlimited days out, free access to summer events like Taskmaster challenges, jousting and Elizabethan weekends, and ‘kids eat free’ deals in the cafes on site when £15 is spent. 

To take advantage of the deal and see your share of mighty castles and colourful gardens this summer, use the code EHSUMMER2025 when you purchase the membership online. 

Strawberry Field, Liverpool

The iconic location immortalised by The Beatles is free for kids this summer when accompanied by a paying adult.  

When you visit the fields John Lennon recalled spending his childhood years in, you’ll learn how to play Strawberry Fields Forever on a virtual mellotron and explore a new garden activity trail.  

Every Tuesday through the summer, weekly play sessions – Get Back to Play – are free to attend as well. The sessions include exploration of bugs, butterflies, birds and flowers. No booking required.  

Read more:

• How to save money on childcare over the summer holidays
• Louise Pentland’s top 5 tips for surviving the summer holidays as a parent
• 31 places where kids can eat for free or £1 over the summer holidays

Summer by the River 

Throughout the summer, the banks of the River Thames in London will undergo a mesmerising transformation into a riverside refuge filled with entertainment and unforgettable experiences for all ages.  

Every Tuesday, just next to Tower Bridge, Summer by the River invites families to come along for free outdoor screenings of film favourites like Moana 2, Wicked, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire and Despicable Me 4. Just show up and find a seat! 

National Trust

The National Trust protects historic places and green spaces and makes them available to the public. It’s running Summer of Play with family-friendly atmospheres across 175 of its sites. The full programme is included with standard admission, or free to National Trust members.  

There will be role play with dress-up and mini-stages, the opportunity to build obstacle courses and go on bug hunts, and a chance to give ancient sports a go.   

A family membership (including two adults) will cost you £168.60 a year and get you free entry to more than 500 places the Trust looks after. Free car parking is available in National Trust car parks.  

But if you don’t want to pay for a year just to enjoy the parks this summer, there is National Trust ‘Explorer Pass’ that can be bought with 4, 8 and 14-day options available, starting at £62 for a four-day, two-adult family pass.  

Cotswold Farm Park

One of the best-known farmers in the UK, Adam Henson from the BBC’s Countryfile, offers a wholesome family day out at his Cotswold Farm Park in Gloucestershire. The farm is dedicated to preserving rare and native breeds of farm animals like the Highland cow, Norfolk Horn lambs, and Iron Age pig.  

The Farm Park offers a wide range of annual activities for visitors of all ages, allowing them to interact closely with over 50 rare and native breeds of farm animals, bottle-feed a lamb (May to September every year) and learn about farming, both past and present. 

This summer, there are a whole host of events including a circus, country music festival and Flower Fields. They are exclusively available throughout the summer holidays – and if you find it hard to tear yourself away on your first visit, you’ll be able to return to the farm free of charge between 19 July and 31 August. Adult tickets cost £16.50, with child admission at £12.50 and toddlers at £7.50. A free carer’s ticket is also available.

If you book online in advance, you’ll save £2.  

ZSL London Zoo

To allow as many people as possible to enjoy a day out, London Zoo offer universal credit tickets from as little as £3 per person to families. The tickets must be booked online in advance as only full-price tickets are available at the gate. When you arrive on the day of your outing, you’ll need to either log in to your universal credit portal or bring your proof of benefit letter, with photo ID.  

Tickets normally start from £33, so this is a huge saving for families this summer.  

If you travel by train to get to the zoo, you will be eligible for the 2FOR1 admission tickets. You should prebook these tickets and bring the admission tickets and valid train tickets on arrival at the zoo.  

And under-threes are always free! 

Ice Cream Farm in Cheshire

While the Ice Cream Farm historically only sold ice cream and had a few cows to look at, it’s grown into a whole day out, with a soft play, wet play, outdoor attractions and farmyard animals. And you might as well taste one of the 40 types of ice cream too.  

A small entrance fee – £3 for children and £2.50 for adults – will give you access to Daisy’s Garden (the play area) and the ice cream parlour (with an ice cream tree that creates a snowstorm every half hour) and shops. All other attractions are pay as you go at £4.50, or you can buy a play pass. It’s the farm’s way of allowing you to set your own budget.  

If you visit in the summer, you can go again in the winter for free.

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