Keeping children busy on a budget

With the summer holidays just around the corner, we’re here to help you fill every hour with full-on family fun that won’t cost the earth.

Here are just a few ideas on how to keep the kids entertained on a budget this summer.

Screen time: Small people can have big fun for less with mini mornings at Vue cinema. You can see all the best children and family films every Saturday and Sunday morning from 10am – plus every day in the school holidays – for just £2.49 for each adult and child ticket.

Eating out: Lots of our fab restaurants have kids eat free deals running through the summer holidays – check out BrewDog where you can pre-book a table and children will eat free with every paying adult. There’s a great choice, from mixed cheese grilled toasties to DIY kids’ pizzas.

Loving learning: If your kids love reading and stories, they’ll love spending time at Basingstoke Discovery Centre, which is free to join and always has plenty going on. Not only is there a great choice of books and audiobooks, but you’ll also find free Wi-Fi, an exciting programme of events from author talks to workshops, regular children’s activities like rhyme time and boardgames, and storytelling. Find out more at www.facebook.com/basingstokedc

Toys and games: Visit Miniso for toys and games that won’t break the bank – 81 per cent of all products cost under £9. Other one-stop shops for brilliant budget buys include Poundland and Tiger, where you can find arts and crafts ideas, garden toys and plushies for less.

Free events: Keep an eye for various free events at Festival Place through the summer holidays. We always have lots going on, so keep tabs on our social media channels to make sure you don’t miss out!