Glorious family days out for less

Get a railcard

A Family & Friends Railcard gives you a third off adult and 60% off kids\' off-peak train fares across Great Britain. At £26 a year, it could pay for itself in a few trips. The card is valid for up to four adults and four children. Travellers don\'t have to be related but you must travel with at least one child. Buy through www.familyandfriendsrailcard.co.uk or at your local staffed station.

Good Housekeeping readers can save 10% on the cost of a Family & Friends Railcard when buying online. Visit www.familyandfriends-railcard.co.uk/goodhousekeeping before 31 August 2010 to claim your discount.

Plan ahead

Attractions often offer discounted tickets if you buy online in advance. For example, a family ticket to Thorpe Park (www.thorpepark.com) costs £96 if you buy at the gate, but £88 when you buy online at least one day before you visit.

Cut costs in the capital

Taking the train for a day out in London? Visit www.daysoutguide.co.uk to get free two-for-one vouchers. Attractions that qualify include the Tower of London and the London Dungeon. You\'ll need to print out a voucher and present it with your train ticket at the venue. Vouchers are also available in London Attractions leaflets - look out for  them at railway stations.

Take your own food

Pack a picnic or pop into a shop on the way - not only will you be sure everyone likes their lunch, but it\'s cheaper than paying for meals on-site. If you regularly take family trips by train, sign up for a Bite card (www.bitecard.co.uk), which gives 20% off food and drink at station outlets.

Enjoy the great outdoors

Cycling and walking are free, healthy and a great way of exploring nearby areas or somewhere entirely new. For walking ideas and maps, visit www.nationaltrail.co.uk or, for cycling, visit www.sustrans.org.uk.

Become a member

If you just can\'t get enough of glorious gardens and historical houses, join the National Trust (0844 800 1895; www.nationaltrust.org.uk) or English Heritage (0870 333 1181; www.english-heritage.org.uk) for unlimited access. And for wetland wildlife at its natural best, the Wildfowl & Wetland Trust (www.wwt.org.uk) offers annual membership.

WWT membership is usually £35 for one adult, £52 for two adults or £62 for a family*. To save £5, call 01453 891196 and quote ‘Good Housekeeping £5 off membership offer\' when you apply.**

*Family: two named parents or grandparents with up to six of their named children or grandchildren (aged 4-16).

**General terms and conditions: offer valid until 30 September 2010, and only applies to annual payment of membership. It is not available to WWT members, or anyone who\'s been a member of WWT in the past three months

Check out the internet

For spur-of-the-minute trips, click on www.lastminute.com and www.moneysavingexpert.com, which have regularly updated deals. It\'s also worth registering on the websites of your favourite destinations, as many send out discounts with their e-newsletters.

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Money-saving days out - and how to find more

Sign up for a season

If your family has a favourite fun place, check out a season ticket. It\'s often a good deal if you visit more than five times in a year and you may find there\'s a pass that covers other venues owned by the same company. The Merlin Annual Pass (0844 477 4444; www.merlinannualpass.co.uk), for example, costs £150 per person and is valid at Alton Towers, Sea Life Centres and the London Eye, among others.

Pick up a pass

If you\'re visiting a city or area for a few days, find out if there are any special deals available. A three-day Yorkshire Pass (www.yorkshirepass.com), for example, costs £44 for adults and gives entry to 70 attractions. With typical entry fees of £9, you can make big savings if you plan to visit more than five attractions.

Look locally