Discover some of the best ways to keep the kids entertained during the summer holidays – and how you can save money with your Boundless membership
If there’s one thing you can say with absolute confidence, it’s that kids love the summer holidays. For parents, though, this lengthy break from school poses something of a challenge. Not just in terms of juggling work with childcare, but also because they need to find ways of keeping the little ones busy and happy – without having to spend a fortune.
To help you solve this conundrum, we’ve compiled a list of the best cost-saving activities to do with children during the school summer holidays. All of the suggestions on this list are easy to put into practice – and, crucially, in all cases you can use your Boundless membership to keep costs down and help you stretch your summer budget as far as possible.
Not yet a member? If you're working in or retired from the public sector or civil service, Boundless has two great membership options to choose from: Boundless and Boundless Plus. As well as getting access to exclusive events, Boundless members enjoy unlimited free or discounted entry to many of the UK’s top attractions, plus year-round deals on restaurants, holidays, shopping and much more.
Take your kids to a theme park this summer
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A theme park? On a budget? Yes, it sounds like a pipe dream, but with Boundless anything is possible. As part of your membership, you get a free 12-month subscription to Kids Pass, which will enable you to save up to 56% on the price of entry to some of the UK’s most popular theme parks – including Drayton Manor, Gulliver’s and Zip World – and also get discounts on mini-golf, bowling, aquariums and much more.
Kids Pass members save an average of £376 per year (based on an average user claiming five offers in a six-month period). So, why not strap in and make the most of it!
Watch an outdoor show with the whole family
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Summer is outdoor theatre season, and one of the best places to watch one of these al fresco productions is Kew Gardens. This magical landscape provides a stunning backdrop for a range of shows, with Alice in Wonderland, Macbeth and The Dream Fairies – Adventures in Bubble Land all being staged this summer.
With a Boundless membership, you can get 20% off tickets for Kew’s outdoor theatre shows, and also gain free year-round access to both Kew and its sister attraction Wakehurst for yourself and up to five children per visit (an additional adult can also join you for 50% of the standard admission price). It won’t be long before you’re smiling like the Cheshire Cat!
Go on a family roadtrip
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One good way of getting kids off their screens is to take them for a family drive in the countryside. Make sure they leave their gadgets at home and, instead, keep them entertained with a game (the AA has shared some suggestions).
Another alternative is to stream an audiobook that you can all listen to. With a Boundless membership, you can get a free 75-day subscription to BookBeat, which offers access to over 800,000 titles – from perennial classics to the latest bestsellers. And if you decide to stay on once your trial period is up, you’ll get 10% off the price of your first six months’ subscription. What’s more, with the ability to listen either online or offline, you needn’t worry about losing your signal once you reach those rural areas.
Go on a summer family bike ride
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Don’t fancy jumping in the car? You could always round up the troops for a family cycle ride. Not only will it be good for bonding (as long as those sprint races aren’t too competitive!), but cycling can also boost your physical and mental health, especially if you pick a route that brings you closer to nature.
If you’re missing any key accessories for your journey, such as helmets, reflective vests or puncture repair kits, you needn’t worry about spending a lot of money as Boundless members get 7% off cycling gear (and indeed bikes) when they buy in store at Halfords (offer ends 2 October 2025).
Have a movie marathon
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Of course, just because it’s summer, that doesn’t mean the weather is guaranteed to be good. If the heavens decide to open, a family trip to the cinema is a great option as you can spend a couple of hours watching the latest Hollywood blockbuster on a giant screen, all while munching something tasty from the foyer.
Yes, cinemas can be expensive these days, but this is much less of an issue if you’re a Boundless member. That’s because you’re granted access to The Cinema Society, through which you can get up to 37% off tickets, snacks and drinks at a range of chain and independent picture houses. With some cracking family films new film releases heading to the silver screen this summer – from Smurfs to The Bad Guys 2 – why not go multiple times?
Go wildlife spotting
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Most kids love animals, so taking them out for a bit of wildlife spotting is a surefire winner. If you have some countryside or a nature reserve on your doorstep, have a wander and make a list of the creatures you see on your travels. You could even turn it into a game – whoever spots the most species, wins!
Want something a bit more structured? You can find an assortment of wildlife-related activities on the Natural History Museum website.
If you don’t live in a rural area, remember that your Boundless membership grants you free year-round access to all nine WWT centres across the UK – for yourself and up to five children per visit – meaning you can grab your binoculars and explore these wildlife-rich habitats any time you wish.
Do more with Boundless
If you're working in or retired from the public sector or civil service, Boundless has two great membership options to choose from: Boundless and Boundless Plus.
With Boundless, you get unlimited access or discounted entry to many of the UK’s top attractions, including Kew Gardens and Wakehurst and WWT centres across the UK, as well as year-round deals on restaurants, holidays, shopping and much more. With Boundless Plus, you can enjoy additional benefits including unlimited access to Historic Royal Palaces sites, National Trust for Scotland places, access to The Ramblers' extensive walking community, and peace of mind with roadside assistance and local recovery by Britannia Rescue.
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