Summer holidays not going away

[Totallyfrazzledmum]

Starting to feel stressed about the summer holidays, we cannot afford to go away anywhere and looking for ideas but most day trips look super expensive. 3 primary age children who are very demanding :(

If you did want to go camping and you near St Albans check out Share St Albans. You join for £10 and can borrow (say) a 5 man tent for £8 a week, 2 camping chairs for £4. I would recommend Henlow Lakes as a not very far away place to camp (Bedfordshire). It's really lovely and there's a big bar area with a firepit undercover if it rains. We had a ball there when the kids were young.

Share St Albans is also good for hiring garden games like Badminton, Giant Chess and board games. About £1 a week each. You could probably camp in the garden have fun but if you didn't want to spend more.

While you are in St Albans, the city museum is free, as is the splash park and Heartwood Forest too.. Go on the Magical Meander, following the carved animal statues. There are picnic tables in the middle.

With three very little ones i'd try and build a fun base at home if you have a garden. Cheapo paddling pool, bubble machine, hosepipe, trampoline and a freezer full of ice pops.
Digging, planting,home made mud kitchen, toys to play with in water, LOL doll campouts (or whatever the in thing now is!), maybe sand with diggers etcin.

TrawlFacebook marketplace for free/very cheap play items.

It was mostly about picnicing at parks at that age for us.

Oh and den building, create a fairy garden, lots of crafts and some baking maybe?

Depending on where you are, take out a family National Trust membership. A lot of properties have Summer of Play for children, right through the summer holidays.

Can't children entertain themselves these days? They should be able to. It's far healthier for them.

Do you have Sky TV or a Blue Light Card? Both have competitions you enter or ballots for free tickets for events, days out etc etc - I have won at least 3 times (incl free 4 x Thorpe Park tickets & open air Harry Potter cinema tickets).

Also Travel lodge so some very cheap room rates per night, just don't be set on where you are staying - take your own breakfasts & sandwiches for lunch & pack a picnic for tea. Premier Inn are a little dearer but include free breakfasts i think. Just do a couple of two day / one night stays.

Have a look on Hotukdeals for ideas & deals too.