For most people, half term means seven days, a house full of kids and a budget that’s trying its best. Maybe you’ve got the whole week off. Or maybe you’ve got one precious Tuesday between shifts that you’re guarding like a lion. Either way, we've got a plan for you.
Seven ideas, one for each day, with the spend ranging so your bank account gets a breather. There’s a cinema trip, a mission in a museum, a muddy woodland walk and one big day out to end the week with a bang.
Swap the days around, skip the ones that don’t suit and nick the free ones for a rainy weekend throughout winter. Blue Light Card members deserve a few easy wins, so we’ve flagged where you can use your card to save money on days out.
Start off gently. Someone else is in charge of the entertainment for two hours, the kids are happily busy, and the only thing you have to referee is who gets the armrest. It’s the closest thing to a holiday that most of us get on a Monday.
Daytime screenings are usually kinder on the wallet than evening ones, and half term is when cinemas fill up with family showings, so check what’s on near you. If you’re trying to save money, bring snacks with you. It’s one of those things that feels illegal but isn’t. Just double-check before you turn up with half of Tesco in a rucksack.
Films on the family radar this half term include Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom, Forgotten Island and Wildwood.
If you’re wondering how you can save money with your Blue Light Card, have a read of our guide to cheaper cinema tickets. Or browse our website for cinema discounts.
Plenty of museums across the UK are free to get into, from the big national ones to the little local gem you’ve driven past for years and never gone in. Science, history, transport, toys, local life: there’s a museum for almost every topic. A lot of them put on activities during half terms, like trails, craft tables and hands-on exhibits, so check their website before you go. Have a look at opening times too, as some want you to book a free timed ticket.
Give your kids a mission each. Find the weirdest thing in the building. Do an A-to-Z challenge of what they can spot. And the best part? It’s indoors, so the rain can do its worst.
Use the free museums list to find one near you. Or if your museum of choice is paid for, Blue Light Card has offers on Tiqets and Lovetovisit.com, covering days out across the country.
Having a mid-week energy slump? Time to hand the kids over to the wonders of a trampoline park, climbing wall, arcade or play area, and let them burn off every last drop of sugar. You get a coffee and a seat. Everyone wins.
Bowling is a solid pick for mixed ages, because even a small child who can’t throw the ball down the lane can use a ramp and lane bumpers. Take a look at Hollywood Bowl and Lane 7 discounts. If you’ve got racing fans in the house, the F1 Arcade is a great chance for them to channel their inner Lewis Hamilton.
It’s also your wet weather insurance. If the forecast turns on you, this is the day to swap in.
Time to swap the screens for something with fur, feathers or fins. Zoos, wildlife parks, safari parks, farm parks and nature reserves are all a great shout to keep your kids entertained for the day. And there’s likely one within an hour of where you live.
Half term can get busy, so book online beforehand if you can and try to arrive early, which shouldn’t be too hard with excited kids waking up at 5:30am.
Check the timetable when you arrive. Lots of places run feeding times and keeper talks, and planning your day around them is a handy way to break up the walking.
Blue Light Card members can save on entry to zoos and SEA LIFE centres across the UK. And if your family are more adrenaline-seekers and fancy swinging through the trees, Go Ape is worth a look too.
Autumn does the heavy lifting here. Crunchy leaves underfoot, muddy puddles even Peppa Pig would be happy about, conkers to play with and a stick that can easily become a sword. Pick a local park, a woodland walk or a stretch of beach, and send the kids off with a checklist to find:
Pack a picnic: a bottle of hot chocolate, sausage rolls, apple slices, a slab of flapjack or a wedge of spiced pumpkin loaf. A flask of soup works wonders on a chilly day too. Remember to take your wellies and a spare pair of socks – because no one wants soggy toes on the way home.
Every half term benefits from one big moment that the kids will go running back to school to tell their friends about. This October half term, Saturday also happens to be Halloween, which is the perfect chance to lean into the occasion. Lots of theme parks go full spooky for it. So should you.
Pick a theme park and commit. Book ahead online, as tickets are often cheaper than paying at the gate. Wear comfy shoes, take a packed lunch, set off early and have a few games ready for the queues (I Spy, Would You Rather, a Rock Paper Scissors tournament, or guessing how many minutes until you reach the front).
A tip for the grown-ups: ride the big ones first while the queues are shorter and the kids’ energy levels are high. Save the gentle ones for when their legs are ready for a rest.
If this one’s going to be your biggest spend of the week, make your card work for it. Blue Light Card members can save at theme parks across the UK, including Merlin favourites like Alton Towers and Thorpe Park.
After a big day out, the best thing you can do is almost nothing. Wander round a garden, visit a National Trust or have a proper sofa day with a film and cosy blanket. Sunday is for rest and slowing down.
It’s also the perfect day to see family, or if you’re lucky to hand the kids over to the grandparents for an afternoon and enjoy the quiet. If you do head out, give the kids a trail to follow or a sketchbook to fill, and you might get 10 minutes with a hot drink.
Blue Light Card has offers on gardens, historic landmarks and outdoor attractions across the UK.
Not feeling any of that? A few more ideas to keep in your back pocket:
Thinking bigger? It’s never too late to book a half-term break with the kids to stretch the week. Have a look at Blue Light Card holiday and travel discounts for ideas.
Plenty. Cinemas, museums, bowling alleys, trampoline parks and indoor play areas are all dry. If you’ve got a spare day, our Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday ideas are all rain-proof. Pack a spare jumper, and maybe a towel for the car seat.
Log in to the app or website and browse offers on days out, including cinemas, theme parks, zoos, gardens and attractions across the UK. You can also use the ‘Near Me’ section in the app to find local gems with deals.
Plenty of museums are free to get into, and a woodland walk, beach trip or picnic in the park costs next to nothing. Our Tuesday and Friday ideas are both free, so they’re a good place to start. Check opening times and whether you need to book a free timed ticket before you set off.
