Easter holidays: Cheap and fun activities and things to do with children

The cost of living is still biting, and school holidays can bring added expenses—not just for entertainment, but for childcare too.

Whether you're taking time off work or juggling childcare arrangements, it's worth having a few budget-friendly ideas up your sleeve to make the most of the break.

The Easter holidays don’t have to cost a fortune. With a little planning and creativity, there are plenty of ways to keep your children entertained without breaking the bank. From free community events to home-grown adventures, it’s possible to have a fun and memorable break on a budget.

We’ve put together a handy guide full of cheap (and free!) activities for children this Easter, as well as practical money-saving tips for parents navigating the school holiday juggle.

1. DIY nature trails and treasure hunts

You don’t need to travel far for an adventure – you could create your own nature trail at a local park or woodland.

Turn it into a scavenger hunt by asking children to find different leaves, spot birds, or collect sticks for a craft project at home.

For something a little different, create a ‘sound scavenger hunt’ where they tick off things they hear, like birdsong, dogs barking, or the wind in the trees.

2. Geocaching

Another scavenger hunt idea is to go geocaching – simply download a geocaching app to hunt for specific treasure left by other people.

Geocaching is a modern-day treasure hunt that’s free to join and great fun for kids. People all over the world hide small containers—called geocaches—and post the GPS coordinates online. The aim is to find them using a smartphone or GPS device.

All you need to take part is a free geocaching app (like Geocaching® by Groundspeak) and a sense of adventure. Once you’re signed up, you can search for nearby geocaches, follow the map, and set off on your hunt.

The containers are often hidden in parks, woodland, or even urban areas, and inside you’ll usually find a logbook to sign and sometimes small trinkets to swap.

Children love geocaching because it turns an ordinary walk into an exciting mission. It encourages them to explore nature, solve clues, and enjoy the satisfaction of discovering hidden ‘treasure’. Plus, it’s a brilliant way to get them outside and active without it feeling like exercise!

3. Community Easter egg hunts

Many local councils and community centres run free or low-cost Easter egg hunts.

Check local Facebook groups or your council website for events near you.

Some supermarkets (like Morrisons or Asda) also run Easter activities for families, often including free crafting sessions or treasure hunts.

Many supermarket cafes also offer free or £1 kids meals during the holidays.

4. Library holiday clubs

Local libraries often host free activities during school holidays, including craft mornings, story time, or Lego clubs.

Some also run reading challenges with little rewards for participating - great for keeping them entertained (and learning) for free.

5. Try ‘Park Bingo’

Make a bingo card with different playground equipment or activities—slides, swings, roundabouts, picnic benches.

Each time you visit a new park, see how many you can tick off.

It adds an extra level of fun to visiting free local parks and encourages kids to stay active.

6. Free or cheap kids’ cinema deals

Look out for special screenings during school holidays.

Odeon Kids, Vue Mini Mornings, and Cineworld Movies for Juniors all offer family-friendly films for about £2.50 a ticket during the holidays.

Times are usually earlier in the day, so you’ll probably want to check times in advance.

7. Home science experiments

You don’t need fancy equipment to be a scientist.

Classic experiments like making a volcano from bicarbonate of soda and vinegar or creating a ‘lava lamp’ with oil and food colouring can be done with basic supplies.

If you have a garden, try growing cress heads from eggshells for a fun (and edible!) project.

YouTube has lots of ideas for some inspiration.

8. Pet-sitting for neighbours

If you’re staying close to home, offer to look after a neighbour’s pet during their holiday.

It’s a free way to give the children a new experience by walking a dog or feeding a rabbit and it gives them a sense of responsibility and routine.

You might even get a small thank-you in return.

Managing school holiday expenses

Keeping the kids busy is one thing—but the school holidays often come with hidden costs.

Here are some practical ways to ease the financial pressure.

Plan ahead and budget:

Work out what activities you want to do and how much they’ll cost. Setting a daily or weekly budget helps prevent overspending.

If you’re planning bigger days out, like a zoo or theme park, check for advanced booking discounts or family passes.

Websites like MoneySavingExpert regularly highlight special offers.

Tap into local community schemes:

Many councils run Holiday Activities and Food programmes during school holidays. These offer free activities, clubs, and meals for eligible children (often those who receive free school meals during term time).

There are also holiday clubs which can be cost effective if you need to entertain children for the day so you can work.

It’s worth checking your local authority’s website to see what’s on offer in your area.

Share childcare with friends or family:

If you and a friend both need childcare cover, consider setting up a childcare swap.

One day you look after both sets of children, the next it’s their turn.

It’s free, fair and gives the kids someone to play with.

Use tax-free childcare:

If you use registered childcare providers (holiday clubs, childminders, etc.), don’t forget to make use of Tax-Free Childcare.

For every £8 you pay in, the government adds £2, up to £2,000 per child each year (£4,000 if your child has a disability).

You can check your eligibility and set up an account via GOV.UK.

Look for discounted travel:

If you’re planning days out by train or bus, see if you’re eligible for discount schemes like the Family & Friends Railcard, which gives you up to 60% off kids’ fares and 1/3 off adult fares.

Some local councils also offer discounted bus passes during school holidays—worth exploring if you’re sticking closer to home.

If you’ve got any extra tips we’d love to hear them! Please add them to the comments section below.

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