A daytrip to popular theme park Alton Towers, for example, can cost almost £100 for a family of four - and that is before you have started shelling out for lunch, snacks and travel.
But fortunately, there are lots of special offers and discounts available to help you slash the price of family fun - if you know where to look.
Getting away from it all
The recession has made many Britons embrace camping and caravanning holidays once again, with research from insurer esure showing that bookings at UK caravan parks are up by more than a fifth year on year.
If you are planning to take to the open road with a caravan this half-term, you can help to ease the cost by finding the cheapest petrol supply in your area at petrolprices.com.
For those keen to travel further afield, travelsupermarket.com features a whole host of last minute holiday deals. For example, you can get seven nights in a 3 star hotel in Majorca for £245 per person - less than £1,000 for a family of four. The flight departs from Manchester on May 22*.
Other deals being advertised on the website include special half-term offers on country cottages and farms. There are also deals on UK-based holiday parks, with Pontins offering half-term breaks for as little as £130 for the whole family.
Days out
Whether your children are thrill-seeking rollercoaster lovers or happier gazing at graceful manta rays, theme parks are a firm favourite with youngsters of all ages.
But the price of entry, lunch and snacks at some of the larger ones can come in at almost the same as a week at a campsite.
With a bit of planning, however, you can dramatically cut the cost. Buying your Alton Towers tickets online beforehand, for example, takes the outlay for a family of four from £100 to £81, while a family of six could save £37, bringing the overall price down to £115.
Tesco customers can slash the cost of entry further still by exchanging £9.50-worth of Clubcard vouchers for a one-day entry token, although these must be bought online at Tesco.com at least five working days before visiting the park.
You can also get into Legoland in Windsor, which usually costs £32.40 for adults and £24.30 for children, for £9.50 with the Tesco Clubcard scheme, which also offers Lego enthusiasts living in the area the chance to buy an annual pass for £18 per person.
Finally, it is worth checking the activities section of travelsupermarket.com for details of low-cost family entertainment, both within the UK and overseas.
Those living near or visiting Edinburgh, for example, could go on a full-day Bank Holiday Monday tour of Loch Ness and the Scottish Highlands at a cost of £146 for a family of four with two children aged six and 10.
Other activities
Sports lessons and other activities can also hit your pocket hard, but Sainsbury's shoppers can get two-for-one deals on a range of fun pastimes in their area through the Active Kids scheme.
Those living in Cheshire, for example, can get two SOCATOTS football sessions for the price of one, while London-wide dance school Dance Matrix offers both adults and children two classes for the price of one through the scheme.
Visit Sainsburys.co.uk for more details.
Travel
One of the easiest ways to save on family day trips is to book your train tickets early. Reserving your seats just a couple of days before travelling can make a huge difference to the price, while buying two singles rather than a return can also slash the cost.
If you plan to travel a great deal by train, it is also worth considering buying a "family and friends" railcard for £24, as this offers one third off adult fares and 60% off the price of children's tickets.
If you live in London or are planning a visit there, check out National Rail's "Days Out" scheme.
You can halve the cost of entry to attractions such as the London Dungeon and Madame Tussauds by printing off a National Rail 2-for-1 voucher.
You need a valid train ticket for the day of your visit, but this does not have to be a long or expensive journey.
Groups of four can also halve the cost of travel by buying a Groupsave ticket, which allows four people to travel for the price of two.
Fun for free
It is also worth pointing out that many family activities come completely free of charge. A trip to the local park, or beach if you're fortunate enough to live near the coast, can prove great fun if the weather is good, and many museums and galleries do not charge for entry.
Both the British Museum and the National History Museum are free for all, unless you want to see a particular exhibition.
And a walking tour of the sights in your local area can also be an educational and fun way to spend a half-term afternoon.
* Prices correct as of May 15 2009.
Disclaimer: Please note that any rates or deals mentioned in this article were available at the time of writing.
Rate This Article
Click on a star to rate this article.
