THE kids go back to school very soon, so how about enjoying one last summer treat in the UK?
Families can take a short break at a holiday park, go camping or glamping, take to the river or talk to the animals.
Trisha Harbord has selected some bargains for a variety of family fun – some of them are even free.
LET the summer go out with a laugh by seeing TV’s Saturday Night Takeaway star Stephen Mulhern at Butlin’s.
The comedian, once a Redcoat at Minehead, is performing at the Somerset resort and Butlin’s Skegness in Lincs.
There’s so much entertainment included in a Butlin’s break. Shows for little ones include Peppa Pig and PJ Masks.
Splash Waterworlds have pools, high-speed flumes and racing rapids, and fairgrounds feature spinning rides, and dodgems.
GO: Four nights self-catering in a two-bedroom silver room for four at Skegness from August 29, is from £526 in total.
Three nights at Minehead from September 2 is £323. Day visits at Minehead are from £26 for adults and £18 for kids.
Skegness is £30 for adults and £25 for children. See butlins.com.
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GIVE the kids their wings at a free open day at London Elstree Aerodrome.
Your budding young pilots or engineers can chat to the professionals about a career in aviation and see planes and helicopters in the air and on the ground.
They can also meet local ambulance and fire crews.
There will be lots of activities on the airfield in Borehamwood, Herts, including flight simulator competitions, arts and crafts and face painting.
GO: Elstree open day on September 1. See londonelstree.com/open-day.
GET back to nature and grab a half-price break in the New Forest.
Step out the gates of Green Hill Farm Holiday Village in Landford and you’ll find the New Forest ponies, deer, otters and more wildlife along the walking and cycling trails.
The holiday village, with woodland and three lakes, has activities including mini-golf, archery and table tennis.
GO: Four nights self-catering in a two-bedroom holiday home sleeping up to six people, from August 29, costs from £495. See lovatparks.com.
FOR a budget break, take the kids camping. You’ll really get away from it all at Bert’s Kitchen Garden, an eco-site on the Llyn Peninsular, which stretches into the Irish Sea from north Wales.
There’s no electricity or wi-fi and you transport your gear to your pitch in wheelbarrows.
There are rope swings and treehouses for the kids and a restaurant serving dishes from local produce.
Walk from the site outside the small village of Trefor to the private beach.
GO: Pitch costs £22 per person per night. It’s £10 a child, and under-fives are free. See bertskg.com.
IT’S not often you’ll find golden sands at a safari park. The one at Longleat has a summer pop-up beach — with lots of activities and deckchairs to lounge in — and it won’t matter if it’s raining because it’s inside.
Summer fun at the Wiltshire park until September 4 also includes spectacular aerial shows where birds of prey swoop over your head at 100mph in the 500-seat arena.
Take a drive-through safari to see lions, cheetahs and monkeys, a jungle cruise for gorillas, hippos and sea lions, and hop on the narrow-gauge railway.
GO: Adult tickets costs £36.95, children £27.70, under twos free. See longleat.co.uk.
STAFFORDSHIRE tourist chiefs are helping visitors cut costs with a “30 under £30” days out campaign for families with kids from three to 15.
Step back in time at heritage steam railways Apedale Valley Light Railway (family ticket £19) or Chasewater Railway (£19.95).
At the free-entry National Memorial Arboretum enjoy an Outdoor Escape Challenge (£12 to £15 per group) or visit Tamworth Castle Pleasure Grounds, also free entry, which has a skate park, table tennis and canoeing. Or go cycling at Cannock Chase Forest.
Forest entry free, parking charges from £3-£8.
GO: See enjoystaffordshire.com/30under30
CHESTER Zoo is celebrating newborn giraffe Stanley.
Keepers named it after Mount Stanley, the tallest mountain in Uganda, which is fighting to boost giraffe numbers.
Visit Stanley and cheetahs, chimps, lions and tigers. Stay half an hour away in floating pods on Tattenhall Marina in the Cheshire countryside.
GO: Chester Zoo adult ticket £29.08, child £22.72, family of four £95.43.
See chesterzoo.org. A Sunday-to-Wednesday offer for self-catering break in a marina pod costs £99 a night. See tattenhall-marina.co.uk
SPEND a lazy day on the river, then stop off for a spot of exercise. The best views of London are from the water and Thames Clippers’ Uber Boat calls at 24 piers.
You can take bikes on board to cycle along the Thames Path or explore parks including Greenwich, St James’s and Battersea.
If you fancy copying James Bond, take a City Cruises’ Thamesjet speedboat ride from Westminster Pier.
GO: UberBoat roamer ticket, adult from £10.10, child age five to 15 from £5.05.
See thamesclippers.com. Speedboat ride costs £42 an adult, £32 a child. See cityexperiences.com.
THE cottage sales are on! And there are offers for all sizes of families and budgets.
April Cottage is beside Lake Windermere and close to the Aria Force waterfall and Lake District white water rafting centre.
Two families could share The Gardener’s House at Wrest Park in Bedfordshire.
The three-storey property sits in 17th century gardens with a marble fountain and Chinese temple.
GO: Three nights for four in April Cottage, from August 29 costs £385 (was £465). See cottages.com.
Three nights in The Gardener’s House sleeping eight, from August 26, costs £1092 (was £1,285). See english-heritage.org.uk.
GO stargazing in swish new bell tents at Norfolk’s Godwick Hall, off the beaten track with no light pollution.
The 20ft tents for a family of four have a circle of opaque windows, private bathrooms, woodburner and firepit.
Or, if the kids love animals, stay in a luxury safari tent with hot tub on a working farm.
At Middle Stone Farm Glamping in West Somerset, get up close to pigs, alpaca, goats and sheep and take tractor rides. The tents, sleeping six, are like a home from home.
GO: Two nights in a bell tent for a family costs £260, saving £70, until September 5. See godwickhall.co.uk.
Three nights self-catering at Middle Stone from August 23, 26 or 29 costs from £695. See farmstay.co.uk.
