Affordable family weekend outing ideas

Weekends out with the family can sometimes often seem a little frustrating to plan. Whatever happens though, you mustn’t let what is intended to be a fun day out turn into a  nightmare. The truth is a day out with the family doesn’t have to be aggravating or costly.  There are plenty of fun and affordable places to take the family if you look around.

Despite reports of its demise, cinema is thriving in the digital age. There’s nothing quite like taking your kids to the cinema, where they can really get sucked into a movie, unlike at home where they are distracted by just about anything.

You can still take advantage of family group deals, as well as other offers like Orange Wednesdays. There are loads of deals for kids too. For example, discounted weekly screenings of kids’ movies at Cineworld are a great way of saving cash and treating the family to some weekend movie magic.

London has a lot of free museums, but the one with the most buttons to press wins every time! Your kids won’t stand a chance of becoming bored at the Science Museum. The permanent displays are always free and the temporary exhibitions are always curated with families in mind.

In case your kids get bored of the exhibits though, there’s an on-site IMAX cinema that shows documentaries. Upcoming events to watch out for include The Science Museum Live Energy Show and Typhoon Force, an exhibition of the RAF’s newest Typhoon fighter jet.

Beaver Water World is located in Kent and is a great budget day out for the family. It’s not exactly London Zoo – especially in terms of size – but if you prefer paying around 20 pounds less for each ticket then keep reading.

Essentially an animal rescue centre or sanctuary,  Beaver Water World specialises in reptiles, birds and beavers. The latter work all night and sleep for most of the day, so a good time to visit is after lunch, once they’ve risen.

Your kids will be able to handle the beavers too but make sure you call the centre ahead to plan first, as this activity is subject to how many volunteers are present. It’s not just the beavers, either – your kids will get to handle baby snakes as well if they’re not too scared of them that is.