Inset day, what can myself and 11 year old son do

[Cocktail70]

Feel silly for asking this but my son has just started high school and his school inset days are different than my other child's. So he will be off school this Friday whilst my daughter is not. And vice versa when it's her turn.
He's 11 nearly 12. Over the past year I have felt him move away from us alot. When at home just wants to be in room playing with friends on the PlayStation. Or he wants to go out with friends. We go on a lot of family days out (my daughter is younger) but he's started to say he doesn't want to really go anywhere with us now, would rather be with a friend. Its just going to be me and him together on Friday and I don't really want him just sitting on his console all day. Any ideas what we could do as mother and son for a little treat? I think it's been years since it was just me and him on our own

My DS sounds very similar, it's really hard to get him out of the house and doing anything. Over summer I booked a few random days off here and there so I could spend time with him.

We mainly did lunches out, always his choice of where to eat, afternoon tea at a fancy restaurant, cinema in the posh seats, and to the beach for swimming/funfair. It rained when we were at the beach, it was so much fun going round the big wheel in the pouring rain. Pool was indoor anyway.

I also booked a cheap night away in a hotel nearby that had a pool. Groupon deal that included a meal. DS loved the luxury of a hotel room and all the swimming he got to do. Plus there was no PlayStation.

Yes we have done similar. Go away together- bonus for pool. I have taken my younger DC to a nearby gaming arcade and then burger lunch. Cinema and meal. I think steering away from shops is a good call. If things like go ape are open and you can bear doing it then that is also a good shout as quieter on inset days. I do think reconnection is important bur have been surprised that it is more a challenge with my son than my daughter.

Definitely lunch out. My DS likes crazy golf, he also enjoyed a football stadium tour and hiring a boat on the river.