Days out and Activities on a budget in and around Hertford 

Every where we go we hear people saying the same thing... they are broke and some how they've got to entertain their children on a shoe string budget.

Not to worry we are here to help...

Tips for success

 First things first you don't actually need to go out! There's much to be said for staying home with a DVD or Netflix or digging out that craft box or playing a family board game.

We know that going on a FREE ACTIVITY does not guarantee you will get away without spending any money , food, travel, parking they can all add up but here are our 5 top tips to spend less on family activities.

•  Get the kids on board! Challenge them to get involved in the planning.
• Set expectations- explain to your children (if they are able to understand) that you are on a budget and that you wont be buying extras on the trip. Get them to agree to this BEFORE you leave.
• Food!! Food!! Food!! often the cost of eating out can cost us an arm and a leg so don't! Pack a packed lunch and get the children involved. They are more likely to eat what's been prepared if they have helped to make it. Be creative, cold pizza, pasta, soups can all be taken on picnics, we've even heard of hot dog sausages being transported in a flask of boiling water as well . Take drinks too, there's much to be said for a flask of hot chocolate in the park.
• Check parking costs before you leave- sometimes free activity's such as "The Gruffalo Trail" have car parking costs, be aware of these before you leave.
   If you are going to an activity where activity packs are for sale, again these can add to the cost of your trip, prepare before you go. Pack your own notepads and pens perhaps make your own worksheet if you have time and explain to the children you wont be buying those as you have your own. Check out the amazing wonder den for free downloadable art packs . 

Low Cost activities this winter in and around Hertford

We all know that the cost of school Holidays can be a huge concern to most parents. 

Between Christmas and New Year is a funny time of year, because we often are doing big events in the run up to Christmas then theres all the excitement of the big day and then afterwards every can feel just a little flat. But budgets are often tight post Christmas and big fancy days out are often off the cards .

So what can you do this time of year on a budget? Lets see if we can help with that.

Specific events still on post Christmas:

Festive arts and crafts at Rye Meads

Polar Bear Trail at Tring Museum

Christmas Yarn Trail in town

Cedars Nature Centre- just £2.40 and includes all of the below.

Kids for a quid at Mead Open Farm

Out and about: 

Theres much to be said for a trip to a good old park  so grab those bikes or scooters and a picnic and head off on an adventure.

Details for all of these and more can be found here.

Panshanger (keep an eye out for the fairy doors!) 

Hartham Park

Lea valley Sculpture Trail

Cedars Park

Hatfield Forest

Ashridge estate

Stanborough Park

Church Farm, Ardeley

Slightly further afield 

The Stickman Trail

The Gruffalo Trail

100 Akre Woods at Aldenham County Park

Ashridge estate

An activity we would also love to recommend for all ages is Geocaching. Its free to download and use the app and there are geocaches all around the local area, its a real life treasure hunt and lots of fun. 

Museums and places of interest

The main one being Hertford Museum of course! 

But there is also Bishop Stortford museum 

Ware Museum

Lowewood Museum

Stevenage Museum 

Tring Natural history Museum  - prebooking required

Stockwood Discovery Centre

Ware Museum

Please do check opening hours and days prior to travelling. 

Budget friendly zoos, farms and nature reserves.

Cedars Nature Centre is now reopen and a budget friendly just £2.40 pp. Take a picnic and you can easily spend the day there enjoying all the zoo has to offer with its many meet and greets and also enjoying the park and roaming in the open spaces and play trail.

Pets corner Harlow - 

RSPB Rye Meads Nature Reserve - Free entry but there is a parking charge. 

Parndon woods - one of our favourites - we love the den building area!

 You can filter our things to do category to find Free things to do locally here:

We hope you enjoy this article and that you find it useful. If we've missed anything off the list do feel free to let us know.

Thanks for reading

Kayleigh & The Boys

XxxX

Celebrating the New Year at Home!

Ring out the old , bring in the new, a new years wish to share with you! We don't need a crowded ball room everything we need is here! (sorry I got a little carried away there!!)

Go out? Stay in? Go Out? Stay in? Shake it all about?

 For the past few years the husband an I have celebrated NYE at home just the two of us anyway (no baby sitters on NYE it seems and the last attempt to take them to a friends house with us was pretty unruly).

Once again Jane (Mum's Guide to Romford) and I have got our heads together to brain storm some ideas. Whether you are staying home or off to celebrate at friends or families houses we have plenty of ideas for you here.

Say goodbye to 2025

Last year we wrapped up  and drove to walton on the naze to witness the very last sunrise of 2024. We spent a blustery but blissful hour on the beach saying our goodbyes over a flask of hot chocolate (and one of coffee for the adults) before heading to a nearby cafe for a hearty breakfast. A quick nip to the peer some arcades and another walk then we headed back home having blown some cobwebs away and settled in for a day of family fun at home. We intend to do the same this year. 

Get dressed up! (If you want!)

All bets are off, if you want to get dressed up and see the New year in in style then do so. If you want to see it in in the matching Reindeer onesies you got for Xmas that thats also totally cool!

Plan a party!

My little ones love a party. We are planning a buffet style tea around 5pm with a few party games afterwards and a mini disco and then a faux countdown with some New years fireworks via youtube!
We will then be putting them to bed by 9 so that we can enjoy some buffet food and a bottle of fizz and binge on Netflix! 

Selfie Station

Creating a selfie booth is really simple - all you need is a suitable background which could just be a white wall. Maybe the kids could create something out of old boxes? While you can buy props, you could also make some stick props. Raid the kids dressing up box for some ideas, add some hats, scarves, glasses or some superhero accessories. When we were children we loved dressing up in our mum and dads clothes! Don't forget to take a last family selfie of 2025 and first family selfie of 2026. Theres some links to free printables for a selfie station here. 

Alternatively Hertford Tesco had some in the other day.

New Years Eve Scavenger Hunt

For a kid friendly activity theres a free download here. 

Treats

Last year we made up a treat basket of mostly things left from Christmas and enjoyed nibbling during the evening.

Let's not forget New Years Day - you could plan a special brunch or maybe you already have a tradition of having a Christmas dinner style lunch?

Activities

To make sure you can relax, its important to have lots of tasks to keep the kids busy. We have a few suggestions and ideas for the kids and the whole family.

Firstly our wonderful The Wonderden still have their craft packs FREE to Download. Why not set up an arts and crafts table? 

A TEEPEE sleep over/ family lounge camp out. You could create something at home if your children have play tents, or just put blankets on the floor and all snuggle together to watch a movie. 

2025 achievements - its easy to focus on the negative elements of this year but we have all achieved things. Have you mastered a new recipe, learned to ride a bike without stablisers, learned a new skill?

Things to do in 2026 - Make a huge wishlist of things you want to do in 2026, whether that be a big thing like going on holiday or a little trip to the seaside, or having a move night. 

Time Capsule - In 20 years time what will we remember about 2025? Why not create a time capsule with memories, photos and momentoes of this unusual year. Ask everyone in the family to write a letter about their year. Hide it in the loft or under the bed and forget about it for a few years! 

New Year traditions around the world - do some research and find out what happens around the world on NYE. Did you know that in Spain they eat 12 green grapes in the 12 seconds leading up to 12 o'clock and it will bring good fortune for each of the 12 months? You'll find this and other suggestions here.

Balloon Pop- I've seen this online a lot where by they are used as a countdown and on the hour every hour you pop a balloon (you could put confetti inside if you wanted too!)

Countdown bags - I've seen this idea on various websites and it would take some planning. The idea is that every hour during NYE evening, the kids get a bag that has a task or activity to do. It could be a puzzle, crafts, a game etc.

Sparklers - if you have some sparklers left over from Bonfire night you could all have some sparkly fun in the garden at midnight.

But of course if you'd rather just stick the TV on for NYE then heres some suggestions for whats on below:

New Years Day Ideas

We have always celebrated New Years day with a long family walk, usually at Panshanger. Although there are lots of other local walk suggestions here .

We usually follow this with a roast dinner though again you could get a takeaway?

Want the best of kids Tv on new years day? See below.

For now I raise my glass to you Hertford parents, goodbye 2025 and hello to 2026, whatever you've got in store we are ready for you.

Happy New Year

Kayleigh & The Boys

XxxX