5 Days out with kids in England (that don’t break the bank)

Hey y’all. So it’s me again and this time I’m sharing some of my UK adventures on those months where the Maths did not add up for a destination holiday and I still had to make things work. Here are my 5 favorite trips in England till date. Now depending on when you live, you could fit this in as a day trip or get Airbnb for a night to break up the journey.

London

I’m sure you know I had to start with London, I mean why not? With free train journeys for children under 11 and lots to do in one go. Here’s how we spent our day.

1st stop Garden at 120: We got off at Fenchurch Street station, walked a few meters and behold this iconic landmark, it wasn’t planned! See why I like London? Everything becomes part of the adventure.

Highlights

Queues at the entrance
Bag searches and a bullet fast lift. Time spent there: 30-60 Mins
Popular for: Beautiful Garden and views of London’s
landmarks. Cost: £0

Sky garden

Similar vibes at this location. Long entrance queues, bag searches but all these added to the fun, the bambinos were just happy to be out of the house. No photo allowed at the entrance unfortunately but below are our memories in the making.

Sky garden tickets are free but need to be booked at least 3 weeks in advance

Other stops

The great fire monument. Now if you work in or around the city you probably see this all the time but for kids who had only heard about this in history lessons it was kind of a big deal.

Lastly, we walk a few more meters to London bridge feeling like tourists for a day.

Funny fact: the kids were so disappointed to see that the very Famous London is just an actual commute bridge and nothing more. Let’s just say McDonalds round the corner was the treat to simmer things down

This itinerary took about 4 hours in total and cost £30 . £10 for my travel (Kids under 11 travel free on London Trains) and £20 for lunch. I had healthy snacks packed up in my backpack because remember we were on a budget (winks).

Cotswold (Cirencester)

Located about a 2-hour drive south from London, the Cotswold truly captured our hearts with its quaint villages, rolling hills, and endless opportunities for family fun. For this trip we did a 2night stay but that was by choice. We went with friends and really wanted to maximize our stay in this lovely cottage by the lake. It had play area, beautiful scenery and ducks to be fed. “Why rusheth thou” back to London? lol.

HIGHLIGHTS

Open from April 1st – September 30th 2023 Price: £8 per adult, £4 per child, Under 3 Free What to expect: Beautiful scenery, sculptures, lovey

1st Stop: Cotswold Sculpture Park

Open from April 1st – September 30th 2023 Price: £8 per adult, £4 per child, Under 3 Free What to expect: Beautiful scenery, sculptures, lovey parks for picnic and sumptuous cakes in the cafe Time spent here: 2-3 hours

Cheddar Gorge

Now to tell you the truth before I visited, I had never heard of this beauty but if you are someone who loves adventure then this one is for you! My lovely friend Kasia invited me very casually and I wasn’t disappointed!

Now you may ask me: What’s it in for kids? Everything!!! From the hiking trails, caves, cheese like you’ve seen before. You know what even made this trip more special? We made this a Multi-stop trip as its 40mins from bath. We also got to see Stonehenge making it a 3 in one trip. Ok I’d stop the hype here: go see for yourself, I’m sure you’d come back with a thank you

Here are some more pictures from our trip.

HIGHLIGHTS

Location: 40 mins from Bath/Bristol

Things to do: Hikes, Rock Climbing, Cave tours Price: Varies (mostly free, check website for details) Time spent: 4-5 Hours.

Other: Make multiple stops to see Bath and Stonehenge.

Tip: Comfortable shoes for hiking please.

Birmingham

By this time, you are probably already bored of reading my long epistles so I’d get straight into it.

1st stop: Cannon Hill Park

What I really love about this place is that it brings equal bits of fun, relaxation and natural beauty and lots to activity options.

Boating: Take a leisurely pedal boat ride on the lake and soak in the tranquil surroundings. Prices vary depending on boat size and duration, but expect to shell out around £10-£20 for a half-hour ride.
Mini Golf: Tee up for a round of mini-golf fun! Prices usually range from £4 to £6 per person.
Play Areas: Let the kids run wild in the park’s awesome play areas, complete with swings, slides, and climbing frames. Best of all, it’s totally free and open from dawn till dusk.
Walks/Cycling/Picnic: The beautiful grounds are a safe place for all these activities. Also keep an eye out for special activities as they happen all year.

2nd Stop Sea Life / Lego tickets

Thanks to a sweet 2-for-1 discounted ticket deal, our family of four was able to enjoy all the action without breaking the bank.

If I’m being totally honest this wasn’t my favorite thing to do because as you may have gathered, I’m an outdoor baby but I must confess the kids had fun so here you go: a list of activities that kept them going.

LEGO Rides: Like The Dragon, LEGO Ninjago: The

Ride, and DUPLO Valley.

Mini land: This is a mini play area with LEGO replicas of famous landmarks from the Eiffel Tower to Buckingham Palace.
LEGO Workshops: Organized sessions where you can create your own LEGO masterpieces.

HIGHLIGHTS AT SEALIFE:

Underwater You go face-to-face with sharks, rays, and other fascinating marine creatures.
Interactive Exhibits: Here you can learn all about marine conservation and the importance of

protecting our oceans. It’s both educational and entertaining for the whole family.

Touch Tanks: Here you can touch and interact with starfish, crabs, and more. It’s a tactile experience

that’s sure to delight kids of all ages 0-10years

PS: We did these over two days to break it up but can easily be done in one. Please see Sealife website for updated prices

Essex: Cammas Hall Farm

I have lived in Essex for a very long time but only found out about the farm very randomly from an invite by a dear friend. Again, my day trip here was very spontaneous but it made it to my list because it was a very different experience for the kids who probably didn’t know how strawberries are grown. Here is a summary of activities available at cammas hall farm

Fruit Picking: We had fun picking our own delicious fruits straight from the fields. Depending on the season, you can pick strawberries, raspberries,

cherries, and more. Prices vary based on the weight of the produce you pick, but it’s typically around £5-

£10 per kilogram. You can also go on the farm trail if you are not too tired from walking

2. Maize Maze: Ah Ah! This bit allows you lose yourself

in the twists and turns of the farm’s epic maize maze.

If you like puzzles this one is for you Admission prices for the maze are usually around £5-£7 per person.

There is also a tea barn and farm shop.

The kids hit snooze once we got home and showered. It was lovely time well spent.