Latest news with #daytrip
The Guardian
2 days ago
- The Guardian
How to save (or go for free) on a family day out this school summer holiday
A day trip begins with your journey to the attraction, and your savings can begin there, too, if you are using public transport. In London, up to four children under the age of 11 can travel free with a fare-paying adult on the tube, Docklands Light Railway, Overground and Elizabeth line. The kids don't require a ticket – they should be allowed through the gates by staff or can go through the larger gates with the paying adult. Children aged 11 to 15 get free or discounted travel with a 11-15 Zip Oyster photocard. A parent or guardian must apply for the card, which costs £16 and takes about two weeks to arrive. A Friends and Family railcard (£35 for one year) gets you a third off standard anytime, off-peak and advance adult fares, and 60% off child fares across the National Rail network in Great Britain. Some train companies – including Southeastern and Chiltern Railways – offer Kids for a Quid deals where children aged five to 15 can travel for £1 on a single or return journey off-peak when accompanied by an adult on selected journeys. Check whether the deal applies with a railcard as you often cannot use both. Travelling by train can also get you a discount when you arrive – National Rail's website lists 2 for 1 deals in London, and a mix of offers around Great Britain, including two for one at the Black Country Museum in the Midlands. National Express is running a 'kids travel free' promotion that finishes at the end of September. Up to three kids (to age 15) can go free with one adult using the code Kidsfree. Always try to book well in advance to get the best fares and avoid midweek peak times. Many of the most famous museums in the country remain free to enter for the main exhibitions. In London, the British Museum, the National Portrait Gallery, Tate Britain and Tate Modern are some of the most prominent ones that do not charge. You may have to pay for specific exhibitions and many ask for voluntary donations. Bath Abbey, the National Railway Museum in York, the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester and the Royal Armouries in Leeds are also free to visit. People who are on universal credit can often get cheap entry to museums or other attractions. The Cartoon Museum in London has adult tickets for £3 (normally £12) for anyone on universal credit or jobseeker's allowance. The Cutty Sark in Greenwich has £2 (normally £22 for an adult and £11 for a child) tickets for people on some benefits. Up to six people in a household can claim the cheap tickets. Edinburgh zoo offers tickets for £7. Adults on universal credit, pension credit or UK legacy benefits can get access to the Eden Project in Cornwall for £5, while children's tickets are £1 each. The Society of London theatre runs a 'kids' week' every year with 50 different shows taking part. One child aged 17 or under can see selected shows for free when accompanied by a full-paying adult. Up to two more children's tickets can be added at half price. There are no booking fees. The offer is available for selected performances until 31 August. Book through officiallondontheatre. There are also discounts available for shows such as MJ the Musical and Back to the Future through a summer theatre sale at LondonBoxOffice. If you want to see some Shakespeare, the Globe theatre in London has £5 'groundling' tickets for performances, although you will be standing. You can combine theatre with a picnic at the Grosvenor Park Open Air theatre in Chester, with tickets costing £20 to £58 with 20% off for the under-16s. You can bring your own food or buy some there. The Brighton Open Air theatre runs to 21 September and has children's and family tickets as well as concessions for the unemployed. If you want to get out of the sun, there are bargains on cinema tickets. Cineworld is running £1 Family Films where a different film is selected each week and tickets are priced at £1 each. Among them are The Wild Robot and Sonic the Hedgehog 3. The Odeon chain is running kids' screenings every day of the holidays with tickets at £2.75 each. Many country parks offer free entry, although you may have to pay for parking. For example, Wendover Woods in the Chilterns has a wooden sculpture of the Gruffalo for kids to find as well as cycling and walking trails. Moors Valley Country Park and Forest in Dorset is free to enter and dog walkers can take part in a Wallace and Gromit-themed trail with games and challenges. The Earth Photo exhibition, which focuses on the environment and the climate crisis, runs to the beginning of September. Parking fees vary between parks. For example, Moors Valley charges £16.50 a day, while Wendover Woods charges £13. The Beamish Museum near Stanley in Durham tells the history of the region from the 1820s to the 1950s through immersive exhibits, and was recently voted the Art Fund museum of the year. It has family tickets (two adults and two kids) for £82, with access for a full year. If you travel to the museum on any Go North East bus, you can get a 25% discount on a standard individual admission. In order to cool down, lidos and community swimming areas can give some relief. The Clevedon Marine Lake on the Somerset coast is a tidal pool and gets filled with seawater from the Bristol channel every spring tide. Run by a charity, swimmers are asked to donate when they visit. If an attraction charges an entry fee, look out for family tickets and do the sums to get the best value. For example, the Sea City Museum in Southampton charges £42.50 for a family ticket for two adults and three children – it's cheaper than buying individual tickets for two adults and two children. It works out cheaper to buy individually if you are two adults visiting with one child. For one adult and three children there's another family ticket option costing £28.50. Prices for Legoland in Windsor start at £34 each – children under 90cm go free – if bought on the website in advance, compared with £68 if you walk up and pay. Chessington World of Adventures starts at £32 online or £66 in-person on the day. A Twice the fun ticket gives entry to two attractions for the price of one at Legoland, Chessington World of Adventures, Thorpe Park or Alton Towers. Prices start at £32 if you visit Chessington first. Cadbury is running a promotion where you can get between 10% and 50% off entry for up to four tickets at Merlin UK attractions, which include Legoland, Sea Life and Thorpe Park, among others. Many attractions offer annual family tickets but again you will have to do the maths to work out whether the deal works for you. For instance, going to London zoo on an off-peak weekday for two adults and two children will cost £94.20. A silver membership (which gives unlimited visits) runs at £200. It offers entrance to Whipsnade, and with a peak-time visit there you will have paid for the membership.
The Sun
5 days ago
- The Sun
Popular English seaside city is home to the most pubs in the UK per person – here's some of the best ones
THERE are certain criteria people seek out when looking for a day trip - and one of those things is a plethora of pubs. And new data has revealed Brighton and Hove has the most pubs per person. 11 11 Brighton and Hove is known for its bustling seaside promenade, cobbled beach fronts, nightlife and, of course, having many pubs. The data revealed that the coastal city has an impressive 147 pubs per 100,000 people. In total, that's 205 pubs serving its 139,001 residents. With so many to choose from, we've found some of the best. The Station Inn On Tripadvisor, The Station Inn is one of the top-rated boozers. The Station Inn describes itself as being a "traditional British pub" where you can enjoy a drink, play a game of pool or watch a game of football on the big screen. One visitor wrote: "The Station is everything you want in a local pub — warm, welcoming, and full of character. The staff are friendly, the beer selection is excellent, and the food hits the spot every time." Another added: "Lovely atmosphere, fantastic staff, we love coming to the Station- we feel like part of the family." On the menu you'll find juicy burgers, steak and ale pie, fish and chips and a selection of roast dinners on a Sunday. The Tempest Inn The Tempest Inn in Brighton is within a stone's throw of Brighton Beach. Beach Club that's like being on the Med 11 11 This pub has one very unique thing about it, and that's while inside, guests can enjoy a lantern-lite drink in a cave. For any people in a group who want to make sure they're seated in one of the cave booths, you can book these in advance. There's an outside area too and the pub is right on the seafront, with a sea-facing terrace, wooden tables and strings of fairy lights. Throughout the years are events like DJ sets, which run on most Saturdays. 11 11 The Roundhill The Roundhill is Brighton's very first vegan gastropub. It has a plant-based menu with weekly specials and they do Sunday roast dinners too. The pub scooped up the "Best Roast" in 2020 and has been nominated in multiple categories for the 2025 BRAVOs, including "Most Sustainable," "Plant Champions," and "Best Sunday Roast". One visitor wrote on Tripadvisor: The Roundhill consistently serve an incredible Sunday roast. I can honestly say it's the best roast I've personally ever had, and my non-vegan partner would agree." 11 11 Hove Place Hove Place has one big difference to other pubs around - that's the secret and beautiful Italian-inspired garden. With a glass of wine in hand and sitting out in the sunshine, you'll feel like you're in the Mediterranean. The pub that's known for its alfresco dining serves modern pub classics, as well as fresh focaccia rolls for lunch and deli boards which are very popular. As for drinks, you can pick up cask ales, beers, ciders and wines as well as some draught lagers like Birra Moretti and Estrella. When it first opened, the pub was shortlisted in the same awards as Best Newcomer in the Great British Pub Awards. 11 11 The Cricketers Inn The Cricketers Inn is the definition of a classic pub, it's full of charm, history and is the oldest pubs in Brighton. You'll find the bright white pub in the thick of Brighton's Lanes, this venue attracts a real mix of people and inside is what's described as a "warren of rooms." As for the interior, think thick red carpets, velvet stools, black walls and dim lighting. The pub has an internal courtyard too with larger tables, but when it's sunny, you'll want to make most of the good weather by taking a seat outside. The Cricketers Inn is possibly the oldest pub in Brighton having been around since 1547. 11
The Sun
23-07-2025
- The Sun
TUI launches ‘extreme day trips' to Lapland from 11 UK airports – including first-time regional base
TUI has launched a new 'extreme day trip' to Lapland for winter 2026. Flying from 11 airports, families can head to Lapland and back with TUI in just a day. 4 There will be flights from Cardiff for the first time to Kittila, Finland, and day trips from Bournemouth airport will be returning for the first time since before the Covid-19 pandemic. The 'Search for Santa' day trip will see families fly to Kittila, with a traditional cooked English breakfast served to you on the flight. After landing at midday, you'll grab your snowsuit and boots before heading to the Snow Village. At the Snow Village you will be able to see an ice hotel with igloo-inspired rooms, an ice bar, ice chapel and numerous ice sculptures. Families will then hop onto a sleigh ride led by Rudolph. After this, you'll head off on another animal-based adventure with a husky-led sleigh ride. And if those rides weren't enough, you'll then be able to explore the snow wonderland more by learning to drive your own snowmobile. Away from the different 'rides', you'll get to meet one of the Lapland locals and listen to stories and legends about the area. For kids, there are some arts and crafts too. Then the big moment of the day arrives with a magical journey through a snow-covered woodland to meet Santa. My trip to Lapland with TUI Once you have met with Santa and his elves, you'll head back into the snow where you will have some time to build a snowman, ride a sleigh or even start a snowball fight. A little chilly? Well, there is a campfire to heat you up with hot berry juice available. At the end of your 'extreme day trip', you will then be delivered back to the airport by Santa's elves and once airbourne, you will have a Christmas dinner in the sky as you fly home. Flights will run between December 5 and 23, 2026 with departures from London Gatwick, London Stansted, Manchester, Newcastle, Bristol, East Midlands, Glasgow, Birmingham, Bournemouth, Cardiff and Dublin. Tickets to see Mr Christmas himself don't come cheap though, starting at £750 per person. But every child does get a gift and the chance to make memories that will last a lifetime. What is LaplandUK like? The Sun's Caroline Iggulden headed to LaplandUK last Christmas - here's what she thought... LaplandUK promises to transport children on a magical Christmas adventure without need of a plane or even flying sleigh. Nestled in Whitmoor Forest near Ascot, Berkshire, even the walk through the car park manages to be exciting with lights twinkling in the trees as you approach the cluster of Finnish-style cabins at this magical destination in the woods. It is the fine details that really set this woodland wonderland apart. From the miniature doorways, just for 'small folk' to use, to the beautifully fashioned individualised costumes worn by all the elves- and the big man himself-details are styled to perfection. And the experience of meeting Father Christmas is a far cry from a quick grip and grin at the shopping centre. It was pure joy to watch their jaws drop when Santa started congratulating them on recent achievements and quoting small details about them, thanks to an online form you fill in about each child before you go. Whilst LaplandUK is not a cheap day out, it certainly comprises many activities which would add up considerably for a family of five if you did them separately over the holidays. We enjoyed a top-notch theatre show experience, crafting, skating, a grotto visit and the children came away with two beautiful toys and a lot of amazing memories. There is also a bucket list Christmas family holiday with a surprisingly affordable price tag. Plus, why you should have a Christmas holiday in your caravan this year. 4
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Yahoo
The new river cruises from Southend Pier taking passengers to 'Dickens country'
NEW day-trip cruises are setting sail from Southend Pier this summer taking passengers back in time to "Dickens country". New for 2025, Jetstream Tours is offering trips to Rochester in Kent, allowing daytrippers to walk in the cobbled street of historic Rochester, visit the best kept example of Norman architecture at Rochester's historic castle, pop into Rochester's Cathedral or have a spot of lunch. "This day out visiting Rochester will allow you to discover the historic relevance of the River Medway, sailing past Chatham Dockyard and Upnor Castle," the boat tour company explains. "Our commentary along the way will point out more than just what you can see but allow you uncover relics of the deep, stories of battles and rebuilding. "Hop into history with one of our most exciting tours yet." This month, cruises are setting of from the end of the pier on Sunday, July 13, and Sunday, July 27. Cruises are scheduled next month on Sunday, August 10, and Sunday, August 24, as well as the first Sunday of September. For tickets, visit Ticket prices include access on to the pier and use of the pier train. Onboard facilities include a bar, selling soft drinks and light snacks. The duration of the cruise totals five hours, at a cost of £28 per adult, £26 for OAPs, and £22 for a child ticket. It also offers family tickets for £85. Children under three can board for free but must have a ticket.
Daily Mail
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
People left shocked by solo traveller's 'wild' European trip - travelling 4,000 miles for a 12-hour holiday
Rome wasn't built in a day - but this traveller's extreme 12-hour adventure was. US solo traveller, Kevin Droniak, has shocked the internet with a video of his wild day trip from New York to Rome. The adventurous Instagrammer (@kevindroniak) made the 8,000 mile round trip to spend just 12 hours in the Eternal City. In his Instagram video, Kevin says: 'You might not believe me but Italy is a day trip from New York and you're coming with me.' The ambitious traveller reveals that his flight from New York lands in Rome at 7:05am with his return flight at 7:05pm, claiming: 'I feel like that's more than enough time'. Kevin adds: 'My logic here is that I'm going to bed anyway tonight, so why not sleep on an eight hour flight and wake up in Italy?' In the next shot, Kevin is in front of Rome's Colosseum at 9am on a sunny day in the Italian capital. 'I have to get back to the airport in about eight hours,' he explains. Rome is six hours ahead of New York which might explain Kevin's unusual choice to start his day by enjoying pizza for breakfast with a 'view of the Colosseum'. Next on the agenda is a look inside the ancient monument, where Kevin reveals: 'Last time I was here, I was 15 and I could not care less about history. But now I can appreciate it.' The traveller then hops on a bike and sets off to explore the Appian Way, one of the world's earliest Roman roads, that connects the Italian capital with Brindisi in southern Italy. Kevin explains: 'There's just ruins alongside the road. And I think I'm the only tourist here. Like there is nobody around. This is definitely the highlight of my day so far. 'And the fact that tonight I'm going to be in my New York City apartment. Life is wild.' Unfortunately the traveller then gets caught in a downpour and reveals that he didn't bring a change of clothes for his flight home. There's just time for a bowl of pasta at another Rome restaurant before Kevin has to head back to the airport. Due to getting drenched in the rain, Kevin also picks up a Rome themed T-shirt to wear on the plane home. At the airport, he jokes: 'It feels like I was just here - because I was. I'm ready to go home but I would do it again.' The traveller then hops on a bike and sets off to explore the Appian Way, one of the world's earliest Roman roads, that connects the Italian capital with Brindisi in southern Italy So, how much did Kevin's extreme Roman holiday cost him? In another video, the traveller reveals that the entire trip cost him $641/£466, with the return flights coming to $506/£368. And reactions to Kevin's extreme jaunt have been mixed. Instagrammer ' says: 'This would be incredible for me if I could sleep on planes but doing this trip would have me awake for close to 48 hours.' 'Buke_aor' is a fan, saying: 'I would do it! I love travelling overnight and waking up at my destination, so yes!' And another person adds 'If I could relive my twenties, I would totally do this.' But not everyone's convinced. 'broncobustr' says: 'What a waste of money and energy to only spend eight hours in such a historic and beautiful city.' And 'clempotiusuxx' worries about the impact of Kevin's journey on the environment, saying: 'Someone has never heard of the carbon footprint and it shows.' However, 'Allthingskhosi' claims: 'Guys! The plane is flying to and from Italy whether he is on it or not.' However, 'Allthingskhosi' claims: 'Guys! The plane is flying to and from Italy whether he is on it or not.'
