Bank holiday on a budget: Cheap or free activities in Britain this weekend
The cost of living is escalating, and that includes the price of admission to many events and attractions. Labour recently issued figures showing that households are having to pay up to 20% more for family days out than they did a year ago.
But the good news is that there are still lots of great things you can do for free or not a lot of cash.
Here we highlight some of the best free and low-cost events and attractions that are taking place or open over the bank holiday weekend. Meanwhile, there are some good deals and discounts on offer, too.
All the events are open or running on all three days, unless stated.
Bring your own secateurs for a day of picking sunflowers at Gilbert’s Farm, a working farm in the Herefordshire countryside. They have pollen-free sunflowers for cutting and taking home, as well as traditional giant ones for photo opportunities. You can also create a posy of mixed annuals including zinnias, marigolds and cornflowers. There are homemade cakes on offer but you can bring a picnic and enjoy the shaded spaces that have been created. Entrance is £1.50 per adult, under-18s free. Sunflowers are £2.40 for a single stem or £9 for five, and flowers are £1.50 per 100g.
At the National Trust’s South Foreland lighthouse, on the white cliffs of Dover, young visitors can make the most of the sea breeze and borrow a kite, free, at the visitor reception, or play games including skittles and quoits on the lawn. You could join in the White Cliffs walking festival in Kent, too (it runs until 30 August), with routes to suit different interests and abilities, from a gentle stroll with an ice-cream pit stop to a walk taking in the history and archaeology of Dover (most walks are free).
If you are closer to north-east England,
Read more on theguardian.com
