Budget Travel in the UK: Family Travel Ideas
I’ve been to the U.K. three times as a budget traveler, but during all of those trips, I was single and spent my time at hostels. However, since we now have a two-year-old son, we’d now be looking for family friendly destinations that won’t eat up our entire annual travel budget in a week.
Travel expenses in the U.K. can add up quickly; cheap accommodation and good value food options are the most important things to plan ahead for if you have a strict budget. The most important factor is to find good value accommodation that’s fit for children. Here are some ideas.
Holiday Parks
A holiday park is what Americans would most likely think of as a resort. The U.K. has many fantastic holiday parks where you’ll find swimming pools, kids activities, on-site restaurants, and good value family accommodation with a lot of amenities. I always used to wonder why my parents liked to take us kids to resorts when we were younger, and now I know. It is so much easier to have everything you need readily available than to get a baby or toddler ready to go out several times each day.
At holiday parks, you can book cheap Easter breaks and other deals during the kids’ school breaks. Accommodation ranges from budget/mid-range to higher end apartments with fully equipped kitchens. For the best value, look for accommodation options that include full standard board.
Holiday Cottages
National Trust rents over 400 historic cottages around the U.K. Most have equipped kitchens, and many have cots and baby chairs for young families. Eating in will save a lot of money on your food budget and be less stressful if you have a baby or a toddler. Search for a cottage near the beach for kid-friendly family outings.
Cottages range in price as they come in all different sizes, from 1 bedroom to 7 bedrooms. I was checking out some 2-bedroom properties near the beach, and some rented weekly for less than £400 during shoulder seasons and £600 during summer.
What I love about this option is how atmospheric and interesting each property is. I’d probably wait until our son is older to book this type of place, because I’d want him to remember the experience and be able to explore the surrounding countryside or city by bicycle.
Renting an RV
RVs are called caravans in the U.K., and renting one can be a great way to save on transport, accommodation and food costs. This would be a great option if you’d like to stop in several destinations and do your own cooking. The U.K. has 15 National Parks that are best explored by having your own wheels. Rent bicycles and transport them with the RV so that you have an easy way to explore each new destination.
Camping
The absolute cheapest accommodation you’ll find for families is old-fashioned camping. Within the national parks, you can stay in ‘camping barns’ for as little as £7 per night. If you stay in the camping barns, you don’t need to have your own tent. Regular campsites for tents and RVs range from £3 to £20 per night depending on facilities available.
The thing is, if you want to camp for your vacation, you’ll still need to arrange for the transport to get you from your point of entry in the U.K. to the campground or national park, and you’ll still need a way to get out and get to the store for groceries. This is where renting an RV may prove to be a cheaper option. Personally, I’d rather pay a bit more to have something fully equipped than lug my camping gear all the way to the U.K.
Youth Hostels
Another budget accommodation option for families is youth hostels. Although some have a younger backpacker/party vibe, many welcome families and have larger rooms with private bathrooms.
One example of cool place to stay with your family is the recently renovated farmhouse in South Downs operated by YHA. Rooms are available from £25 per night. The hostel has extensive grounds and is a good base for exploring the surrounding area. Staying in a converted farmhouse like this one assures plenty of room for active toddlers to run around and expend their energy.
After putting together this roundup I’ve realized that taking a short vacation with kids in the U.K. is not impossible for families on a budget! If you plan ahead, you can most certainly snag deals on all-inclusive holiday parks or other accommodation.
Do you have any tips for budget travel in the U.K.? Have you stayed anywhere that was wonderful for toddlers?
Leave a comment below!
Feature Photo: Butlins Holiday Park, Skegness by Lee Bailey
