EASTER is upon us and it's no surprise that the weather is set to be temperamental now the kids are off school.
It's enough to get pulling their hair out after weeks of warm that would have been perfect for spending the outdoors.
But whatever the weather, here’s a few tried and tested ideas I use when it's rainy or cold to keep my boys busy without breaking the bank.
Water fun
When it's wet outside, why not head to a pool or indoor waterpark to make the most of splashing about in the ?
While the kids are off, pools often put on extra inflatable sessions, which cost about £5 a person at our local leisure centres, compared to around a tenner if you take on the aqua inflatables at a park.
Lots of kids get free if they are signed up to lessons at the council pool, so make sure you max out those freebies, as it's easy to forget about perks that come with pool membership.
There are often ways to get around paying peak prices, even in .
in has a 20 per cent discount code over the holidays and cheaper sessions on Wednesdays so if you use both in one go, you're only paying £5.60 per person for a 90-minute session, instead of the normal peak price of £10.
Heritage railways
There's nothing better than chugging along the track in an old-fashioned train carriage behind a steam engine, watching the world go by and the rain streaming down while you're warm and dry.
In the last couple of years, we've taken a trip between Loughborough and on the Great Central Railway, as there's often been a ‘kids for a quid’ deal over school holidays.
That meant I could take my three boys for a day out travelling the tracks for just £25 for all four of us.
While that deal’s not running this Easter, I've spotted another heritage railway in the that's an even bigger bargain as kids ride free, while an adult rover ticket lasting all day only costs £15.
Peak Rail in the Dales is running an along the line and the train this weekend for £1 a child, so it could be the perfect time to visit.
Movie madness
We love a trip to the , but it can soon add up when you're buying tickets and snacks.
can be a great way to keep costs down as you can double up your points when you convert them into vouchers towards cinema tickets.
Another top tip is to look out for extra kids’ club showings that cinemas put on mid-morning over the school holidays.
These are usually films that have been out for a couple of months, but tickets only cost about £3 each.
If your kids are desperate to see the latest release, you can look out for deals like Meerkat Movies, which is a two for one ticket code valid for screenings on Tuesdays or Wednesdays.
Having a movie night at home? Make it an event by setting up a snack station, where kids can pack a munchbox full of fresh popcorn, sweets and treats.
It costs next to nothing and is a good way to while away a few hours.
Check out churches
It's worth taking a look at what's on offer at your local over the long Easter weekend, as I've spotted quite a few in my area that are offering free crafts and kids’ activities, including indoor Easter egg hunts.
It's a great way to share the Easter story with youngsters and I've always felt very welcome by the church folk, even though I'm not a member of the congregation.
One of my five-year-old’s favourite free activities last year was colouring in a kite at the church in our village and then running down the aisle with the kite flying behind him after the vicar launched it from the pulpit. It kept him happy for hours.
Free return visits
Think back to and indoor attractions that you visited in the last year and you might be surprised to find you can get a free return visit if your day entry was converted into an annual pass.
There's lots of places doing that now, including the Space Centre in Leicester and the British Motor Museum near .
Even if it doesn't apply for this bank holiday, Easter could be a great time to be strategic with your spending, paying for a ticket now that you'll use again in the over the longer school break.
Some of our best trips to have been in , as it keeps the crowds away so you don't generally need to queue to get on the rides.
Attractions like might even offer a rainy day promise, which means you can return free later in the season if it's wet enough during your visit, so you could end up getting two days out for the price of one, if you're willing to risk the rain.
Whatever the weather, there's plenty of Easter family fun to be had if you think outside the box and spend your wisely. Enjoy!
