LBs favourite days out! Free (or really cheap)
If you follow me on Facebook or Instagram I'm sure you will have noticed that LB and I are constantly out and about on various days out. My girl is extremely active, she is a wild child, she adores being outdoors an exploring nature. As a SAHM getting by on one income money is pretty tight, we are always looking for cheap days out, I thought I would share with you Little Bear and my favourite trips that don't break the bank.
Thatcham Nature Discovery Centre
Website: http://www.bbowt.org.uk/nature-discovery-centre
Cost: A donation is requested for parking, charges may apply for certain events
Time spent there: Half a day
The Nature Discovery Centre in Thatcham is a brilliant and cheap morning or afternoon trip with things to keep all ages entertained. Entry to the centre and parking are both free but they welcome donations. I strongly encourage you to make a donation as public generosity is what ensures facilities like this remain freely available and accessible. There are plenty of walks around the reserve ranging from a ¾ mile buggy friendly stroll around the lake, to a slightly more strenuous 2 mile walk where you will find the bird hide on route. The centre itself is full of family-friendly activities, with lots to see and learn about the wildlife that surrounds the area. There are also 2 great play parks; one aimed at under-5’s and a separate one for the older, more adventurous kids. There is also a Lakeside Café serving hot and cold food and drinks.
Website: http://www.milletsfarmcentre.com/
Cost: Free, charges apply for certain activities
Time spent there: Half a day
Millets farm is great as it is completely free! Top on LB's list is always seeing the animals; there is a great selection of farm animals to see and a large duck pond. The play area is quite small but there are ride-on tractors and diggers which cost just £1 a turn and a carousel for £2 a ride (running school holidays and weekends, weather dependent). There are also woodlands, walks, a delicious café, a wonderful farm shop…and the garden centre is also nearby too! Look out for additional special events going on throughout the year for kids, from craft activities to shows or the circus (charges may apply). The Pick-Your-Own fields are my personal favourite (open June – September) with various crops available for picking. Also weekends in October you can go and choose your own pumpkin.
Alice Holt
Website: https://www.forestry.gov.uk/aliceholt
Cost: No admission fee. Car parking costs £1.50 per hour, over 4 hours £8
Time spent there: Half a day
At Alice Holt you can go on search for the Gruffalo! There is a (free) app available to aid your search but be sure to download before you go as you will need to be connected to WIFI. The app is far from necessary, we enjoyed the Gruffalo Trail on multiple occasions without it, but plenty of older children certainly seemed to enjoy it. There are 2 Gruffalo-hunting options, 0.7 miles and 1.5 miles, both are easy access and suitable for pushchairs. Along the trail you will find sculptors of the Gruffalo and other characters. If you are not a Gruffalo fan there are plenty of other routes with varying levels of difficulty and length. Just pick up a map at the welcome centre and choose one that most suits the needs of your family. I recommend the play trail, a walk with several play areas along the route! There is a large play area near the car park too featuring accessible play features, right next to the café so you can grab yourself a hot drink while the kids play. If your family enjoys bike rides there are also a number of cycle routes including a beginners track for little ones just starting out. Cycle hire is available (charges apply).
The Living Rainforest
Website: https://www.livingrainforest.org/
Cost: Adults - £10.45, Children - £8.45, Family of four - £34.25, Under 2s free (entry valid for a year)
Time spent there: Half a day
So not the cheapest on the list but depending on how often you visit it is still a pretty reasonable day out. Once you have paid to get in your ticket is valid for a full year which is very good value for money. LB and I visited 4 times in the space of a year, and as she is free (under 2) that works out at just £2.60 a visit. It is quite small but perfect if you are looking for an indoor activity to fill a couple of hours. There are 2 sections to explore, each with different animals either roaming free or in enclosures. Keep a close eye out for the sloth! My favourite are the fish with legs and my girl loves the tank with the giant fish and assorted rays. Other animals include:- small reptiles, monkeys, armadillo and various species of birds. There is also a cool playground inspired by the rainforest and a café.
Hengistbury Head
Website: https://www.visithengistburyhead.co.uk/Home.aspx
Cost: Parking - Up to 4 hours: £6. 1st Nov - 31st March £3 for full day
Time spent there: Full day
There is so much to do at Hengistbury Head, even in the colder months, and its cheap!! Hengistbury Head is my favourite beach. Its beautiful, never gets too busy or crowded and there are plenty of walks and cycle routes. The Visitors Centre has lots of interactive displays, full of information about the area, the history, the wildlife, archaeology and geology. There is also a wildlife garden to explore and a shop. The Land train runs all year (except Christmas day) and you can get a family ticket for £4.80 (2 adults: Up to 3 Children…and a dog). Get the train one way and walk back along the beach back. You can even get the ferry across to Mudeford in Christchurch for just £1.50 adults and 70p children, explore the beach there, go crab fishing or enjoy the café next to the harbour. The ferry runs daily Easter through to October and weekends and school holidays thereafter (weather permitting).
Dinton Pastures
Website: http://www.dinton-pastures.co.uk/
Cost: Parking £1.50 an hour up to 4 hours, over 4 hours £6
Time spent there: Half a day
The playground at Dinton Pastures is by far the best I have ever seen. There is so much to do for all ages and abilities. The park has been designed to connect children with nature, with an emphasis on tactile and sensory play. Little Bear absolutely loves it and can spend hours there! If you can convince the kids to leave the park there are plenty of walks with lots of wildlife to explore. There is also a café serving hot and cold food.
Cinema
There are a few options of cinema trips that wont break the bank in our area. The Showcase cinema in Winnersh holds ‘Baby Pictures' on Thursday mornings at 10am (term time only), at just £5 a ticket and babies under 18 months are free on laps. The screenings have lowered volume, soft lighting and free movement throughout. The Vue hold ‘Mini Mornings’, from 10am at weekends and school holidays just £2.49 a ticket (adults and children). The Regal Picture House in Henley holds ‘Toddler Time’ on Tuesday mornings at 11am, £3 for preschool aged children, accompanying adult is free. They also have Kids Club showings 11am on Saturdays for 3-12 year olds, kids and accompanying adults £2 each. The Odeon in Bracknell and Basingstoke have ‘Odeon Kids’, 10am weekends and through the Summer holidays. £2.49 a ticket (adults and children).
National Trust Membership
Website: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/
Cost: Membership from £5.40 a month
This is an investment so really think about whether it is worthwhile for you and your family. I have been a member since May and LB and I have visited a National Trust site approximately twice a month since joining, that averages out at less then £3 a visit for the both of us, that's less than the cost of parking at most places! Under 5s are free and a family membership is just 50p more a month for up to 10 children or grandchildren. In and around Reading there are several great places to visit including Greys Court (a favourite of myself and LB), Basildon Park, The Vyne, Nuffield Place, West Green House and Garden, Cliveden and more. Your membership also includes free car parking at National Trust car parks along the coast. I absolutely love being a member; whenever we have a free afternoon or day we pop along, take a picnic then explore the grounds.
Please check out my Etsy Store - www.etsy.com/uk/shop/OneLittleBearLTD
Follow me on Instagram - www.instagram.com/onelittlebearltd
Follow me on Facebook - www.facebook.com/OneLittleBear/
Thatcham Nature Discovery Centre
Website: http://www.bbowt.org.uk/nature-discovery-centre
Cost: A donation is requested for parking, charges may apply for certain events
Time spent there: Half a day
The Nature Discovery Centre in Thatcham is a brilliant and cheap morning or afternoon trip with things to keep all ages entertained. Entry to the centre and parking are both free but they welcome donations. I strongly encourage you to make a donation as public generosity is what ensures facilities like this remain freely available and accessible. There are plenty of walks around the reserve ranging from a ¾ mile buggy friendly stroll around the lake, to a slightly more strenuous 2 mile walk where you will find the bird hide on route. The centre itself is full of family-friendly activities, with lots to see and learn about the wildlife that surrounds the area. There are also 2 great play parks; one aimed at under-5’s and a separate one for the older, more adventurous kids. There is also a Lakeside Café serving hot and cold food and drinks.
Millets Farm
Website: http://www.milletsfarmcentre.com/
Cost: Free, charges apply for certain activities
Time spent there: Half a day
Millets farm is great as it is completely free! Top on LB's list is always seeing the animals; there is a great selection of farm animals to see and a large duck pond. The play area is quite small but there are ride-on tractors and diggers which cost just £1 a turn and a carousel for £2 a ride (running school holidays and weekends, weather dependent). There are also woodlands, walks, a delicious café, a wonderful farm shop…and the garden centre is also nearby too! Look out for additional special events going on throughout the year for kids, from craft activities to shows or the circus (charges may apply). The Pick-Your-Own fields are my personal favourite (open June – September) with various crops available for picking. Also weekends in October you can go and choose your own pumpkin.
Alice Holt
Website: https://www.forestry.gov.uk/aliceholt
Cost: No admission fee. Car parking costs £1.50 per hour, over 4 hours £8
Time spent there: Half a day
At Alice Holt you can go on search for the Gruffalo! There is a (free) app available to aid your search but be sure to download before you go as you will need to be connected to WIFI. The app is far from necessary, we enjoyed the Gruffalo Trail on multiple occasions without it, but plenty of older children certainly seemed to enjoy it. There are 2 Gruffalo-hunting options, 0.7 miles and 1.5 miles, both are easy access and suitable for pushchairs. Along the trail you will find sculptors of the Gruffalo and other characters. If you are not a Gruffalo fan there are plenty of other routes with varying levels of difficulty and length. Just pick up a map at the welcome centre and choose one that most suits the needs of your family. I recommend the play trail, a walk with several play areas along the route! There is a large play area near the car park too featuring accessible play features, right next to the café so you can grab yourself a hot drink while the kids play. If your family enjoys bike rides there are also a number of cycle routes including a beginners track for little ones just starting out. Cycle hire is available (charges apply).
The Living Rainforest
Website: https://www.livingrainforest.org/
Cost: Adults - £10.45, Children - £8.45, Family of four - £34.25, Under 2s free (entry valid for a year)
Time spent there: Half a day
So not the cheapest on the list but depending on how often you visit it is still a pretty reasonable day out. Once you have paid to get in your ticket is valid for a full year which is very good value for money. LB and I visited 4 times in the space of a year, and as she is free (under 2) that works out at just £2.60 a visit. It is quite small but perfect if you are looking for an indoor activity to fill a couple of hours. There are 2 sections to explore, each with different animals either roaming free or in enclosures. Keep a close eye out for the sloth! My favourite are the fish with legs and my girl loves the tank with the giant fish and assorted rays. Other animals include:- small reptiles, monkeys, armadillo and various species of birds. There is also a cool playground inspired by the rainforest and a café.
 |
Hengistbury Head
Website: https://www.visithengistburyhead.co.uk/Home.aspx
Cost: Parking - Up to 4 hours: £6. 1st Nov - 31st March £3 for full day
Time spent there: Full day
There is so much to do at Hengistbury Head, even in the colder months, and its cheap!! Hengistbury Head is my favourite beach. Its beautiful, never gets too busy or crowded and there are plenty of walks and cycle routes. The Visitors Centre has lots of interactive displays, full of information about the area, the history, the wildlife, archaeology and geology. There is also a wildlife garden to explore and a shop. The Land train runs all year (except Christmas day) and you can get a family ticket for £4.80 (2 adults: Up to 3 Children…and a dog). Get the train one way and walk back along the beach back. You can even get the ferry across to Mudeford in Christchurch for just £1.50 adults and 70p children, explore the beach there, go crab fishing or enjoy the café next to the harbour. The ferry runs daily Easter through to October and weekends and school holidays thereafter (weather permitting).
Dinton Pastures
Website: http://www.dinton-pastures.co.uk/
Cost: Parking £1.50 an hour up to 4 hours, over 4 hours £6
Time spent there: Half a day
The playground at Dinton Pastures is by far the best I have ever seen. There is so much to do for all ages and abilities. The park has been designed to connect children with nature, with an emphasis on tactile and sensory play. Little Bear absolutely loves it and can spend hours there! If you can convince the kids to leave the park there are plenty of walks with lots of wildlife to explore. There is also a café serving hot and cold food.
Cinema
There are a few options of cinema trips that wont break the bank in our area. The Showcase cinema in Winnersh holds ‘Baby Pictures' on Thursday mornings at 10am (term time only), at just £5 a ticket and babies under 18 months are free on laps. The screenings have lowered volume, soft lighting and free movement throughout. The Vue hold ‘Mini Mornings’, from 10am at weekends and school holidays just £2.49 a ticket (adults and children). The Regal Picture House in Henley holds ‘Toddler Time’ on Tuesday mornings at 11am, £3 for preschool aged children, accompanying adult is free. They also have Kids Club showings 11am on Saturdays for 3-12 year olds, kids and accompanying adults £2 each. The Odeon in Bracknell and Basingstoke have ‘Odeon Kids’, 10am weekends and through the Summer holidays. £2.49 a ticket (adults and children).
National Trust Membership
Website: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/
Cost: Membership from £5.40 a month
This is an investment so really think about whether it is worthwhile for you and your family. I have been a member since May and LB and I have visited a National Trust site approximately twice a month since joining, that averages out at less then £3 a visit for the both of us, that's less than the cost of parking at most places! Under 5s are free and a family membership is just 50p more a month for up to 10 children or grandchildren. In and around Reading there are several great places to visit including Greys Court (a favourite of myself and LB), Basildon Park, The Vyne, Nuffield Place, West Green House and Garden, Cliveden and more. Your membership also includes free car parking at National Trust car parks along the coast. I absolutely love being a member; whenever we have a free afternoon or day we pop along, take a picnic then explore the grounds.
Greys Court
|
Please check out my Etsy Store - www.etsy.com/uk/shop/OneLittleBearLTD
Follow me on Instagram - www.instagram.com/onelittlebearltd
Follow me on Facebook - www.facebook.com/OneLittleBear/
They all sound wonderful! She's a lucky girl!!❤️
ReplyDelete