The school holidays can feel full of possibility and mildly terrifying in equal measure.
At the start, there are all the lovely intentions, such as slow mornings, little adventures, memory-making, maybe even a few magical family days out. But then reality kicks in. The kids are hungry again, the weather changes every six minutes and suddenly you are trying to fill what feels like endless weeks without accidentally remortgaging the house on snacks, soft play visits and overpriced coffees.
If you are looking for cheap school holiday activities for families, you are definitely not alone.
The good news is that keeping children entertained over the school holidays does not have to mean spending a fortune. Some of the best days are the simplest ones, such as a picnic in the park, a scavenger hunt in the garden, a homemade movie afternoon, a nature walk that ends in muddy wellies and happy little faces.
Whether you are planning for summer holidays, mid-term, Easter break or just trying to survive another wet Tuesday with the kids at home, this list is full of easy, realistic and affordable ideas that can help you make the holidays feel fun without the pressure of spending loads.
Quick Cheap School Holiday Activity Ideas
If you need something fast, start with one of these:
- have a picnic at the park
- do a garden scavenger hunt
- go on a free nature walk
- make homemade ice lollies
- build a blanket fort
- visit the library
- have a movie afternoon at home
- make a family bike ride plan
- bake simple fairy cakes
- do a “yes day” with tiny free treats
- fly a kite in the park/at the beach
And if you need more ideas to stretch across the holidays, keep going.
Why Cheap School Holiday Activities Matter
The school holidays can quietly become expensive without you even realising.
A quick trip for “something to do” turns into:
- parking
- snacks
- drinks
- a few little extras
- and suddenly it’s somehow a £40 afternoon
There is nothing wrong with paying for special outings when you can and want to. But the pressure to keep children constantly entertained can make the holidays feel more stressful than joyful.
Cheap school holiday ideas can help you:
- make the most of time together
- create fun family routines
- keep children busy without overspending
- balance special outings with low-cost home days
- enjoy the holidays without financial guilt hanging over everything
The truth is, children often remember the feeling of a day much more than the price tag attached to it.
Cheap School Holiday Activities for Families
1. Have a Park Picnic
One of the easiest and cheapest school holiday activities for families. Pack sandwiches, fruit, crisps and a blanket and head to your local park.
2. Go on a Nature Walk
Even a simple walk can feel like an adventure if you turn it into a little mission. Look for feathers, flowers, bugs, leaves or muddy puddles.
3. Visit the Library
Libraries are one of the most underrated free family activities. Many also run free story times, crafts and holiday events.
4. Build a Blanket Fort at Home
Perfect for rainy days or low-energy afternoons.
5. Make a Family Movie Afternoon
Choose a film, pop some popcorn and make the sitting room feel special.
6. Go on a Bike or Scooter Ride
Simple, active and usually very popular.
7. Have a Garden Treasure Hunt
Hide little objects or clues around the garden or house.
8. Make Homemade Ice Lollies
A lovely summer holiday activity that feels fun and useful.
9. Bake Together
Cupcakes, biscuits or even just fairy cakes with icing can become a whole afternoon.
10. Visit a Local Beach or River Walk
If you live near one, this can be a brilliant low-cost day out.
Cheap Outdoor Activities for the School Holidays
Outdoor family days do not need to be big or expensive to feel memorable.
11. Go on a Bug Hunt
Take a magnifying glass if you have one and look under logs, leaves and garden corners.
12. Feed Ducks
A classic cheap family outing, just be sure to bring suitable food rather than bread if possible.
13. Try a Family Walking Trail
Lots of local woodland walks and parks have free or low-cost trails.
14. Have a Water Play Day in the Garden
Buckets, cups, a paddling pool or even just the hose can go a long way.
15. Do Chalk Art Outside
Driveways, patios and garden slabs become instant canvases.
16. Visit a Playground You Don’t Normally Go To
A change of location can make a surprisingly big difference.
17. Have a Teddy Bear Picnic Outdoors
An easy win for younger children.
18. Make a Nature Collage
Collect leaves, petals and sticks on a walk and turn them into art later.
19. Watch the Sunset Together
A simple little ritual that can feel very special in summer.
20. Do a Family Sports Day
Sack races, running races, beanbag tosses or egg-and-spoon races can all be done cheaply at home.
Cheap School Holiday Activities at Home
Some of the best money-saving holiday days are the ones spent at home.
21. Create a “Holiday at Home” Day
Pretend you are on holiday somewhere fun — beach towels in the garden, mocktails, music and snacks.
22. Have an Indoor Picnic
Great for rainy days and always feels like more fun than lunch at the table.
23. Make a Family Time Capsule
Add drawings, little notes, a list of favourite songs and family photos.
24. Do a Living Room Obstacle Course
Perfect for energetic kids on wet days.
25. Put on a Talent Show
Let the kids sing, dance, do tricks or tell jokes.
26. Make a “Boredom Jar”
Write lots of easy ideas on slips of paper and pull one out when the whining starts.
27. Create a Family Reading Hour
Everyone gets a book, a blanket and a quiet corner.
28. Have a Baking Challenge
Decorate biscuits or make your own pizzas.
29. Make a Cardboard Box Town
If you have delivery boxes lying around, this can become a whole mini world.
30. Camp Indoors
Blankets, torches and a few bedtime snacks can make an ordinary evening feel like an event.
Cheap Activities for Younger Children
If you have toddlers or preschoolers at home, these ideas are especially useful.
31. Toy Washing Station
A bowl of warm water and some plastic animals or cars.
32. Bubble Bath in the Middle of the Day
Not glamorous, but very effective.
33. Sticker Time
Simple, cheap and surprisingly calming.
34. Pretend Café or Shop
Use things you already have around the house.
35. Playdough Afternoon
Homemade or shop-bought, it nearly always earns its keep.
36. Story Basket
Fill a basket with books, cuddly toys and a blanket.
37. Garden Water Painting
Give them a paintbrush and a little water and let them “paint” fences or walls.
38. Toy Animal Safari
Hide toy animals around the house and go looking for them.
39. Teddy Bear Hospital
A sweet imaginative play idea for little ones.
40. Dance Party
A school holiday staple.
Cheap School Holiday Activities for Older Kids
If you have bigger children too, it helps to have a few ideas that feel a little less “little kid”.
41. Family Board Game Afternoon
An easy screen-free option.
42. Learn a New Skill Together
Origami, baking, skipping, simple magic tricks or drawing tutorials.
43. Make a Short Film
Let them write, act and film their own little movie.
44. Create a Mini Garden Project
Plant herbs, flowers or even just a few seeds in pots.
45. Try a Lego or Building Challenge
Set a theme and see what everyone creates.
46. Do a “No-Spend Day” Challenge
See how much fun you can have without spending anything.
47. Have a Family Quiz Night
Let the children write some of the questions.
48. Make Friendship Bracelets
A lovely slower activity.
49. Create a Holiday Scrapbook
Use tickets, photos, drawings and notes from the holidays.
50. Plan a Dream Day Out
A fun imagination activity if you need something quieter.
How to Make the School Holidays Feel Fun Without Spending Loads
One of the biggest mindset shifts that helps during the holidays is remembering that not every day needs to be a “big day”.
You do not need:
- constant expensive outings
- packed schedules
- elaborate entertainment
- or a huge budget
Children often enjoy the school holidays most when there is a nice mix of:
- home days
- little local outings
- slower mornings
- simple traditions
- quality time together
- and one or two more special moments here and there
A few things that can really help:
- choose one bigger outing every week or fortnight
- keep a running list of free local places to visit
- say yes to parks, beaches, woods and libraries more often
- use food you already have for picnic days
- let “ordinary” things become the plan
There is so much value in low-pressure family time.
How to Save Money During the School Holidays
If you are trying to keep costs down over the holidays, these little habits can make a real difference:
Pack snacks
This alone saves a ridiculous amount of money and you can make up lunch boxes full of delicious treats you already have at home if you want to make it a bit more exciting for the kids.
Take drinks with you
Holiday coffees and juice stops add up very quickly.
Use local parks and green spaces
Free and often just as enjoyable as paid days out.
Check your local council or library events
There are often free or very low-cost activities on during school breaks.
Mix home days with outing days
Not every day needs to involve leaving the house.
Say yes to simple things
Children rarely need expensive to equal exciting.
FAQ: Cheap School Holiday Activities for Families
What can I do with kids in the school holidays for cheap?
Some of the best cheap school holiday activities include park picnics, library visits, nature walks, baking, water play, family movie afternoons, bike rides, scavenger hunts and simple home play ideas.
How do I entertain kids in the holidays without spending money?
The easiest way is to alternate between free local outings and low-cost home activities. Parks, beaches, libraries, woods, playgrounds and simple home play can go a long way.
What are the best cheap summer holiday activities for families?
Water play, picnics, bug hunts, outdoor scavenger hunts, beach walks, garden games, homemade ice lolly making and family sports days are all great cheap summer holiday activities.
How do I survive the school holidays on a budget?
Keeping the holidays affordable often comes down to planning a little in advance, packing food and drinks, choosing free local activities and remembering that children do not need constant expensive entertainment to have a lovely time.
What can I do with kids at home in the holidays?
At-home holiday ideas include indoor picnics, movie afternoons, obstacle courses, baking, crafts, pretend play, cardboard box games, reading time and garden water play.
Final Thoughts
The school holidays can feel long, expensive and a bit relentless in places, especially when you are trying to juggle family life, housework, snack requests and everyone’s wildly different energy levels.
But they do not have to be packed with expensive outings to be meaningful.
Some of the nicest holiday memories are made in the in-between bits:
a picnic on an old blanket,
wet shoes by the door,
an ice lolly in the garden,
a library trip that somehow turns into the highlight of the week,
a very average cupcake decorated like it belongs on a baking show.
Those are the days children often remember most.
Hopefully this list gives you a few easy and affordable ideas to make the school holidays feel a little more fun and a lot less financially overwhelming.
