Mum reveals the little-known way to save hundreds on English attraction trips  --[Reported by Umva mag]

SUMMER may be drawing to a close, but there’s still time to make the most of a new National Trust pass that’s perfect for autumn day trips. The Explorer Pass was launched earlier this year by the National Trust. AlamyNational Trust’s Explorer Pass can save you so much money[/caption] Catherine LofthouseI saved more than £100 taking my kids to some of the properties[/caption] Places like Calke Abbey are some of my favourite places to visitCatherine Lofthouse The pass lets you visit sites across four, eight or 14 days from just £44 for a single parent family or £69 for two adults in the same household and their children. That’s quite a saving on a full-year family membership which costs £99 for one adult and their youngsters or £159 for two adults and their children. It’s an absolute bargain, given that one-day entrance into some of the more popular National Trust places can cost almost as much as the four-day Explorer Pass, so essentially you’re getting an extra three days of visits free. Plus the pass includes parking, which can quickly add up at some sites if you’re not a member. There’s a couple of National Trust sites that charge £5 for all-day parking if you’re a non-member, so once you’ve factored in entry costs and car parking fees, you may well be better off using an Explorer Pass, even if you won’t use all the days it comes with.  Some of the more expensive places to visit include Cragside in Northumberland, which costs £60.30 for a two-adult family or £38 for a one-adult family. And Quarry Bank Mill in Cheshire, family entrance costs £60.50 for the two adult option or £36.30 for single parents. One thing to be aware of is that the one-off entrance price generally only covers up to three children, while the family memberships cover all the children or grandchildren of the named adults. So if you’ve got a bigger family with more than three children in tow, family membership, whether with the Explorer Pass or the annual option, could be the way to go. There has been a similar overseas visitor pass for foreigners holidaying in the UK for years, but you couldn’t buy it if you were living here. So making this pass open to everyone is a great move, especially if you’re visiting a different area of England or Wales for a staycay and there’s a few different National Trust places you want to visit while you’re there. If you only want a short-term pass to use while you’re away, this makes it a more affordable option, rather than paying for a year. You can’t buy on arrival though, so you need to go online before your first visit to sign up. And you also need to check that the properties you’re interested in visiting are covered by the Explorer Pass as there’s a list of almost 40 sites that aren’t included on the National Trust website. This includes some like Stonehenge that fall under a reciprocal agreement with English Heritage. But do your research and you could be quids in. We love a family day out at National Trust and if we had bought an Explorer Pass to cover my family of five to visit the four nearest sites to us, we would have saved almost £100 on entry fees, as paying to visit each place individually would have added up to £161.75, compared to £69 for a four-day family pass. My top picks would include Belton House in Lincolnshire, which has a huge woodland play area with a miniature train ride through the trees, and the Children’s Country House at Sudbury Hall in Derbyshire, which has a museum full of toys from different eras you can try. I’ve been blown away by the Summer of Play this year at all the National Trust places we’ve visited. From garden games to den building to outdoor music making, there’s been so much to keep my boys busy that at some sites, we’ve had to go back for a second day just to do the bits we didn’t have time for first time around.  My favourite was the hobby horse racing in the Garden of Imagination at Calke Abbey in Derbyshire, which we visited right at the start of the holidays. It set the tone for all the other National Trust day trips we took over the summer, as we knew there would be loads of kids’ activities included.  We also made the most of vouchers for free kids’ meals at National Trust cafes, a nice little bonus from the boys’ Starling Kite bank accounts. So there’s lots of ways to keep costs down if you fancy a heritage visit but without a hefty price tag. AlamyCragside House is also one we love to visit[/caption] Seven ways to save on staycations Consumer experts Which? have put together some tips for keeping costs down while holidaying in the UK Find a cheap stay three miles down the roadHolidaymakers can save over £400 on a UK holiday by choosing a lesser-known location nearby.For example, staying in Salcombe instead of Dartmouth, or Saundersfoot instead of Tenby

SUMMER may be drawing to a close, but there’s still time to make the most of a new National Trust pass that’s perfect for autumn day trips.

The Explorer Pass was launched earlier this year by the National Trust.

Alamy

National Trust’s Explorer Pass can save you so much money[/caption]

Catherine Lofthouse

I saved more than £100 taking my kids to some of the properties[/caption]

Catherine Lofthouse

The pass lets you visit sites across four, eight or 14 days from just £44 for a single parent family or £69 for two adults in the same household and their children.

That’s quite a saving on a full-year family membership which costs £99 for one adult and their youngsters or £159 for two adults and their children.

It’s an absolute bargain, given that one-day entrance into some of the more popular National Trust places can cost almost as much as the four-day Explorer Pass, so essentially you’re getting an extra three days of visits free.

Plus the pass includes parking, which can quickly add up at some sites if you’re not a member.

There’s a couple of National Trust sites that charge £5 for all-day parking if you’re a non-member, so once you’ve factored in entry costs and car parking fees, you may well be better off using an Explorer Pass, even if you won’t use all the days it comes with. 

Some of the more expensive places to visit include Cragside in Northumberland, which costs £60.30 for a two-adult family or £38 for a one-adult family.

And Quarry Bank Mill in Cheshire, family entrance costs £60.50 for the two adult option or £36.30 for single parents.

One thing to be aware of is that the one-off entrance price generally only covers up to three children, while the family memberships cover all the children or grandchildren of the named adults.

So if you’ve got a bigger family with more than three children in tow, family membership, whether with the Explorer Pass or the annual option, could be the way to go.

There has been a similar overseas visitor pass for foreigners holidaying in the UK for years, but you couldn’t buy it if you were living here.

So making this pass open to everyone is a great move, especially if you’re visiting a different area of England or Wales for a staycay and there’s a few different National Trust places you want to visit while you’re there.

If you only want a short-term pass to use while you’re away, this makes it a more affordable option, rather than paying for a year.

You can’t buy on arrival though, so you need to go online before your first visit to sign up.

And you also need to check that the properties you’re interested in visiting are covered by the Explorer Pass as there’s a list of almost 40 sites that aren’t included on the National Trust website.

This includes some like Stonehenge that fall under a reciprocal agreement with English Heritage. But do your research and you could be quids in.

We love a family day out at National Trust and if we had bought an Explorer Pass to cover my family of five to visit the four nearest sites to us, we would have saved almost £100 on entry fees, as paying to visit each place individually would have added up to £161.75, compared to £69 for a four-day family pass.

My top picks would include Belton House in Lincolnshire, which has a huge woodland play area with a miniature train ride through the trees, and the Children’s Country House at Sudbury Hall in Derbyshire, which has a museum full of toys from different eras you can try.

I’ve been blown away by the Summer of Play this year at all the National Trust places we’ve visited.

From garden games to den building to outdoor music making, there’s been so much to keep my boys busy that at some sites, we’ve had to go back for a second day just to do the bits we didn’t have time for first time around. 

My favourite was the hobby horse racing in the Garden of Imagination at Calke Abbey in Derbyshire, which we visited right at the start of the holidays.

It set the tone for all the other National Trust day trips we took over the summer, as we knew there would be loads of kids’ activities included. 

We also made the most of vouchers for free kids’ meals at National Trust cafes, a nice little bonus from the boys’ Starling Kite bank accounts.

So there’s lots of ways to keep costs down if you fancy a heritage visit but without a hefty price tag.

Alamy

Cragside House is also one we love to visit[/caption]

Seven ways to save on staycations

Consumer experts Which? have put together some tips for keeping costs down while holidaying in the UK

Find a cheap stay three miles down the road
Holidaymakers can save over £400 on a UK holiday by choosing a lesser-known location nearby.
For example, staying in Salcombe instead of Dartmouth, or Saundersfoot instead of Tenby, could save £24-£59 per room, per night.

Try booking directly with the hotel
Comparison sites are useful, but contacting the hotel or B&B directly might get you better rates or perks.
Holidaymakers can often secure free breakfasts or champagne on arrival by booking directly.

Sign up to loyalty schemes
Sign up for free loyalty schemes with hotel chains and booking websites to save money on future trips.
Supermarket reward schemes like Tesco Clubcard and Nectar have partnerships with attractions and accommodation.

Avoid events when booking accommodation
Check for big events in the area when booking accommodation, as higher demand could increase prices.
For example, Cheltenham rooms are almost six times cheaper the week after the Gold Cup horse race.

Share a cottage with another household
Save on holiday cottages by staying with friends or family and splitting the cost.
On Airbnb, a cottage for six in St Florence cost £584, or £292 per household, saving £281 compared to a one-bedroom apartment.

Check for last-minute holiday cottages
Prices for holiday cottages in England have dropped, with August getaways 11% cheaper if booked in late July.
This is due to increased travel abroad, making last-minute bookings more affordable.

Visiting a holiday park? Choose one that offers good value for money
Which? found that family-run resorts like John Fowler Holiday Parks offer better value than pricier options like Center Parcs.
Resorts that cost less often scored highly in most categories, providing great experiences without high prices.

The following news has been carefully analyzed, curated, and compiled by Umva Mag from a diverse range of people, sources, and reputable platforms. Our editorial team strives to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information we provide. By combining insights from multiple perspectives, we aim to offer a well-rounded and comprehensive understanding of the events and stories that shape our world. Umva Mag values transparency, accountability, and journalistic integrity, ensuring that each piece of content is delivered with the utmost professionalism.

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