How to entertain your grandchildren on a budget

You can give your grandchildren a great day out without ruining your finances in the process.

Here are some fun and inspiring, budget-conscious outings.

1. Vouchers and family offers

Otherwise prohibitively expensive days out can become accessible using vouchers offering 2-for-1 or reduced-price entry. Check local and national newspapers, or search on your local council or Tourist Board’s website.

Directory of UK-wide tourist websites

National Rail offers day out deals and 2FOR1 deals, these combine rail tickets with 2-for-1 entry or discounts at museums, attractions, exhibitions and restaurants.

National Rail

Lots of popular food brands, from cereals to snacks, also offer reduced price entry or free entry for children to attractions during peak season – see packaging for details. Also look out for deals with Wowcher and Groupon. 

2. Take them swimming

Many leisure centres offer free or reduced-price swimming for the under-18s – especially during school holidays. It's worth checking with your local centre to see if they run any free or inexpensive multi-sports days at the same time.

3. Police and fire station open days

Many fire stations and police HQs open their doors to the public in the summer. As well as learning more about the work they do, there are often demonstrations to watch and sometime freebies.

Look in the local press, online or on Facebook for details of police, fire brigade, ambulance service and coastguard events – in some areas, the emergency services pool their resources and hold 999 open days together. 

4. Go fruit picking

When the season arrives, Pick-Your-Own fruit farms offer a fun, inexpensive and active way to treat your grandchildren. As well as the novelty of picking your own fruit and enjoying your harvest later, if you freeze or preserve your fruit and eat them together in the winter, it can bring back happy memories of sunny, summer days.

PYO UK directory

5. Parks and open spaces

Sometimes simple is best. Whether you live in a city or a rural location, everyone should have access to places where the grandchildren can play.

Many larger towns and cities have “green trails” where you can explore havens for nature, or big adventure playgrounds. If you live away from a major town, how about a woodland walk, maybe including a picnic?

Forestry England, NRW in Wales, Forestry and Land Scotland and Discover Northern Ireland,  have plenty of inspiration for things to do, including family activity trails, mountain bike routes and adventure play areas.  

6. Cheap cinema tickets

There are plenty of ways to avoid playing full price for tickets in the cinema. Most cinemas, including Cineworld, Odeon and Showcase offer family tickets offering discounts, offers on snacks and children's clubs.

7. Family memberships

Whether you already have one or are thinking about joining, don’t overlook membership deals offered by national conservation and preservation group, such as the National Trust and English Heritage. 

For English Heritage, family memberships allow you to bring up to 12 grandchildren per couple for free, while National Trust family membership allows free entry for grandchildren. 

8. Child-friendly museums

While many museums and art galleries charge admission for entry, some are more affordable or even free. Go online to search for local options – many hold extra activities for children such as workshops during the school holidays.

There may be a small cost for these or you might have to book in advance, so always check in plenty of time to avoid disappointment. 

9. Factory tours

Some companies are keen to use free tours to promote their business. Watching things being made can be fascinating for kids.

It may take a little thought and research to find these tours, but could give the grandchildren a day out to remember.