Mumsnetters' top tips for cheap or free days out

[carriemumsnet]

We've been asked to help compile Mumsnetters' top tips for cheap or free things to do with children to entertain them during half term.

We were thinking stuff like borrowing a DVD from library and creating a home cinema event with ice cream etc, running a car boot sale (and using proceeds to do something more spendy), free museums and stuff... but am sure you've lots more inspired ideas and if so, please pass them on.

Thanks in advance

MNHQ

Day at the beach, woods, country park.
Turn it ino a nature hunt, ideal at this time of year.
Remember only adults are bothered by the weather, nothing better than being out and about in all weathers imo

exactly Soupy- kids & clothes can be washed if mudddy/wet & there's nothing like sploshing along in the rain for getting rid of some pent up energy!

Check out your local toy library they often do special events in the holidays for low/no cost. Ditto the local council.

Network South East 2 for 1 0ffers - all you have to do is go by train and then you get all sorts of things half price - boats down the thames, football stadium tours, meals, tower of London entry, loads of different stuff. See here

If you live in the country, give each child a container and go down the lanes and pick blackberries etc in summer. It's free and they love it (and each loads of healthy fruit while they're doing it).

Go for bike rides. Get a seat for the back of your own bike for any toddler/baby.

Also, we live in the middle of nowhere, as DS finds escalators a real treat . It's great for a rainy day!

Baking

Make your own nature trail sheets & go for a long walk - you can use the sheets like a Bingo game if you put things to spot in a grid & cross them off as you find them (can also be done on a long car journey)

Use twigs, leaves, stones etc to make big pictures outside

Draw & cut out people / animals & then decorate a big box to be like a theatre - do a puppet show

bump

We like donning wellies and going paddling in the local stream. DD is 13 now and claims not to like it but when she refused to take her wellies last time and said it was too babyish, she ended up knicking my wellies and joining in once we'd got there!

Local libraries often have events that are free or very low cost.

Board games always go down well here, whatever age and whatever mix of people we've got round.

Garden olympics - table tennis, horseshoes etc.

Liverpool Museum is free (fairly local tip though)