Finding a holiday that suits the whole family can be really difficult, especially one within a shoestring budget. So we've done the hard work for you and culminated a list of things to do, and cheap, quirky and Family Friendly alternatives to hotels and b&bs to help you have the best family holiday in the UK.
Take a trip to Cornwall
A classic family favourite, Cornwall is a fantastic holiday desitination in the uk. Warm beaches, fish and chips, and beautiful coastal towns, Cornwall has something to offer everyone.
What to do:
there is so much for families to do in Cornwall. Looking for an exciting an educational day out? Try the Eden Project, a dramatic global garden with an indoor jungle and England's longest zip wire, it even works on rainy days! Family tickets start at £62 and discounts are available online find out more here. If your kids love animals why not take them to The Seal Sanctuary, where they can see the rehoming and learn about conservation efforts Family tickets are available from £35. As a cheap alternative, visit one of Cornwalls beautiful beaches, most are dog friendly and offer surfing lessons, try Watergate Bay, quieter than Newquay with the same wonderful facilities also home to Jamie Olivers fifteen
Where to stay:
Universityrooms.com has some wonderful low-cost alternatives to expensive Cornish hotels, rooms are mainly available in the summer vacation period, and are in great locations close to the coast which the entire family can enjoy. Look at our Cornish locations here
Have a City Break in London
A busy and exciting City, London has so much to offer when it comes to family city breaks.
What to do:
with the best selections of museums in the country, you definitely wont get bored in London. The science museum is a must for an educational day out, unlike other museums it offers an interactive experience with lots of things to touch and feel and jump on, entry is free but some exhibits require a purchased ticket. If you’re looking for child-friendly places to eat then the Rainforest Café is a must, a family restaurant with a jungle theme that also caters for a wide range of dietary requirements. Feel like some history? The Tower of London is a fantastic day out, visitors learn about the towers gruesome history, gaze at the crown jewels and of course see the towers resident Ravens, family tickets start at £45.00.
Where to stay:
Although accommodation in London can be expensive, Universityrooms.com has lots of self-catering accommodation which is suitable for families and won’t break the bank. Look at our London locations here
Explore Bath
Bath is a beautiful city with bucket loads of culture and history to keep you occupied and lots of fun events to entertain the little ones.
What to do:
Bath City Farm is a family friendly 37 acre farm with plenty to see and do, it has a number of animals, a cafe and farm shop, Nature Trails, and a play space for toddlers. If you want to learn some local history visit The Roman Baths, Children of all ages can find out about life in Roman times through activity trails, costumed characters and children’s audio guides. For clothes-conscious teenagers there’s the Fashion museum which holds a collection with everything from Shakespearian gloves to current designers. Prior Park Landscape Gardens is the perfect picnic spot the idyllic park has stunning features, wildlife trails, a play park and a host of events throughout the year. If it’s a nice day why not tour the city on its water ways? Bath Boating Station offers a variety of boats for a day's exploration on the water, there’s loads of wildlife to see and everyone can get a chance to paddle.
Where to stay:
Bath university accommodation offers an affordable alternative to a cheap hotel or hostel when visiting this historic Spa city. Single, twin and double ensuite rooms available in a range of residences, from Georgian terraced houses recently built university residences. Book yours today, Look at our Bath locations here
Go Exploring in The Lake District
One of the most beautiful spots in the UK the Lake district National Park is a must visit for everyone.
What to do:
The UK's biggest National Park has so much to offer families, why not see the beautiful views of the lake district on horseback? There are loads of stables in Cumbria that offer horse trekking for a variety of ages and abilities. For a fantastic day out visit Brockhole on Windamere a visitor centre that has wonderful gardens, an adventure playground and offers boat hire, archery, mini golf and a whole host of other exciting attractions. Coniston Boating Centre is also well worth visit if your family fancies having a go at a spot of canoeing or sailing. As well as fantastic variety of visitor attractions and activities there are also hundreds of walks and cycle paths to follow (bikes are available to rent or you can bring your own)
Where to stay:
Perfectly located in the heart of the Lake District, Universityrooms.com offers accommodation are the ideal base for exploring this stunning landscape. Self-catering accommodation is a great alternative to a Cumbrian B&B or hotel providing you with more flexibility, close to Lake Windermere as well as plenty of other attractions, there is something for everyone here! Spaces fill up quickly so book early and check regularly for updates! Look for accomodation in the Lake District here.
Take a trip to Cambridge
Not just for academics Cambridge also makes a wonderful city break for families, couples and friends.
What to do:
For museums try The Fitzwilliam Museum which houses fantastic collections of works of art and antiquities spanning centuries and civilisations, They regularly hold events for children, such as storytelling sessions where kids can experience history come to life. Cambridge is also home to the Cambridge university botanic gardens, 40 acres of beautiful gardens with plants from all over the world, the Garden is an inspiration for gardeners, an exciting introduction to the natural world for families and is a perfect picnic spot. Just outside Cambridge lies the Imperial War Museum Duxford which offers a fantastic experience whatever the weather and houses a wonderful collection of airplanes from spitfires to concords and a nostalgic ww2 memorabilia collection. If you want to make exploring Cambridge colleges fun why not try the Cambridge College Murder Mystery Trail. This self-guided Murder Mystery themed Treasure hunt gets you to solve clues set on existing buildings, permanent features and monuments to eliminate the suspects to discover who committed the crime. Finally if you want to see the sights of the city from the best seats possible, why not try a punting tour, you can either have a guided tour or do it yourself (provided you’ve got the arm strength!) boats can be a little pricey so shop around a bit to find the best deal.
Where to Stay:
A unique backstage pass providing the opportunity to stay in a historic Cambridge college during your visit to this heritage-rich city, whilst helping to generate revenue contributing to the upkeep of these iconic buildings. These bed and breakfast or self catering rooms are mostly located in central Cambridge and make a wonderful alternative to a hosetl or B&B. Look for rooms in Cambridge here
Discover Edinburgh
A wonderful city, Edinburgh is cool, educational and fun making it perfect city break and an interesting alternative to London.
What to do:
If you’re planning on visiting Edinburgh, take a trip to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the Queen’s official residence in Scotland. Take a trip down memory lane at the Museum of Childhood Edinburgh, a fun and educational day for all the family discovering the history of childhood through fantastic collection of toys and games, entry to the museum is free. A fantastic and fun way to see the city, The Edinburgh Treasure Trail is an interactive self-guided exploration of the city- and best of all its free! Simply download the maps and get going! The city is of course famous for its wonderful annual festival, but if you want something a bit more child friendly try The Edinburgh International Children's Festival (27 May to 4 June 2017) a brilliant festival of performing arts for children and young people tickets are available from the 23rd of march.
Where to stay:
All visitors to Edinburgh can enjoy convenient and affordable accommodation option in Scotland's capital city. Choose from single, twin or double ensuite rooms, on a bed & breakfast or self-catering basis; a great alternative to an Edinburgh hostel or cheap hotel. Look at Edinburgh accommodation here.
See the sights of Oxford
Inspire young minds with a trip to Oxford, a vibrant cultural hub with always loads of events going on.
What to do:
If you’re looking for culture try The Modern Art Oxford, it has loads of family friendly facilities and offers family tours, introducing children of all ages to the Gallery through a range of fun and creative activities. If it’s a nice day why not head to Hinksey Outdoor Pool is a large heated outdoor pool located close to the centre of Oxford with easy access by public transport. Just outside oxford lies the Pendon Indoor Model Village and Railways where you can see the beautiful rural landscape of the 1920s using the most detailed and accurate models possible plus the chance to see authentic trains and railways. A visit to oxford would not be complete without a trip to the city's most Iconic building The Bodleian Library, family tours are available and offer a chance to see the set where harry potter was filmed. For a magical experience where the kids can climb through Narnia’s wardrobe, take them to The Story Museum which celebrates story in all forms and explores their enduring power to teach and delight. If you’re the competitive sort try to catch the oxford vs Cambridge boat race Sunday 2nd April 2017, a fantastic and exciting day out which is sure to entertain the whole family.
Where to stay:
A unique backstage pass providing an opportunity to stay in historic Oxford college room accommodation. These bed and breakfast (B&B) and self catering rooms in central Oxford are a brilliant alternative to cheap Oxford hotels whilst providing the colleges with revenue to contribute to the upkeep of the famous buildings. Look at Oxford accomodation here.
Take a Trip to Cardiff
Cardiff is a wonderful city and has so much to offer when it comes to trips away with the kids.
What to do:
This summer Cardiff is packed with events for the whole family to enjoy there’s Cardiff Children’s Literature Festival 25 March 2017 To 02 April 2017 which celebrates contemporary children’s literature in both English and welsh. From the 28th march to April 1st Cirque Berserk! Showcasing the finest in traditional circus thrills and skills. From 8th – 13th of April the National Museum Cardiff runs Painting colours and shapes, a messy art workshop which is especially suitable for families with young children. If your little ones like nature, the education centre is hosting National Meadow Day at Riverside Park on the 1st July, involving a Mini Beast Safari, flower game and quadrat survey. Along with all these wonderful events there is plenty to do and see in Cardiff. The city also has plenty of museums and indoor/outdoor activity centres for mini golf, climbing and even white water rafting. If aliens are your thing, then the city is home to The Doctor Who Experience, you can fly the TARDIS and come face-to-face with Daleks. If you want to explore some museums Techniquest is a fantastic interactive museum that aims to inspire and inform the scientists of the future.
Where to stay:
Staying in Cardiff university summer accommodation is a convenient and affordable way to stay in Wales' capital city, with accommodation available in the very centre of Cardiff. These self-catering rooms are available in the summer vacation periods and are a great alternative to a Cardiff hotel or hostel. Look at rooms in Cardiff here.
Have an Adventure in The Peak district
There is so much to do in the peak district, the incredible beauty and landcape speaks for itself and kids will love running about in the fresh air.
What to do:
Catch a ride on a cable car at the Heights of Abraham to see stunning sweeping views of the peaks, at the top there’s loads for the whole family to explore, including amazing caverns a kids’ playground. Looking for something to do on a rainy day? Try Conkers, an indoor and outdoor activity centre makes a great day out with 120 acres of adventure and 100 interactive exhibits. Similarly, National Forest Adventure Farm, has a wonderful indoor play areas and allows you to meet and feed the animals, as well as wonderful activities like pony grooming and milking. As well as fantastic variety of visitor attractions and activities, much like the lake district there’s loads of opportunities for walks, bike rentals and pony trekking. Take time to visit some of the peaks chocolate box villages, you can even try the original Bakewell tart at Bakewell. If you’re happy to travel further afield then just outside the peak district in Stoke-on-Trent is Trentham estate Monkey forest where you can literally walk amongst monkeys, This unique attraction lets visitors explore and learn about the lives of these fascinating primates, living just as they would in Morocco or Algeria.
Where to stay:
Visitor accommodation at University of Sheffield, all the accommodation is conveniently located within a 10 minute drive of Sheffield city centre and is just five miles from the Peak District. Look at rooms in Sheffield here.
Central, comfortable and well equipped.
UniversityRooms offers comfortable B&B style accommodation in student residences from just £35 a night.
Anyone can book - not just for students.
You dont have to be a student to benefit from these amazing nightly rates and great facilities. UniversityRooms.com is a quirky and affordable alternative to a traditional B&B, budget hotel or youth hostel.
Find your perfect room at UniversityRooms.com
