As the school summer holidays begin, it won’t be long before the kids get bored and parents start to stress about the cost of multiple days out — here our some of the best day out deals for this summer
As the school summer holidays begin, so do many deals across the UK for family days out.
With theme parks, zoos, themed attractions and more, the UK has plenty to offer to fix summertime boredom, without having to travel very far or break the bank. Here’s a round-up of some of the best day out deals this summer.
Animal Encounters
London Zoo has multiple offers this summer including two-for-one tickets if you travel by train to get to the venue. You will need to present your train tickets in order to gain this offer. For Swifties, if heading to the zoo in August make sure to take your August-dated Eras ticket with marching photo ID to gain 25% off full price walk-up tickets. The offer will be valid for visits Monday 12 to Friday 23 August.
For those lucky enough to own a Blue Peter Badge, make sure to bring it with you to the zoo to gain free entry. Marine lovers can enjoy half price kid tickets at Sealife Manchester, costing only £11.25 for dates before September 3.
Longleat doesn’t have any specific offers, but is hosting a wealth of different events this summer. Until September 1, they will be hosting DinoROAR, which is an immersive dinosaur world with virtual reality adventures.
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Until November 3, they will be hosting an event to mark 450 years since Queen Elizabeth I visited Longleat. Visitors will be able to immerse themselves in an Elizabethan lifestyle through costumes and replica coronation robes worn by Cate Blanchett and a magnificent gown worn by Dame Helen Mirren.
From September 13 to 15, Longleat will also be hosting Icons of the Sky, which is a new air festival with flying displays and balloon launches. Chester Zoo is currently offering customers a free return ticket if it rains consistently for two hours during their visit, between July 20 and September 1, 2024 – something which could well come in handy this summer!
If you can’t head to a zoo or aquarium, then head to your local Pets at Home shop. Until September 1, Pets at Home is hosting free children’s’ workshops which include learning all about Syrian hamsters.
Theme Parks
Many theme parks including Legoland, Alton Towers and Thorpe Park have launched a second day free summer offer, which will run for all new overnight bookings until September 1. This means that guests will receive entry to the parks for two days, for the price of one day.
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At Legoland in Windsor, children’s admission will be £19 until September 3. The attraction also has a couple new features for 2024, including adventure golf and the Woodland Village, which you can stay in.
The same £19 kids entry fee applies at Chessington World of Adventures, Cadbury World, Thorpe Park and Alton Towers.
The Big Sheep in North Devon, which mixes rides and farm life, is offering £2 of all admission fees for the summer holidays. Alternatively, in Cheshire, Gulliver’s World is offering discounted afternoon entry for the summer, starting from £15.
Tourist Attractions
For a limited time Madame Tussauds’ admission is £24.99. The Afternoon Saver Ticket is available for advance purchase only and applies to visits between 4 pm and 5 pm daily. The London Dungeons is also running the same Afternoon Saver Ticket offer for £22.50 per person and children’s tickets starting at £14.50 for dates before September 3.
Theatre-loving families should know about the ‘Kids Week’ theatre promotion. For select performances between July 24 and September 6, children aged 17 and under are able to go free to over 50 London theatre shows, with the purchase of a full-priced adult ticket from the Official London Theatre’s Kids Week website.
Fancy earning money when you book a holiday? Thanks to Quidco, you can. After signing up for free, Quidco gives you a chunk of money back every time you spend. If your first purchase is within 30 days of signing up and is £5 or more, you’ll receive cashback on that purchase and a £15 bonus.
Shows include Shrek, Mrs Doubtfire, Wicked, Sister Act, Wizard of Oz, The Play That Goes Wrong and more. If bringing more than one child, the first child ticket is free and then you can get 50% off for a maximum of two more children per adult.
When it comes to the school summer holidays it is good to keep the kids active. Capri-Sun juice are offering ‘free’ sports sessions for children aged between five-years-old and 16, when you buy £2-£5 promotional packs. You will need to claim the offer by August 31 and the sports sessions on offer include football, netball, badminton and swimming.
In Oxford, families can currently enjoy the ‘OxTrail’, which is an art event featuring over 130 ox sculptures. Designed by international artists, the trail will be in place until the end of August. On September 13, the sculptures will be auctioned off to raise money for charity.
Hidden away in Birmingham, you will find the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Featuring four glasshouses, a play area, treetop playground, sandpit and a café, the gardens a re a perfect place for both parents and children to explore. Entry costs £9.25 for an adult and children (aged 4 and under) go free.
