Summer holiday fun could cost parents up to £1,000. Here’s how to entertain the kids for cheaper this summer.
From cinema trips to theme parks, summer holiday outings can add up fast – here’s what they cost and how to save money with smart swaps.
Entertaining the kids for six weeks straight is a tough job — there’s so many hours to fill and days out can be expensive. New data from financial services company Hodge has put a number on it: almost £1,000.
With the costs of things like cinema tickets, theme park entry, and trips to the theatre on the rise, plus food and travel, family outings can really stack up.
Based on average prices for 11 activities for a family of four, Hodge has found that parents could be spending £992 on days out this summer.
Christie Cook, managing director of retail at Hodge said: “With the current economic climate, it can be challenging to afford regular days out. Mixing more affordable home-based activities with occasional outings can help balance the costs.”
We’ve collected some tips for entertaining your children for cheaper.
Days out could cost families £992
Here’s the breakdown for some popular family activities based on ticket prices for a family of four (two adults and two children):
- Go karting — £222
- Theatre — £148
- Aquarium — £126
- Theme park — £106
- Zoo — £105
- Indoor trampoline park — £60
- Cinema — £58
- Mini golf — £48
- Ice skating — £42
- Escape room — £40
- Laser tag — £37
This totals £992 for one session of each activity. And that's before you factor in things like snacks, parking or train tickets.
MadeForMums has some handy tips to help you get cheap zoo tickets if you want to reduce this cost.
Three tips to cut summer holiday costs
Whether you're planning one big day out or six weeks of full-on activities, here are three savvy tips from Hodge to help stretch your budget further:
1. Swap the cinema for a home movie night.
Regular cinema trips can be really expensive. But if your kids can wait until new releases hit a subscription service like Netflix or Disney+ (which you’re probably already paying for), you can recreate the cinema experience at home for much cheaper. Buy cinema-style snacks from the supermarket, or even make your own popcorn at home.
Here’s our guide on how to create the perfect movie night at home.
2. Board games can provide good old-fashioned fun
Dust off the classics like Kerplunk or Guess Who for low-cost entertainment that brings the whole family together. Games like Scrabble could even be educational, and they're also a great way to keep the kids off screens for an hour or two.
MadeForMums has recommendations on the best board games tested by kids and the best card games.
3. Research free local events
Facebook Events, local WhatsApp groups or community noticeboards can be a goldmine for discovering free festivals and fetes, as well as low-cost community clubs and childcare.
Libraries often run low-cost or free family-friendly events over the holidays, and don’t forget that if your family is low-income, you may be eligible for the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme that provides free holiday activities and healthy meals.
Six weeks can feel like a long time to fill, especially if you’re working or juggling childcare, but not every day needs to be a big event. Don’t put pressure on yourself to plan the best day out ever every day, because kids will love just getting to relax at home instead of being at school.
Mixing big-ticket trips with some laid-back home activities — whether that’s movie nights, garden picnics, or painting sessions — can help your wallet go the distance and give the kids a much-needed breather.
While the cost of summer fun is creeping up, you certainly don’t need a £1,000 budget to make the holidays magical.