Cheap UK holiday tips

Center Parcs rarely does discount codes. However, it does offer late deals, eg, this year the cheapest break we could find last-minute was £449 for a three-night weekend break in a studio apartment this month. It was charging £619 for the same weekend in 2025.

Prices usually come down within roughly eight weeks of travel, though nothing's guaranteed, as it is likely to be busy this year, especially during peak times. Check its last minute deals page for offers.

Whether you've booked already or plan to, our 16 Center Parcs Tips guide has full details of the changes and ways to cut the cost, including hidden cheap dates if you've school kids and cheaper alternatives with a similar vibe.

Escape the hustle and bustle and take a walk through a British woodland. Before you go, download the Woodland Trust's nifty Tree identification app (available on iPhone and Android). It helps you identify UK trees by leaf, flower, fruit or bark.

You can also complete Woodland Trust activities. Ideas include outdoor fun such as a minibeast hunt, nature art and more. For rainy days there are craft activities and colouring sheets. See Woodland Trust for full information.

For more creative ideas to make memories with kids, see our Free (or very cheap) ways to create summer magic blog. It includes everything from fruit picking to hugely popular 'painted rock' treasure hunts.

There's a collective 'GRRRRR' from parents about holiday price hikes when term ends – the cost of hotels, self-catering accommodation and even days out always seems to rocket.

Fortunately, a simple trick can help you fight back and turn the tables. Every so often, your school's term dates may differ from everyone else's. This could be due to inset days or just because your council's chosen different dates. These hidden dates can mean huge savings.

For example, in 2024 most Leicestershire schools break up for summer on 10 July, while most others do so around 19 July. When we checked, we found a week's holiday at Cambridge YHA for £599 for a family of four from 10 July. On 19 July, the same holiday jumped to £903.

Most schools in Scotland break up earlier (this year it's around 28 June). If that's you and you're vacationing outside Scotland, consider going away sooner rather than later.

Also watch out for inset days – those one-off mid-term holiday days which vary by school and are usually for teacher training. These can be a boon for long weekends away. For example, some MoneySavers report nabbing cheap stays at Center Parcs through careful forward planning.

To spot hidden cheap booking dates:

1. Use the Gov.uk school holiday dates tool to find out when schools in your area are off, and check directly with your school too, as inset days and term dates can vary.
   
   
2. Then search Google for other schools' dates. The Day Out With The Kids site has a summary of the different 2024 dates in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
   
   
3. Work out where your school differs from the norm. It might start a week early, finish a week late or have a tempting Friday or Monday inset day, which means you can make a long weekend of it. If your school's off and others aren't, chances are you'll find a bargain.

For more hacks, see our full How to beat school holiday travel price hikes blog.