We’ve all been there. You fork out for a big day out – tickets, parking, snacks, something that barely passes for lunch, and then spend most of the day queuing, overheating, and trying not to snap at your own child in public. You get home thinking you’ll have a few quiet days in… then your kid wakes up the next morning and asks, “What are we doing today?”
And you check your bank balance and realise summer still has a long way to go.
That’s why I’ve built up a toolkit of ways to stretch our days out budget without skimping on the fun. Some of it’s come from being a teacher, some from blogging, most from just trial and error. We’ve found a rhythm that gives us great days out, brilliant memories, and even the odd nap in the back of the car on the way home.
Before I get into the deeper reflections, here’s the list I wish I had years ago.
50 Budget-Friendly Summer Day Out Ideas
Here’s how we keep summer adventures going strong without draining the bank account. These are all things I’ve done (or plan to do), and they range from completely free to cleverly discounted.
Nature & Outdoor Adventures
- Visit different parks and playgrounds further afield
- Explore RSPB sites with nature quests and bird-spotting trails
- Join a Wild in Art sculpture trail in a nearby city
- Go geocaching for a free treasure hunt
- Try Pokémon Go to explore your local area
- Cycle a trail like Cannock Chase or Forest of Dean
- Plan a bridleway or countryside footpath walk with a picnic
- Visit an arboretum and follow their seasonal family trail
- Create your own scavenger hunt with a homemade checklist
- Visit flower fields or sunflower farms for photos and a stroll
Creative & Cultural Experiences
- Check museums for free kids’ workshops during holidays
- Visit an art gallery for a family craft session or creative trail
- Volunteer at a festival in exchange for entry
- Work a shift in a craft tent to enjoy family-friendly events
- Enter a baking competition to gain entry to a summer fair
- Take part in a DIY craft day at home using recycled bits
- Visit local history trails or do a heritage walk
- Build a den or obstacle course using natural materials
- Host a DIY sports day in the park with friends
- Turn a regular walk into a photo challenge or nature journal activity
Animals, Farms & Nature Reserves
- Look out for charity-run farm and animal sanctuary open days
- Go fruit picking at a local pick-your-own farm
- Visit a garden centre with soft play or outdoor activities
- Take a trip to a small zoo or wildlife centre using a voucher
- Check for National Trust nature-themed family days
- Use a Blue Peter badge for free entry to animal attractions
- Visit West Midlands Safari Park with their free return deal. We like to visit earlier in the year and “bank” our return visit for the summer holidays
- Explore Twycross Zoo using a previously “banked” pass. Lots of attractions offer you a return visit or year long membership upgrade if you visit once. Twycross gives you a years free entry!
- Offer to walk a friend’s dog for a countryside stroll
- Take a fishing net to a river or pond for a DIY “nature catch” day
Clever Planning, Discounts & Memberships
- Use Tesco Clubcard points for entry vouchers
- Buy Gardeners’ World magazine for the 2-for-1 entry card
- Search MoneySavingExpert or Facebook groups for giveaways
- Book early bird or off-peak tickets to save money
- Use a teacher or Blue Light discount for attraction savings
- Sign up to websites with a spare email to collect voucher codes and offers. Drayton Manor are advertising a family of four ticket for £75 this summer.
- Use Too Good To Go bags to grab picnic food on the cheap
- Shop yellow sticker items for DIY lunchboxes and snacks
- Plan around “kids eat free” restaurant offers in summer. There are loads of them to choose from.
- Choose an annual pass for somewhere local and visit often
Easy, Spontaneous Days Out
- Take a train or drive to the beach with a packed lunch
- Head to a splash park or lido on a hot day
- Pop to a local car boot sale with a mini pocket money challenge
- Visit a street food market and share dishes picnic-style
- Drop into a local fête, school fair, or community event
- Look for mini summer festivals or live music in public parks
- Check if your local council offers free holiday activity clubs
- Build Lego sets and binge-watch a new show at home
- Invite friends to the park and bring a shared snack haul
- Plan a spontaneous scooter or bike ride and let the day unfold
The Bit That Matters Most
There’s definitely pressure to make the summer magical. School terms are so busy with routines and to-do lists that when the holidays roll around, it feels like our one chance to slow down and make some memories. And when the sun’s out? That pressure doubles.
I’ve had days where I’ve spent £100+ at a theme park and left feeling more exhausted than excited. But then I’ve also packed a picnic, driven 20 minutes to a sculpture trail, and ended the day with muddy knees and a feather in Arlo’s pocket, and felt like the best parent in the world.
The truth is, the best bits are rarely the expensive bits. Arlo finishes every day saying, “That was the best day of my life.” I say, “You said that yesterday.” And he just grins.
My favourite moment is always the drive home. He’s conked out in the back seat, sticky with ice cream, asleep with a pine cone in his hand, and I know we’ve had a good day. That’s the kind of magic I want more of, and it doesn’t cost the earth.
If your kids love ticking things off, rating their days out or collecting little mementos like feathers and ice cream wrappers (just me?), then I’ve created something that makes all these memories stick. We use our Amazing Adventures of me Journal to jot down what we’ve done, add photos, give things a score out of ten, and pick our “best bits” from the day. It’s become part of our routine — and flipping back through it is like reliving summer all over again. You can grab your own Adventure Journal here and start building a scrapbook of chaos, fun, and muddy knees.
