Blackpool pleasure beach is disgustingly expensive. We went on weekend and took my daughter and my cousins little boy. You used to be able to pay a pound or two per ride. Now you have to buy tickets, minimum spend £20 (or pay for wrist bands) to get on a ride. Each ride is 2 tickets per ride in the babys part (they are both 3) so they got 5 rides for £20. Bloody rip off. 'The Big One' is 8 tickets per person.
Alton towers makes me sick. It's going to cost an average family (2 adults, 2 young kids - me soon) around £100 for a day out there including petrol and food/drink. Me and the mrs won't go on any rides because we'll be with the kiddies so basically we'll have shelled out a ton to watch the little ones go on a few merry go rounds.
I'm going to keep this thread running with bargain family days out. I only know the north west but other people can chip in. I'm sick of people saying you have to go to a venue such as a theme park for a good day out.
Lytham St Annes. - Fylde Coast Lytham St Annes - tourist information
About 5 miles away from Blackpool. It's a really nice town with a lovely beach. On weekends they have a band on in the band stand, and a paddling pool for kiddies. They have lots of pay as you ride rides for kiddies along the front and a meal at the nice chippies will set you back about £7each including a cup of tea. A less scrotey alternative to Blackpool.
Tatton Park - Manchester Tatton Park
Not far from Manchester airport, it is a massive park with a farm where you can feed the animals, lots of places to picnic and lots of nice walks.
Heaton Park - Manchester Heaton Park
Similar to Tatton park. Near Prestwich/Cheetham Hill area of Manchester. Just off the motorway. Has a farm and petting zoo. 2 good parks for kiddies, lots of wooded area for nice walks. A 18 hole golf course voted the best municipal in England and a 9 hole pitch and putt for the families. Lots of grassy areas for picnics and a cafe.
The Big sheep - Devon Web site
A really fun day out. This is in north Devon just off the atlantic highway. It costs a little more than my other options, but it really is a full day of fun for the kiddies. For the adults, they have their own brewery and you can buy the beer in the shop. There are some cracking beers here.
Stockley Farm - Near Warrington & Knutsford (Cheshire)
As recommended by Hatter stockley farm
Odeon Cinemas 2 for 1 ticket offers on Wednesdays Odeon website
A cheaper alternative to the saturday £35 cinema run. If you are on orange follow the instructions here Tix info. If you are not on orange, get your friend to text and forward you the code.
Cruckley animal farm near Bridlington along the East Coast.
As recommended by Gahoo Cruckley Animal Farm
It's great for kids. They can pet the little chics and you can buy bags of food to feed the animals. It's a real working farm too so you get a nice steak at the end to take home - they are lovely.
Not too pricey either
Urbis museum - Central Manchester opposite the printworks urbis
Free exhibitions
W5 in Belfast - Thanks to Hatter
We were over in Belfast last week and took the little one to W5 by the Odyssey Arena. It is advertised as an interactive discovery centre - plenty for the kids to learn about and loads for them to do. If you haven't got kids, borrow one and go there!
it is £7 for adults and £5 for kids but with variuos family passes on offer, so not dirt cheap but good value anyway.
It's brilliant for the kids and only cost £7.50 for me and a few quid for Jake. It's got loads of interactive learning stuff for the kids and he really had fun.
There was an article in one of the Sunday papers about these rip off days out.
I'm thankful that my kids are now grown up, and that we no longer have to pay for this stuff.
Many years ago, we took the plunge and bought a static caravan at the seaside, so our family holidays and weekends were largely spent very inexpensively at the beach, where the children enjoyed just messing about in the water.
We are onto our second caravan, (now with central heating and electric blankets), and the children continue to use it with their friends (without the parents).
A great investment, where we can enjoy ten and a half months a year for the price of a family holiday overseas, and no airports to endure.
For days out, look out for summer fairs in country areas, which usually have loads of entertainment and stuff for kids and a fraction of the cost of the big places
A few years ago Land's End used to print vouchers in the local paper for local kids to enjoy the place largely for free - we used to cycle down there and have a day at the place for free.
I shudder to think what it would cost to take kids down there - I bet you wouldn't get much change out of £100.
It's great for kids. They can pet the little chics and you can buy bags of food to feed the animals. It's a real working farm too so you get a nice steak at the end to take home - they are lovely.
