10 days out in the UK that cost less than a pint from free-to-visit lidos to cheap cinema mornings

The Sun

11 hours ago

WITH the average cost of a pint in the UK setting you back more than a fiver, some days out with the family are now cheaper than necking your favourite IPA.
According to a recent survey, the price of a pint of beer in the UK has risen to £5.17, reports The Drinks Business.
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And that price is even up from just a few months ago, when the average price of a pint in England, Wales and Scotland cost 34p less.
The research, which was collected by The Morning Advertiser, also unsurprisingly revealed that London has the priciest pint - costing on average £6.10.
Whilst some beers are more affordable than others, like Foster's at £3.80, there is no lying that a trip to the pub is no longer a cheap outing.
In fact, an entire day out can be cheaper - here are some things to do that are cheaper than a pint.
Museums and galleries
Museums and galleries can often be overlooked when thinking of somewhere to go for a day out.
But they are great places for families to explore, with kids able to learn and often partake in seasonal activities.
For example, in London, pretty much all the major museums and galleries are free, such as Tate Modern, Tate Britain, the V&A, the Natural History Museum, the British Museum, the Science Museum, the National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery.
Other cities also have free museums and galleries like the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester, for example.
Beaches
The UK is home to hundreds of incredible beaches which are free to visit.
Whether wanting a swim in the water or to build sandcastles, the beach provides the perfect free day out for the family.
And you can pick a beach specific to your needs.
For example, if you want to build sand castles then long stretches of sand like Pendine Sands Beach in Wales, are ideal.
On the other hand, if you want to see breathtaking scenery or history as well as the beach, then head to Elberry Cove in Devon or one of the many beaches on the Jurassic coastline.
Gardens and parks
Whilst often stately homes charge an admission fee, a lot also have gardens which families can wander around for free.
And in addition to all the gardens across the UK, there are also hundreds of parks to explore - both man-made and natural.
For example, Betteshanger Country Park is spread across 250 acres in Kent and is home to a forest school, fossil quarry and many bike trails.
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There is also Moors Valley Country Park & Forest in Dorset, which boasts over 800 acres including a children's play area and an abundance of wildlife.
Lidos
Many lidos across the UK are really affordable, including in London.
For example, Hampstead Heath's Bathing Ponds cost £4.80 for an adult and £2.90 for a child and Parliament Hill Lido costs the same, for morning sessions.
Other lidos are completely free of charge, like Shoalstone tidal lido in Devon.
The 53-metre 'free to use' sea water swimming pool is one of only a handful of its kind still left in the country.
Vue Cinemas
Vue Cinemas are across the entire country and whilst many think the cinema can be an expensive day out, the reality is it can be a lot cheaper than you think.
For example, Vue Cinema's Mighty Morning sessions allow adults and children to enjoy the latest films for a cheaper price.
The Mighty Morning sessions run every Saturday and Sunday morning from 10am and cost from £2.49 when booked online.
And even better, they run every day during the school holidays.
Vue also offers 'Big Shorts', which are screenings aimed at one to four-year-old's, from only £3.99 when booked online.
Crazy Golf
If you live near a seaside town, you will almost certainly have a crazy golf near to you.
Most of these courses offer a fun and different activity to do as a family, without breaking the bank.
Local crazy golf courses range in price depending where you are, but often can be found as low as £2 per player.
Animal sanctuaries and animal activities
Animal sanctuaries are great places for children to see animals up close, whilst they are being cared for.
Often, sanctuaries are home to animals that can no longer live in the wild or are in the wait for a new home, but need somewhere to be their home in the meantime.
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Two examples of this are The Donkey Sanctuary in Sidmouth and the Mare and Foal Sanctuary.
Both are free to visit, with the Mare and Foal Sanctuary offering free private tours if you book in advance.
Some charitable farms are free to visit as well, like Surrey Docks Farm in London.
Pets at Home also offers free activities throughout the summer season where children can get up close to small animals, such as rabbits.
Arcades
Arcades aren't exclusive to the pier at your local beach, cities and towns also have them.
Families can collect up their pennies, 2ps, 5ps and 10ps and head to their nearest arcade and spend some time trying to win some small prizes.
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Some arcades have games too that allow multiple players allowing family members to get competitive with one another.
For example, at Funland Games Arcade in London, visitors can explore the arcade on a pay-as-you-go basis with some games costing around £1 each.
School holidays programmes
Known as the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme, kids can partake in activities across the summer holidays.
The programme is aimed at school children from reception to year 11 who received benefits related free school meals.
However, in previous years local authorities have had discretion to use up to 15 per cent of their funding to provide free or subsidised holiday club places for children who are not in receipt of benefits related FSMs but who the local authority believe could benefit from HAF.
The programme includes activities such as free play, football, swimming, junk modelling, nature walks and drumming workshops.
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Similarly, lots of local leisure centres and councils offer their own programmes for multi-sport camps, swimming sessions and clubs.
For example, Better - a charity that manages leisure centres across the UK - offers various holiday activities for kids including 'Kids Swim for £1' before 10am on weekdays during school holidays and weekends.
Nature walks
As the sun shines, what better way to make the most of it than getting out into nature and enjoying a nice walk.
The UK is home to many amazing National Parks, such as Dartmoor, that can be explored.
Sites like AllTrails and Forestry England can help you to find a trail or walking area near you, as well as sharing details about the difficulty of the trail.
One woman also found the cheapest annual passes for top attractions across UK – from just £6 a year.
Plus, the 15 attractions in the UK that have £1 per person tickets from huge castles to kid-friendly museums.
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