Great Cheap Things To Keep The Kids Quiet at Easter Hunt

pavlovs_dog

more and more museums/art galleries are now free entry, and a great way to while away the afternoon, especially if the weather isnt brill.


as for the best source of info on things to do in your area? the tourest information office. an often neglected mine of information, these centres are an invaluable source when your short on ideas of things to do. they're not just for tourists - make the most of them and the free expert local advice they offer

also, local libraries often run playschemes/reading schemes, so well worth investigating.

and dont forget your local newspaper - im sure ours isnt the only one that prints money off coupons for things to do with the kids during the hols :beer:

Kelly-Anne_3

flufff wrote:

Manchester museum is free.Well worth visiting to see t-rex skeleton and egyptian mummies.Also have some snakes and frogs!

I often take my children to the local museums( I live in Essex, but I'm sure this happens all over the place) as in the hols they have craft activities and quiz sheets for the kids to do for free. Take a picnic and it normally takes up about three hours. My kids are 6 & 9 and they enjoy it. :rotfl:

BadHairDay_2

Not free, but bought for 99p from Savers (the chemist). Kept 4 children occupied for hours over the weekend. Absolutely fab.

Charlie2301

If you are an Orange customer go to the cinema on Wednesday morning. Many cinemas (my local in Rochester included) offer low price tickets for shows before 12 noon AND if you are an Orange mobile customer you get the 2 for 1 tickets offer. At Christmas I took my son and we both saw Narnia for £3.50 total and took along our own xmas sweets! Bargain day out - especially if the great British weather isnt particularly great :T

Hellybelly_3

Have decided to take the kids to London (live in Reading) next week to visit London Eye and London Aquarium, but was concerned about the cost. A friend told me about Family Railcard which costs £20 for a year, but this will pay for itself on our first trip (3 adults & 2 kids) plus an extra £7. Also from the Family Railcard website followed a link to https://www.daysoutguide.co.uk and printed off 2 vouchers for 2 for 1 offer on London Aquarium.

There are lots and lots of places in London doing this offer (unfortunately not the London Eye!), including theaters and restaurants. I think you can choose up to 3. To redeem your offer you have to show your train ticket as it's part of National Rail Great Days Out.

:j

izzig

If the weather is good its not too bad - you have the beach, parks, picnics etc - St Marys Island at Whitley Bay is a good one (need to pay for entry to lighthouse) and the rockpools provide hours of interest. Saltwell Park at Gateshead has a good play area and rowing boats if you are feeling flush. Blyth park has a great water play area with fountains galore and a non-slip surface designed especially for kids to play in (take at least one change of clothes!).

On wet days - Discovery Museum in Newcastle is free and well worth a visit, they often have activities on in the holidays. A walk accross the millennium bridge (the eye) and a look around the Baltic - it will probably be different to anything the kids have seen before but you may want to check the exhibits before taking them as some may not be suitable for children. Picnics on the kitchen floor. The old blanket houses goes down well with the under 8's. I used to do mini treasure hunts in the house with pictures of things when they could not read.

Crafts - a roll of wallpaper is always a favourite for drawing round kids, extra big pictures or landscape pics.

looneyleo

Make your kids work for their Easter Eggs on Easter Sunday! Fun activities of course! I'll be doing an easter egg hunt in the garden with our 3 year old using decorated hard boiled eggs (free for us with our own chickens). She'll have to find so many before she can have the chocolate. With the older children you could do a treasure hunt with written clues to get to the location of the prize... Should keep them busy for an hour or so. I have also asked relatives not to buy the very large eggs, just smaller ones or maybe a little gift instead (i.e a game to play or entry into an activity park as a treat etc)...too much chocolate and school holidays at the same time don't mix! Have fun with your kids and spend time with them - that costs nothing at all.

Sailsdove

The National Railway Museum in York is FREE!
Even on a special "THOMAS THE TANK ENGINE" day you can just walk in for free rather than £7.50 as long as you don't want to ride on Thomas.
There's loads to do, inside and outside. It really does appeal to all ages of kids and adults, girls and boys. :j
DO take a picnic (you can eat this at the indoor picnic place if raining) as the cafes are very expensive and run by a franchise. Or go to York Station to the cafe on the bridge (not quite so dear but good view of the beautiful station and decent coffee.)
Outside there's a miniature train ride (free) and playground, the interactive childrens' shed, then there's the two huge halls with all sorts of things, and the "works" - like an attic stuffed with train/travel related things there's no space for in the main museum. Can't list it all but even if you hate trains you'll love it and your kids will too. One thing that's not free is the simulator, £3 a go, we've never tried it.
I don't know what we'd do without it.

chickenlady_3

The Wildlife Trusts - check out your local one. Here in Essex there are quite a few Trust sites to visit and they put on activities for kids like pond dipping and crafts for a suggested donation of £4 per child. Not free, obviously, but good value as you can take a picnic and make a day of it.

For those in north Essex, check out: http://www.essexwt.org.uk/Centres/Abberton.htm

Devon_Cream_Tea

Charlie2301 wrote:

If you are an Orange customer go to the cinema on Wednesday morning. Many cinemas (my local in Rochester included) offer low price tickets for shows before 12 noon AND if you are an Orange mobile customer you get the 2 for 1 tickets offer. At Christmas I took my son and we both saw Narnia for £3.50 total and took along our own xmas sweets! Bargain day out - especially if the great British weather isnt particularly great :T

If you are visiting Devon this Easter there is a free open-air cinema (Skylight Cinema https://www.skylightcinema.co.uk) in Torbay, where you can bring your picnic - or Easter eggs to munch on!
Just hope the British weather is great!