Family Days Out in London That Won't Break the Bank
With the school holidays upon us, thoughts are going to turn to how to how we can keep our kids amused for hours on end. We can't all afford an outing every day, but at least one trip to the capital will be on the cards for many. But with the mention of London comes pound signs and desperate looks at bank balance – how can you get the best possible value out of your trip to the big city? Here's a guide to family days out in London which don't break the budget…
Free London…
In spite of its expensive reputation, there's always an abundance of free things to do. The most obvious choices are the museums. There's the big three in South Kensington, of course, but be aware of the queues at weekends and during the holidays – many people often have the same idea and you could be hanging around waiting to get in for quite a while. Why not consider some of the smaller attractions like the Museum of London or The Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green? Or if the weather forecast is good, one thing London isn't short of is parks – pack yourselves a picnic and rock up to Hyde Park or one of smaller cousins – check out which ones have play areas for the kids first though.
For when the big attractions are a must-see…
Sometimes, especially if trips to the capital are a rare occasion, you want to get in as much as possible, and that means spending money on the popular attractions. But there's really no need to pay full price on your family entrance fee. Search the internet for special offers and discounts on your chosen tourist spots – there's often plenty of 2 for 1 deals available. Or you might want to think about investing in an annual pass. The London Pass offers discounted entry into many attractions, London Zoo voucher codes are always worth a look, or a discount card with one of the big theme parks often has benefits for free entry to many a London hot spot. Or even just checking the newspapers for vouchers in the weeks before you trip could pay off tremendously.
Budget for travel…
We're always astonished at the price of train travel these days, but as with above, there are many ways you can avoid paying full whack on your family fares. Buying an annual railcard can save you a substantial amount, with a third off adult fares and sixty percent off child fares. And it's wise to plan ahead and check in with The Train Line offers, or other rail providers, to see if you can save even more on your tickets. Try not to leave it until the morning of your trip – buying from the vending machine at the station might not be the most cost-effective way to travel.
So ‘travelling to London and seeing the sights' doesn't have to equate with ‘spending an absolute fortune'. Do your research and you might be surprised how much of bargain one of the world's most expensive cities can be…
Free London…
In spite of its expensive reputation, there's always an abundance of free things to do. The most obvious choices are the museums. There's the big three in South Kensington, of course, but be aware of the queues at weekends and during the holidays – many people often have the same idea and you could be hanging around waiting to get in for quite a while. Why not consider some of the smaller attractions like the Museum of London or The Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green? Or if the weather forecast is good, one thing London isn't short of is parks – pack yourselves a picnic and rock up to Hyde Park or one of smaller cousins – check out which ones have play areas for the kids first though.
For when the big attractions are a must-see…
Sometimes, especially if trips to the capital are a rare occasion, you want to get in as much as possible, and that means spending money on the popular attractions. But there's really no need to pay full price on your family entrance fee. Search the internet for special offers and discounts on your chosen tourist spots – there's often plenty of 2 for 1 deals available. Or you might want to think about investing in an annual pass. The London Pass offers discounted entry into many attractions, London Zoo voucher codes are always worth a look, or a discount card with one of the big theme parks often has benefits for free entry to many a London hot spot. Or even just checking the newspapers for vouchers in the weeks before you trip could pay off tremendously.
Budget for travel…
We're always astonished at the price of train travel these days, but as with above, there are many ways you can avoid paying full whack on your family fares. Buying an annual railcard can save you a substantial amount, with a third off adult fares and sixty percent off child fares. And it's wise to plan ahead and check in with The Train Line offers, or other rail providers, to see if you can save even more on your tickets. Try not to leave it until the morning of your trip – buying from the vending machine at the station might not be the most cost-effective way to travel.
So ‘travelling to London and seeing the sights' doesn't have to equate with ‘spending an absolute fortune'. Do your research and you might be surprised how much of bargain one of the world's most expensive cities can be…
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