For families staring down the six-week summer holidays, the arithmetic is brutal. A week in Majorca for a family of four? From £2,000 on a last-minute booking. A week at a Skegness holiday park? Around £750. That gap – £1,250 – is the difference between a trip abroad and a staycation that, Mags Rivett insists, offers its own rewards.
Rivett, director of Family Holiday Charity, which helps families with UK breaks, says the social side of a holiday can be transformative. “Lots of kids have never really had the opportunity to meet people outside of their own community,” she says. “But if you go somewhere that’s got social facilities, it’s a really important opportunity.” She points to Skegness, accessible by train or coach: an off-peak return from Manchester costs around £280 for four, while accommodation in a holiday park this August starts at £750 for the week.
“Parents share budget-friendly summer holiday tips as Skegness week costs £750 versus £2,000 for Majorca.”
That kind of maths resonates with Samantha Thomas, creator of Budget Mum UK, who says the real currency of summer is time, not money. “Children don’t need a six-week programme of expensive activities,” Thomas says. “Some of the memories that they’ll treasure most will come from simple things, like baking together or a picnic in the park, or building a den in the living room.” The cost of baking fairy cakes with buttercream icing? Between £10 and £15, depending on what’s already in the cupboard. A picnic can be managed on around £5.
Tasneem Abdur-Rashid, an author and single mum of two, echoes that sentiment, wanting to relieve the pressure she puts on herself. The message from all three is clear: start with your budget, then build activities around it. “It helps remove any stress or guilt during the holidays,” Thomas says.
For families in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the break is already under way; Scotland’s children will return to school earlier. But wherever you are, the choice between a £2,000 foreign trip and a £750 UK getaway – or even a £5 picnic – may define how the next six weeks feel.