YOU don't get much for a tenner nowadays and taking your family for an Easter adventure is no exception.
Even if you pick somewhere that's got no entry fee, by the time you've paid for and bought everyone an ice cream, you've probably already blown the budget.
But there's still some egg-cellent offers available – I've found days out for a pound per person, a few for a fiver each and my top pick if you have £10 a person to spend.
Big family savings
If you're on or other benefits, there's discounted entry to some big-name visitor attractions across the UK.
That means a family of four could visit Zoo for less than £20, as adult tickets start at £6 and a child ticket at £3.
The Tower of London is offering £1 tickets under the same scheme, as is the Museum and Story Centre in Buckinghamshire.
These could be a great option if you've got a larger family as you can book up to six £1 tickets in one go.
You need to book in advance as there's only a certain number of discounted tickets for each day and they are popular during school .
If you don't have or membership, you can still have a good day out for a tenner per family.
Head to Launceston Castle in on a Friday or Saturday over the Easter holidays and it's just £10 for a single adult family and up to three children or £16.50 for two adults and three children, booking in advance online.
Easter is a great time to bag a bargain as lots of English Heritage’s outdoor sites have saver deals ahead of the season.
Some National Trust places, like Clumber Park in , run a similar deal of £9.90 for a single adult and up to three children or £16.50 for two adults and three children.
Calke Abbey in has one of the best adventure playgrounds in the National Trust and costs £20 for a family of five to access its parkland without visiting the house.
My boys love a day out there, starting at Calke Explore with its woodland adventure play and picnic area, before heading down to the play area near the stable block and then a ramble around the grounds.
Top tips
Look for attractions that are run by public bodies as they tend to have lower ticket prices.
If you visit Standalone Farm in Letchworth, which is run by the town's heritage foundation, a family day pass for two adults and two children costs £31.90, compared to £75 for a similar farm nearby that is independently owned.
Standalone’s tractor ride around the fields is lots of fun and then hop on one of the pedal tractors in the barn before heading round to the playground.
Moorways Water Park in Derby costs just £10 per person for a two and a half hour session in peak times because it's in a local leisure centre. The Wave in Coventry costs £56 for two adults and two children for two hours.
If you love places like BeWilderwood in or , head to Conkers Discovery Centre in the heart of the National Forest, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary.
This Leicestershire park is a forerunner of all things fun in the forest, including a barefoot sensory walk, entertainment in the glade amphitheatre and plenty of play equipment spread beneath the trees.
There's indoor spaces if the Easter isn't kind, with a forest playscape and a 4d cinema in one visitor centre and a soft play in the other.
The little Conkachoo train runs between the two.
There's a recently added splash pad that's great for little ones and most activities are included in the entry fee, although you have to pay extra for the high ropes course and the water activities on the lake.
Look for attractions that are run by public bodies as they tend to have lower ticket prices
Catherine Lofthouse
Day tickets for a family of four are £44, but you can use discount code Spring10 to get 10 per cent off, dropping the entry fee down to just £10.25 per person.
We've been to Conkers loads over the years and my boys always find something new to experience, depending on the weather and the season.
There's free fun to be had all around us at parks and playgrounds. If the weather is rainy, it's the perfect chance to enter the World Puddle Jumping Championships, taking place in April for the first time ever.
Send a video of your little one splashing in a puddle or paddling to win a family day out at Wicksteed Park, in Northamptonshire, one of the oldest in the UK.
Videos can be taken anywhere in the world and posted on the puddle jumping posts on Wicksteed’s page, with judges giving scores based on the height of the jump, enthusiasm, distance of splash and the amount of mud which clings to each competitor.
Enjoy your Easter adventures, no matter what your budget and whatever the weather. Family fun can cost as little as you like.
