Cheap family holidays in the UK

Life can be hectic for a family, which is why a holiday is the perfect opportunity to leave the cares of work and school behind and find a place to get away from it all. Staying close to home means that you can maximise your time off. Whether it’s a beachside holiday, time up in the mountains or a trip to the big city, there are plenty of options for a family holiday that won’t break the bank.

Enjoy a cheap family holiday by the beach

When in doubt, go to the beach. Wandering aimlessly for miles as the waves lap at your feet, hunting for fossils and seashells, chasing seagulls and picnicking at the water’s edge – it’s the warm and fuzzy stuff of family memories that will be passed around for years to come. Whether you choose a holiday cottage in Bournemouth or a villa in LLandudno, you’ll find plenty of time and opportunity to connect with each other.

Great entertainment awaits on your family holiday in Bournemouth

With 7 miles of beaches, Bournemouth on the southern coast of England offers plenty of excitement for all ages. Water sports are a fun option for the active ones in your group, as is a visit to Bournemouth Pier, which feature an obstacle course and rock climbing. Bournemouth Gardens have 2 miles of local and exotic plants on display. For a lively evening on the town, you can head to the Bournemouth Triangle for cafes and restaurants, plus entertainment ranging from live music and comedy clubs to poetry readings.

Big waves and big plans in Llandudno

For a storybook family holiday, Llandudno hits all the right notes. This Welsh Victorian resort town has seen generations come back year after year to enjoy nostalgic touches like a Victorian-style high tea or a Punch and Judy show on the promenade. Amateur historians in your family might like to visit the 4,000-year-old copper mine or the medieval castle in nearby Conwy. Your kids might be interested in visiting the smallest house in the UK, or follow the trail of a visitor from long ago – Alice Pleasance Liddell, the little girl who inspired Lewis Carroll’s ‘Alice in Wonderland’.

Live it up on your family holiday on the English Riviera

Torquay on the southern English coast has a touch of the exotic, with its palm trees and international marina where yachts bob on the water. Fresh seafood and terrific cuisine have become a calling card of this formerly traditional seaside destination. You can wander through history in the underground caves of Kents Cavern or the 800-year-old Torre Abbey, and take in sea views after dinner from the Royal Terrace Gardens. Fans of the grand dame of detective fiction, Agatha Christie, who was born in Torquay, can visit the most famous murder scenes from her books, and even take a train and ferry to see her home on the River Dart.

The mountains are calling

For a family adventure holiday that’s easy on the budget, you can head to some of the UK’s own majestic ranges. Hiking, rock climbing and long treks along moors and hills make for great bonding experiences that your kids might tell their own children about one day.

Be enthralled by poetic beauty on your family holiday in Wordsworth Country

Cumbria is the home of the Lake District, a vast hilly expanse that cups azure bodies of water in its folds. This is the rugged landscape that inspired the likes of William Wordsworth, Sir Walter Scott and Beatrix Potter. As well as the highest peak in England, Scafell Pike, the climbers in your party might want to give the next 3 tallest ones a go: Sca Fell, Helvellyn and Skiddaw. Your holiday rental here may be a centuries-old stone cottage or a refurbished barn in or around the district.

Gorgeous wildness in Wales

The Black Mountains of southeast Wales are a gorgeously wild landscape carved out in the Ice Age. The area is popular with hikers, cyclists and horse riders. For those in your family who seek the biggest adrenaline rush, the northern escarpment is the perfect spot from which to launch a hang-glider. Your Black Mountains rental cottage might be situated in a village like Hay-on-Wye, which boasts more than 20 used bookshops and hosts a famous annual literary festival.