Days Out?

chirpychick

Hi
We (myself, husband and toddler) were supposed to be going on a 5 day sun holiday in 2 weeks but we now cant afford the petrol etc to go but my husband has the week off work.
we live in Farnborough hants and im looking for some ideas of free/cheap things to do that week and wondered if anyone could help with ideas?

Kynthia

I'm sorry to hear that. Can you not ebay anything for the petrol money? There's a UK holidays and days out part of the forum that could probably help with suggestions.

Spendless

I also think it's a shame not to go. Would travelling by train be any cheaper? There's a free friends and family railcard you can apply for at min, it might come in time depending on the dates you are away. With your child being under 5, I think you'd need to buy a nominal ticket for them in order to qualify for using it, have a look at their ts & cs
http://www.familyandfriends-railcard.co.uk/trialcard/

rachiibell

Sorry don't know your area but here are some free/ cheap suggestions:
trip to the park
feed the ducks
picnic
camping in the garden (if you don't have a tent just build a fort with blankets/ bedding and spend the day playing in it)
any free museums nearby?
paddling pool

fufu_banterwaite

Again not a suggestion of where to go but couldn't you get a National Express or Megabus coach there? You might be able to get a good deal.

PasturesNew

How far/how much would this fuel cost then?

Day trips could add up to costing more. Free stuff's never on your doorstep....

onlyroz

I live in the area and I'd suggest:

- Go to the seaside, e.g. Littlehampton
- Visit a National Trust property, e.g. http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/vyne/
- Visit The Lookout http://www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/thelookoutdiscoverycentre and then go for a walk in Swinley Forest
- Visit Bird World http://birdworld.co.uk/
- Visit Beaulieu motor museum http://www.beaulieu.co.uk/
- Not been here, but it's free: http://www.airsciences.org.uk/

Katem

For years we had cheap holidays to "Worgate" (maybe only a reference that Geordies will get!) and tips include:

Batch cook a load of easy meals and freeze, so that you can just take a meal out at the beginning of each day and it'll take minimal preparation - no cooking and hardly any washing up. If you can buy some cheap paper plates (we do this at Christmas!) then you can bin them after I'm sure pound land were doing 50 for £1…...

Catch up on housework the week before so you aren't doing any during the holiday week and don't do anything houseworky at all during that week!

Use the morning to have a lazy time, then have lunch and go out after lunch- if you're only out for half a day and food is taken care of so you won't need to buy any while you're out.

Make cheap snacks and ice cream etc the "treat" for the day, so we would say we will go for a walk to the beach then have an ice cream - fairly cheap day but by the time you've done both of those things it's filled an afternoon.

You could always take picnics if you did want to have a full day out.

Look for vouchers for local places, i.e. BOGOF, 20% discount. If you are working in some public sector places e.g. NHS, then look on NHSdiscounts and they often have vouchers - same with local councils etc.

System

My favourite free day out involves a river, a blanket to lie on and a cuddle.... if the weather is nice of course and you have the right man.

Of course, with a toddler you might not like to be close to the river or take your eyes of him/her for a cuddle but it can still be enjoyable, just the three of you.

ska_lover

Local parks for picnics, museums, check out your local area

If you aren't going on your holiday, ebay it - get some money to do something else - I sold a sun holiday a couple of summers back as circumstances changed - all I had to do was contact Haven and give the new names

maman

onlyroz wrote: »

I live in the area and I'd suggest:

- Go to the seaside, e.g. Littlehampton
- Visit a National Trust property, e.g. http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/vyne/
- Visit The Lookout http://www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/thelookoutdiscoverycentre and then go for a walk in Swinley Forest
- Visit Bird World http://birdworld.co.uk/
- Visit Beaulieu motor museum http://www.beaulieu.co.uk/
- Not been here, but it's free: http://www.airsciences.org.uk/

OP doesn't say where her Sun holiday is so I'm wondering just how much petrol they need.


You've suggested some great places roz but if she pays for petrol to Beaulieu or Littlehampton plus the admission charges to some of the places then that'd be more than enough petrol to get to anywhere on the South coast.


If you're really skint OP and can't borrow or ebay the money for petrol then I'd go with picnics in the park or on the living room carpet! If you want to get out, how much would a sort of Rover ticket on a bus cost?