Enjoy a budget Bank Holiday
The Bank Holiday is only a few days away, and in preparation Which? Holiday has come up with some great ways to enjoy the weekend on a budget.Free walking guides
Download free walking guides to beaches, forests, moorland and villages looked after by the National Trust at nationaltrust.org.uk. The site also lists National Trust properties and gardens that offer discounted entry or a tearoom voucher to car-free visitors, to promote greener travel.
Car crazy
Visit Mercedes-Benz World, Surrey, where a week of free events includes high-precision driving from the Silver Arrows Display Team. See mercedes-benz.co.uk world to find out more.
A celebration of imagination
A series of events (many free) are celebrating the heritage of the Heart of England. This year, Ironbridge is marking its 300th anniversary as the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution. It costs nothing to stroll along the gorge-backed high street. See visitironbridge.org.uk.
Festival fever
Free and paid-for music, dance and theatre make up the Brighton Festival and Fringe Festival in May. Brighton Festival has more than 70 shows for £10 or less, as well as 11 free events. The festivals run side by side from 2-24 May (the Fringe finishes 25 May). Tickets and more information from brightonfestival.org and brightonfestivalfringe.org.uk.
Which? Holiday found that Bankers restaurant makes some of the best fish and chips in Brighton, with crisp, thin, non-greasy batter and faultless chips. Get takeaway cod and chips from £4.20. See bankersrestaurant.co.uk.
Walk it
The Isle of Wight Walking Festival is the biggest festival of its kind in the UK and takes place from 9-24 May. There are more than 300 walks of varying pace, distance and difficulty. Visit the site to find your ideal walk and check booking requirements. Many walks are free or request a charity donation. See isleofwightwalkingfestival.co.uk.
On your bike
Fancy getting out in the open? The National Cycle Network is made up of more than 12,000 miles of routes. Find a free map at sustrans.org.uk, together with ideas for easy or long-distance rides.
Great gardens
Which? Gardening members can get buy-one-get-one-free tickets for Abbotsbury Sub-Tropical Gardens in Abbotsbury, near Weymouth, Dorset, between May and December. The gardens are filled with rare plants from around the world. In spring, camellias and magnolias are at their peak. More than 200 gardens are offering deals in the Gardens to Visit booklet, free with Which? Gardening’s May issue. Visit which.co.uk/gardeningtrial to find out about getting a trial subscription to Which? Gardening.
A date with nature
Spring is the start of the RSPB’s ‘A date with nature’ events. There’s plenty of wildlife spotting on offer and not always where you expect. Cardiff City Hall clock tower is the unusual location where a pair of peregrines is nesting. You can use the RSPB’s telescopes and binoculars, and its staff are on hand to answer questions. Almost all events are free and you don’t have to book. See rspb.org.uk/datewithnature for details.
Free history
Abbeys, castles, ruins and stately homes are among more than 400 English Heritage sites open this half term and plenty are free. The English Heritage website also has details of half term events and venues that offer reduced price family tickets. See englishheritage.org.uk for details.
Special offers
You can find more than 200 discount vouchers offering two-for-one admission and kids-go-free offers at enjoyengland.com. The site has plenty of ideas for days out grouped into themes, such as family fun, and food and drink.
Enjoy a Dahl day
The Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre in South Bucks has free storytelling and craft activities for children and families at weekends and every day during school holidays in Bucks (normal charges for admission apply). The museum was the Enjoy England’s Best Small Visitor Attraction 2008 and is aimed at 6 to 12-year-olds and their families. It gives visitors the chance to find out about Roald Dahl’s life and stories. See roalddahlmuseum.org.
A taste of Scotland
A whisky month in May is part of Homecoming Scotland 2009 – a year of celebrations to mark the country’s contribution to the world. See homecomingscotland.com for more events.
Ticket to ride
Between Liverpool and Southport, and a 30-minute train ride from the city centre, is a stretch of unspoilt shore known as Sefton’s Natural Coast. You have to pay for the train, but the beach is free. Visit seftonsnaturalcoast.com for events and to download a walking and cycling guide.
Which? Holiday choice
Take the train to Formby station and when you get there, a 10-minute walk brings you to the National Trust’s red squirrel reserve where you can see the increasingly rare mammals in a pinewood and sand dune habitat. See national trust.org.uk.
Off with her head!
This year marks the 500th anniversary of Henry VIII’s accession to the throne. There will be a range of exhibitions and events to bring history to life, including Tudor cookery displays at Hampton Court Palace. Meanwhile, a new exhibition called ‘Henry VIII: Dressed to Kill’, displaying armour belonging to the King, is now on at the Tower of London. See the Historic Royal Palaces website hrp.org.uk for more details. If you’re planning to visit both the Tower of London and Hampton Court Palace, you can save 20% on the cost of your entrance by getting a combined ticket.
The sky at night
Discover the wonders of space, stars and Living history planets with a trip to The Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London. The observatory’s new planetarium has live tours throughout the school holidays giving children and adults the opportunity to explore the night sky through the wonders of technology. Entrance to the Royal Observatory and the famous Greenwich Meridian Line is free, while discounted family tickets for the Planetarium’s live shows cost £16. Visit nmm.ac.uk to find out more information.
