With the summer holidays on the horizon, families across the country will no doubt be looking forward to spending lots of time with their loved ones. And one of the best things about the summer break is getting to enjoy fun activities together. But this will be more challenging for many families this year as the cost of living continues to rise. In fact, research by the University of Loughborough has found that costs for families with two children have risen by an average of £400 per month.

And it’s no secret to parents that summer holiday activities can come with a hefty price tag. Even activities that take a few hours can cost over a hundred pounds! So how exactly can you cut the cost to enjoy the long break with your kids? The children’s outdoor retailer Little Adventure Shop are here to share with us the average cost of four popular summer holiday activities, and provide us with alternatives to help us bring the prices down.

Summer getaway
The largest expense for most families by far in the long summer break is the cost of getaways. In 2019, the average UK resident spent £670 per holiday abroad (ONS). For a family of four, this takes the figure to a staggering £2680 for the whole holiday. While this may sound like a shocking figure, it isn’t all too surprising considering the amount we spend on food, drink, activities, and souvenirs while holidaying abroad, on top of the more significant cost of travel and accommodation.

The good news is that there are lots of ways to enjoy a getaway closer to home for a much smaller price. There are plenty of beautiful spots to enjoy in the UK, from the stunning Cornish coast to the breathtaking Lake and Peak Districts. These spots are completely free to enjoy, so all you need is the right clothing and gear to keep the family safe and comfortable.

As well as being able to cut the cost of transport by travelling much shorter distances, you can even slash the price of accommodation too by opting for a camping holiday. While the British summer weather can be unpredictable, temperatures are expected to be high in August, making it the perfect weather to enjoy a camping staycation (Met Office). And another great cost-cutting aspect of camping is being able to cook your own food to cut down on restaurant prices, by using a camping stove or even firing up a barbecue.

Cinema trips
While many of us love a trip to the cinema, it’s safe to say that for families it can be a costly outing. In the UK, the price of an average cinema ticket is £7.52 (Statista). For a family of four, this would cost just over £30 to merely see the film. This doesn’t even take into account the price of getting there, as well as costly cinema drinks and snacks.

Although you may feel like watching a film in the house just isn’t the same, there are plenty of ways to recreate the cinema experience in the comfort of your own home. There are a number of relatively cheap smartphone projectors on the market that allow you to watch a film just like you would in the cinema. You can project it inside against a blank wall or sheet, or even take it into your back garden and enjoy an outdoor cinema screening — just make sure you all wrap up!

Since the pandemic, many new films have been released on popular streaming services at the same time they’re being shown in cinemas, so you don’t have to worry about being stuck with a movie you’ve seen loads of times before. And as for cinema snacks, you can easily whip up some popcorn, nachos, or any other of your go-to film screening treats for a fraction of the price that you’d pay in the cinema, so there really is no downside!

Theme parks
If you have older kids who are looking for a thrill, theme parks will likely have crossed your mind. However, for just a few hours of fun these can be incredibly expensive, especially for families. The median price for an entrance ticket to the top seven leading theme parks in the UK is £48 (Statista). This would cost a staggering £192 for a family of four, and this doesn’t even include the cost of transport or food at the park, which can be particularly pricy.

For an adrenaline-pumping and cost-effective alternative, you may want to consider climbing. As well as being a great way to encourage your children to get active, climbing centres make for a significantly cheaper day out than theme parks. Many climbing centres offer options for children as young as five, so it can be a great day out for the whole family.

You don’t need your own gear if you’re going to a climbing centre, but if you and your family fall in love with the sport as many others have and you want to start doing it outdoors for free, investing in climbing equipment is a great idea. It will give you and your family a new go-to hobby to enjoy together so you won’t have to regularly shell out for other expensive activities.

Dining out
Eating a meal together can be a great bonding experience for the whole family, but it comes with a price when enjoying a meal in a restaurant. The average household spends a whopping £1,050 on meals out in restaurants and cafés per year (NimbleFins). And due to inflation, many eateries are putting prices up further so this figure may become even higher this year.

If you’re looking to cut the cost of meals out, the good news is that the summer holidays are the perfect time to enjoy meals at home with the family. If you’re looking to recreate the fine dining experience at home, you can get the whole family involved in creating a delicious meal, set the table beautifully, and put on your best outfit to enjoy the meal in style. For more competitive families, you can even take it in turns and create a Come Dine With Me style cooking competition where you all rate each other’s food!

And for those looking for something more casual, host a family barbecue and dine al fresco. This way, you can enjoy delicious food in your comfiest clothes and you don’t even need to worry about making a mess as you’re outdoors! There are plenty of fun treats for little ones to enjoy when cooking outdoors too, such as marshmallows toasted on an open fire, or for a healthier option, tasty grilled fruit like bananas and pineapple.

“All parents love getting to spend more time with their kids in the summer holidays. But some of the fun activities that keep them entertained come with a hefty price, and that’s likely to have an even bigger impact now we’re experiencing a cost of living crisis. But fortunately, fun doesn’t need to come with a huge price tag!

“There are plenty of cheaper alternatives which your little ones will enjoy just as much. For example, an adrenaline-pumping trip to your local climbing centre can feel just as much of an adventure as a day at a theme park. And by making your own meals at home instead of dining out, you can teach your children more about cooking and enjoy exactly what you want from the comfort of your own home.

“And don’t forget that there are lots of other fun, free days out which the whole family can enjoy in the great outdoors. Something as simple as visiting the local park or going for a walk is a great way to connect both with nature and your loved ones, to make memories which will last a lifetime.”