Any tips for UK holidays on a budget?

[Stormwhale]

Has anyone got any tips for being frugal whilst on holiday in the UK? We are going away for a week at Easter, nothing fancy, just a caravan holiday in Suffolk. It will be our last holiday as a family of three before our new ds is born, so I want it to be special for our dd (5yo).

I don't want to spend loads though, and it feels like to make a UK holiday fun you need to spend lots on days out, meals out etc as you can't just sit around the pool and enjoy the all inclusive! The holiday park has entertainment in the evenings which we will make the most of, plus a swimming pool and park on the premises.

To complicate things further, I will be 33 weeks pregnant, and have health problems, so the cheaper activities like long walks at country parks etc won't really work for us.

I have booked tickets for a kids theatre show which was quite reasonable, and one day we want to go to Africa Alive, the zoo in suffolk, which will be quite expensive. I have found a farm that is not expensive to enter and you can feed all the animals, go on a trail round the farm.

Any ideas for cheap activities to fill the rest of the week, and ways to save money in geeneral while holidaying in the UK would be absolutely great. Thanks very much!

Possibly skip Africa Alive? Sounds like the farm will be equally interesting for DD.

I'd do simple things - the pool etc that they have there, plan some time in with DVDs (bring your own player/laptop/netflix free trial if needed) with popcorn, seeing whether there are local towns with something special going on?

Take easy to prepare treaty food with you in a coolbox - pizza or curry or whatever you enjoy. Most caravan park shops are expensive and limited choice.

A friend usually takes her slow cooker so can leave something cooking while they go out for the day.

Board games or similar if you have something you can play with DD.

If the pool has slides, still plan to go most days, DD will still love it and you can possibly have a gentle swim or read around the pool while your partner takes her in the pool.

Google local activities and also look for discount vouchers, most places have them. Local tourist board or council websites, usually have lists of activities for DCs especially at Easter.

Maybe find out where the nearest tourist information offices are, so you can go and browse the leaflets?

We are planning to do a click and collect shop to pick up on the way to avoid paying too much at the shop in the holiday park. Taking the slow cooker is a fantastic idea which will save time, money and make my life easier.

Thank you for the tips so far, it's really helpful.

Can you get or make a spot the . . . . Books so DC can go looking for birds / trees / flowers etc and perhaps award points for found things

I always go to Poundland a week or two before and buy lots of sweets, fruitshoots, bubbles, glow sticks and that sort of thing. That way I don't have to say no to sweeties and treats, but I'm also not paying resort prices.

Fab ideas thank you.