Family days out are genuinely one of the best things about having kids. There’s something special about getting everyone away from the usual routine – whether that’s a trip to the zoo, a wander round a museum, or just a proper adventure somewhere new. The trouble is, it doesn’t take long for the costs to creep up. Entrance fees, travel, the inevitable ice cream stops, and then a sit-down meal on top of all that. Suddenly your “affordable day out” has become anything but.
The good news? A bit of planning really does go a long way, especially when it comes to eating out. Meals can quietly become one of the priciest parts of the day, but they don’t have to be. Keeping an eye out for restaurant deals before you head off is one of the simplest things you can do to take the sting out of the bill.
Plan Ahead: Find Restaurant Deals Before You Go
Most of the planning that goes into a family day out focuses on what you’re going to do. Fair enough. But it’s worth giving just as much thought to where you’ll eat. On-site cafés and restaurants at tourist attractions are usually overpriced, and making a last-minute decision when everyone’s hungry rarely ends well.
A quick search online before you leave can make a real difference. There are loads of resources out there for finding decent discounts on kids’ meals, family bundles, seasonal promotions, that sort of thing. Getting this sorted in advance means you’re not scrambling for options when you’ve got tired, hungry children in tow, and it helps enormously with budgeting too.
Take Advantage of Kids Eat Free and Family Meal Deals
This one’s worth seeking out specifically. Plenty of restaurants – both chains and independent places – run “kids eat free” promotions, and they can save you a surprising amount over the course of a meal. Some are tied to specific days of the week, others run throughout the school holidays. Either way, they’re worth tracking down.
Family set menus are another good shout. A fixed price for a few courses, often with a decent selection, tends to work out far cheaper than ordering everything individually. It also makes the whole ordering process a lot easier when you’ve got little ones involved. If you’re planning ahead, it’s worth ringing ahead or checking the restaurant’s website to see what’s on offer before you commit.
Choose Off-Peak Times for Better Deals
Timing your meal can make a proper difference, both to your wallet and to your sanity. Restaurants are noticeably less hectic during mid-afternoon or early evening, and a lot of them offer early bird menus to fill those quieter slots. You get a set menu or a reduced selection at a lower price – which suits families with young children rather well, since you’re rarely hanging around until 8pm anyway.
Beyond the cost savings, eating at off-peak times just tends to be a nicer experience. Fewer people, less noise, quicker service. With children, that alone can be worth its weight in gold.
Look for Restaurant Loyalty Schemes and Membership Benefits
If you’ve got a favourite chain or a restaurant you tend to go back to, it’s worth checking whether they run a loyalty scheme. Most are free to join, and they add up over time – points that convert to discounts, members-only deals, that sort of thing. Some schemes throw in extra benefits during school holidays or at weekends, which is obviously useful for families.
It’s not going to revolutionise your finances, but if you’re already eating somewhere regularly, there’s no good reason not to sign up and get something back for it.
Make the Most of Online Vouchers and Discount Apps
There are quite a few apps now that pull together restaurant discounts in one place, and they’re genuinely useful. You can search by location, which is handy when you’re already out and trying to decide where to eat. Some deals are exclusive to the app and aren’t advertised anywhere else, so it’s worth a look even if you’ve already done your research.
Download anything useful before you leave the house. It’s much easier than trying to find vouchers on a dodgy mobile signal while standing on a pavement with impatient children.
Don’t Forget About Sharing Platters and Family-Sized Portions
Worth considering, this one. A lot of restaurants do large sharing platters – pizzas, tapas, mezze, that sort of thing – which can feed the whole table for less than a round of individual meals. They’re also quite good fun for kids, who often enjoy picking at a spread rather than being handed a single plate.
It’s a nice way to try a few different things, keep everyone happy, and spend a bit less in the process.
Final Thoughts
Family days out don’t have to be eye-wateringly expensive, even when you factor in a proper sit-down meal. A little bit of forward planning – looking up restaurant deals in advance, picking your timing sensibly, making use of loyalty schemes and discount apps – can take a decent chunk off the overall cost. It means you can spend a bit more on the bits that actually matter: the experiences, the memories, and probably a few too many ice creams.
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